Abdul Rafay Shah

Currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Medical Studies at Dominican University, building on a foundational education in Biology from DePaul University. Academic focus includes psychology and Asian American studies, supported by a Certificate in Ethnographic Methods from the Comitas Institute for Anthropological Study. As an Operations & Growth Consultant at ALM Top Distributors, I lead end-to-end operations for two retail locations, implementing marketing campaigns, managing logistics, and enhancing customer engagement.

I aim to apply my interdisciplinary expertise and operational skills to foster impactful growth and community-centered outcomes.

Operations & Growth Consultant (Multi-Site Retail) - ALM Top Distributors - Chicago, IL

(2021-01)

• Led end-to-end operations across two retail locations, managing both front-end customer experience and back-end logistics, inventory, and daily workflows
• Designed and executed marketing campaigns (seasonal promotions, event-based traffic strategies, local partnerships), increasing in-store engagement and repeat customer rates
• Built and maintained customer relationship pipelines through direct outreach, email communication, and community-based engagement strategies
• Developed operational systems using Gantt charts and structured planning tools to coordinate inventory, promotions, staffing, and vendor timelines
• Managed financial flows including purchasing, vendor coordination, pricing strategies, and cost optimization across multiple suppliers
• Navigated high-risk payment processing environments, adapting business operations in response to platform restrictions and compliance challenges
• Conducted on-the-ground market analysis (foot traffic patterns, neighborhood behavior, competitor positioning) to inform pricing, layout, and product strategy
• Implemented cross-functional roles spanning sales, marketing, procurement, and strategy, effectively operating as both operator and advisor across locations
• Negotiated with distributors and external partners to optimize supply chains and maintain product availability under fluctuating demand
• Conceptualized and tested new retail formats blending product, experience, and convenience-driven models to increase revenue per customer
• Leveraged digital tools and platforms to manage communications, outreach, and campaign performance while maintaining operational efficiency

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Organic Chemistry II) - Dominican University - River Forest, IL

(2025-01 - 2025-03)

• Facilitated organic chemistry learning through adaptive, student-centered instruction, emphasizing conceptual understanding over rote memorization
• Translated complex reaction mechanisms and synthesis problems into structured, stepwise reasoning frameworks to improve student comprehension and application
• Designed targeted quiz review strategies by identifying patterns in student errors and restructuring problem-solving approaches accordingly
• Applied scaffolding techniques (guided questioning, stepwise decomposition, active recall) to bridge gaps between foundational knowledge and advanced concepts
• Provided individualized feedback and academic support, functioning as both instructor and peer-mentor to reinforce confidence and critical thinking
• Integrated digital learning tools (e.g., spaced recall systems, structured study guides) to reinforce longitudinal understanding across course material
• Adapted teaching methods dynamically in response to shifting class size, engagement levels, and course demands, maintaining instructional effectiveness
• Cultivated higher-order thinking by prompting students to analyze, apply, and reinterpret concepts rather than rely on memorized solutions

Research Assistant (Mental Health & Immigrant Populations) - Chicago Asian American Psychology Lab - Chicago, IL

(2024-02 - 2024-08)

• Conducted qualitative research on mental health awareness and barriers among immigrant-origin Chinese American adolescents
• Applied thematic analysis to interview data, generating structured coding frameworks to identify patterns in lived experience
• Synthesized qualitative findings into research summaries to support academic reporting and publication efforts
• Led participant recruitment and interview coordination, improving data reliability and study engagement
• Contributed to interdisciplinary research at the intersection of psychology, migration, and public health

Medical Scribe (ScribeAmerica) - ScribeAmerica - Chicago, IL

(2022-01 - 2024-12)

• Executed high-speed, real-time clinical documentation in Epic Systems, converting complex physician–patient interactions into precise medical records
• Anticipated clinical workflows and documentation needs, enabling more efficient patient throughput in fast-paced settings
• Integrated prior histories, labs, and imaging into cohesive clinical narratives to support physician decision-making
• Adapted seamlessly to varying physician documentation styles and communication patterns across encounters
• Developed applied knowledge of pharmacology, diagnostic reasoning, and patient management through continuous exposure
• Maintained strict accuracy and compliance with clinical, legal, and billing documentation standards

Shift Lead, Clinical Operations & Compliance - Morse COVID Center - Chicago, IL

(2021-12 - 2022-04)

• Led day-to-day site operations at the Morse COVID Center, managing shifts, coordinating staff activities, and ensuring smooth clinical workflow
• Oversaw OSHA compliance and safety protocols, including staff training, implementation of regulatory standards, and continuous adherence monitoring
• Managed specimen logistics and end-of-day lab coordination, ensuring accurate, timely delivery to partner laboratories
• Supported financial and administrative operations, maintaining compliance across documentation, transactions, and internal processes
• Coordinated external communications and relationship management, including patient-facing correspondence and partner outreach
• Trained and onboarded staff across operational and compliance procedures, contributing to consistent performance and site reliability
• Operated in a high-responsibility, family-run environment, balancing front-end patient interaction with back-end operational leadership

Research Intern (Systematic Review & Data Analysis) - Asian American Psychology Lab - Chicago, IL

(2020-03 - 2020-07)

• Conducted a systematic review on betel quid use in Asian societies, synthesizing public health, cultural, and epidemiological literature
• Performed study screening, coding, and data extraction using tools such as Rayyan and Microsoft Excel, ensuring methodological consistency and reproducibility
• Contributed to research workflow design and operations, including recruitment strategies, article selection pipelines, and review structuring
• Re-engaged with coding and data organization, supporting classification frameworks and structured dataset development for analysis
• Gained experience in systematic review methodologies, including inclusion/exclusion criteria, bias awareness, and multi-stage screening processes
• Initiated an independent McNair Scholars–affiliated project expanding on the review, exploring potential mixed-method approaches to contextualize quantitative findings
• Developed a cross-disciplinary perspective connecting public health, South Asian/Asian studies, and behavioral practices, informing broader research interests in medical and cultural analysis

Postgraduate Degree - Post Baccalaureate in Medical Studies - Dominican University (2024-08 - 2026-06)

Bachelor's - Biology/Biological Sciences, General - DePaul University (2017-06 - 2022-08)