An OUWB fairy tale

Before Alise Haddad and Ethan Dimock found their “happily ever after” at the altar, they shared a different kind of fairy tale moment on the campus of Oakland University.

It was the day they met as undergraduates. They talked and made each other laugh. After that day, they talked more and learned they had similar interests, like wanting to go to medical school, and that they both worked at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital (WBUH) in Royal Oak. They fell in love and before long got married.

On March 20, the duo celebrated yet another kind of fairy tale moment when they both learned that they successfully matched at nearby locations in southeast Michigan. Dimock matched in otolaryngology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and Haddad in pediatrics at WBUH.

“We were lucky enough to land in a great spot where we’ve been at Oakland University for eight years — and we couldn’t be more happy about that,” said Dimock. “Our formative years of education and growing and learning took place here … it’s nice that we’re going to be able to give back to the same area.”

“I am so happy that we are staying local in Michigan and getting this amazing opportunity to fulfill our dreams,” said Haddad. "We couldn't be more grateful to Oakland University, OUWB, and all the support we've had along the way."

‘An exceptional learning environment’

Haddad, the daughter of Syrian immigrants, grew up in Flint, Michigan, and attended Powers Catholic High School.

She was inspired to pursue medicine as a career by her pediatrician father. She also drew inspiration from summer trips she took to Syria, where she saw the impact of war and poverty on children.

After starting her undergraduate pursuits at Albion College, Haddad transferred to Oakland University when she discovered “this place is amazing.” The campus, “safe” and “beautiful.” Classes were “phenomenal;” the education, “exceptional.” She earned a degree in biochemistry.

“Any field you want to go into — journalism, business, engineering, medicine — the advisors and everyone else are so helpful,” she said. “They truly want you to succeed … it’s just an exceptional learning environment.”

Dimock grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and attended Brother Rice High School.

He said he also had positive experiences at Oakland. Many of his favorite memories center on meeting new friends, going to basketball games, and living in Oakview Hall.

Through interactions with professors, classes, and student organizations, he drew inspiration to become a doctor.

“The main word that comes to mind when I think about Oakland’s undergraduate programs is ‘community,’” he said.

There was one other characteristic of OU that both Dimock and Haddad said they found appealing: the location.

Neither was particularly interested in moving too far from where they had grown up.

That was one of the primary reasons they applied to OUWB. Other reasons included OUWB’s strong clinical mentors, and a “just-right-size” that was like what they found as undergraduates at OU.

When both were ultimately accepted into OUWB, it added to their growing list of accomplishments associated with OU.

“We had a unique experience of studying all the time in the (OU) Kresge Library and working in (the Corewell Health System) as undergrads … we were able to see firsthand how great OUWB is … the facilities, doctors, residents, and students,” he said. “We would literally look out the window of the library and see the medical school we wanted to attend.”

‘A great institution’

Throughout medical school, the couple has supported each other academically and personally. They studied for every major exam together, and shared milestones like when Dimock was recognized as one of six outstanding OUWB students for 2022-23 and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in 2024.

Perhaps the biggest milestone they shared was getting married between the second and third years of medical school. They timed it to occur shortly after taking the Step 1 exam and before moving to Royal Oak for the second half of their time at OUWB. About 500 people attended the big event held at St. Hugo of the Hills Church in Bloomfield Hills.

“We knew we were going to get married (and) we had made so many good friends in medical school and in undergrad … we wanted them all to be there to celebrate the special time with us,” said Dimock. “It was the right moment with the right people at the right time.”

“We went back-and-forth a lot on it and realized there really is no perfect time in life,” added Haddad. “We figured it would be best for us … we could support and help each other out. Not that we couldn’t do that before marriage, but we would just be closer.”

Dimock said the couple had a lot of “thoughtful conversations” about where they envisioned themselves as resident physicians. And they made it a point to perform to the best of their abilities to “maximize our odds of staying together.”

“We’ve worked hard for this pretty much our whole life,” he said.

Between graduation and starting residency, the couple has big plans. They include family-centered trips, like to Disney World, and running a half marathon in Traverse City, Michigan.

And as they embark on the next phase of their “fairy tale,” both have deep gratitude for OU and OUWB.

“I just want to make it clear how thankful we are for Oakland and OUWB,” said Dimock. “It’s hard to get into a medical school in the first place and the fact that we were both able to end up in the same spot is one of the things in my life that I’m most thankful for out of everything.”

“The fact that we’ve been able to grow alongside each other has really strengthened our marriage,” he added.

“We hope to one day show our appreciation for Oakland in one way, shape or form … it truly is a great institution,” said Haddad.