Mohadesah Seddiqi’s, BSN, journey to Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing began not in a classroom, but in the halls of St. Louis Children’s Hospital. From 2017 to 2020, Desah—her nickname among family and friends—volunteered every weekend, spending hours comforting sick children, leading playroom activities, and simply being a kind presence to those in need. Those early experiences, combined with her faith and innate sense of compassion, opened her heart to a calling she couldn’t ignore: nursing.
Desah as a little girl in Afghanistan
Born in Afghanistan and raised in St. Louis after immigrating in 2006, Desah’s story is rooted in resilience. Her family sought care at BJH when her father, Qiamuddin Seddiqi Ziuddin, needed eye surgery. Soon after, they began a new life in the U.S. where education became Desah’s beacon. “In Afghanistan, many girls don’t get the chance to go to school,” she says. “I carry their dreams with me. Every step I take is for them, too.”
Today, Desah is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree to become a family nurse practitioner, with a vision to improve access to quality care for underserved communities. She works night shifts in the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center while taking classes full time. Her path hasn’t been easy—English is her third language, and she juggles work, school, and family responsibilities—but her determination has never wavered.
“I treat every patient like family,” Desah says. “I believe kindness is healing. Even when hospitals feel lonely, I want to be the person who brings light into someone’s day.”
Desah is the proud recipient of the Thelma Steward Future Nurse of Excellence Scholarship, created by Thelma’s son to honor her legacy as a nurse and alumna of Soldan High School—Desah’s alma mater, too. For Desah, the connection is profound. “To be awarded this scholarship as a fellow Soldan graduate means so much to me,” she says. “It tells me that where I come from matters. I’m deeply honored and grateful.”
As she looks ahead to her 2027 graduation, Desah’s goals are clear: lead with compassion, advocate for vulnerable patients, and one day mentor the next generation of nurses. “Nursing is more than a profession—it’s a purpose,” she explains. “And this journey, made possible by education and support like the Steward Family Foundation, is something I’ll never take for granted.”
With a name that means “one who talks with angels,” Mohadesah is already living up to that meaning—through every patient she comforts, every challenge she overcomes, and every girl she inspires to dream.
Written by: Kathy Randall
Sr. Strategist, Internal Comms.