Alexander Woodman ’11, who earned his B.A. in Afro-American studies, minored in Near Eastern studies, pursued pre-med and graduated with honors, has built an international career at the intersection of clinical medicine, health and scientific research. Following his undergraduate studies at UCLA, Woodman pursued advanced degrees in the United Kingdom, earned a doctorate in preventive medicine from the University of Salford, and completed clinical training in endocrine medicine and psychiatry through the UK’s National Health Service, NHS. He was subsequently awarded a prestigious Fulbright Medical Research Fellowship to advance his research in the Gulf region.

Woodman’s work in the Middle East focuses on addressing complex health challenges through evidence-based research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and culturally informed approaches to prevention. His research has examined obesity, diabetes, genetic variations associated with metabolic health, reproductive health, nutrition and healthy aging. In Saudi Arabia, he has investigated the relationship between genetic factors, including variations in the leptin gene, and obesity-related health outcomes. He has also studied how young people in the Gulf understand nutrition and regional dietary guidelines, exploring opportunities to strengthen preventive healthcare and improve long-term health outcomes.

As a former head of research at King Fahad Medical Complex in Saudi Arabia and a Fulbright Research Scholar at Arabian Gulf University, School of Medicine in Bahrain, Woodman has worked to strengthen clinical research capacity and foster collaboration between researchers and healthcare institutions across the region. His broader mission is to bridge international scientific expertise with local knowledge, ensuring that research responds to the needs, experiences and cultural contexts of the communities it serves.

Woodman has also pursued advanced clinical research training at Harvard Medical School and continues his academic engagement through Yale University, where he is currently serving as summer faculty. Beyond conducting research, he is committed to mentoring emerging scholars and advancing scientific writing, research methodology and evidence-based medical education.

Reflecting the global perspective he began developing at UCLA, Woodman’s career demonstrates how an education grounded in academic excellence and service can extend far beyond campus. His work continues to contribute to a deeper understanding of health in the Middle East while building international partnerships that support better healthcare, prevention and community well-being. For Woodman, research is more than an academic pursuit. It is a commitment to translating scientific discovery into meaningful improvements in people’s lives.

Read Woodman’s previous class note here.