Pre-Med to ‘Tire Doctor’: Why a Medical Student Spent His Gap Year in the Tire Industry

Baqi Syed didn’t plan to spend his gap year between undergraduate studies and medical school working in the tire industry. But after graduating early from his pre-med program, Syed joined USA Wheel & Tire Outlet Inc. as a project manager to gain business experience he hopes to apply to his own medical practice one day.

Now preparing to attend Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, Syed reflects on what surprised him most about working in the tire industry — from the level of responsibility he was given and the innovations he oversaw to the relationships and culture that define the business.

In this episode of The Modern Tire Dealer Show, Syed shares what made the experience meaningful, why many Gen Z workers are looking for more than just a paycheck and what tire dealers can do to better attract and retain younger talent.