Cairo University Faculty of Medicine

This is the twenty-third in Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. John Mason, contributing writer, writes about our twenty-third pathbreaker, Bassem Youssef. Born in Egypt to Muslim parents, Bassam Youssef is a renowned figure in the realms of comedy, activism, and medicine. Fleeing Egypt due to his comedic criticism of the government, he came to the U.S. in his journey from cardiology to satirical comedy and the role of political activist.