The Afghan Medical Professionals Association of America (AMPAA) conducted its 31st Annual Scientific Meeting on September 24th, 2022, at the INOVA Fairfax Hospital. The focus of the meeting was on new Afghan arrivals with medical background and their ability to re-enter the medical field. The event also provided explanations regarding the Pathway to Graduate Medical Education for international medical graduates in the United States, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), Certification, and Residency.
Dr. Masood Sadaat, AMPAA President, provided opening remarks, followed by Dr. Hosai Todd Hesham who talked about AMPAA projects, accomplishments, and achievements over the last year as well as AMPAA’s on-going projects. The keynote speaker, Dr. Gilbert Burnham, a Professor Emeritus at John Hopkins, provided an overview of the American health care system and the opportunity for observing the international graduates. He also expressed his interest to work and help Afghan medical professionals with integration into the US healthcare system.
The event also included two panel discussions focusing on opportunities and careers in allied health, public health, radiology, and pharmacies, and the medical disciplines. The panelists included Dr. Hashim Hashem, Dr. Zalmi Afzali, Ms. Homaira Gardizi, Dr. Asma Husienzad, Dr. Mustafa Saidi, Dr. Gul G. Manalai, Ms. Sheba Sharifi, Dr. Sayed Alam Shinwari, Dr. Masood Sadaat, Dr. Zohal Hamidi, Mr. Abe Nader and Ms. Sonia Osmanzada, who talked about their experience and journey for re-entry into the medical field. Each panel discussion was followed by a Q&A session with the panelists who provided responses/comments to the questions raised by the audience.
Islamic Relief USA (https://irusa.org/usa/) sponsored AMPAA’s annual meeting. Mr. Ahmad Mustafa Durrani talked about Islamic Relief USA’s activities, focused on Afghan evacuees and refugees. A total of 80 people attended to the event either in person or virtually.
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