I moved to the United States a decade ago. As an international medical graduate (IMG) without social ties or community support, one can face a steep learning curve when arriving in the US. One of the first pieces of advice that I received from senior IMGs was to "keep my head down" and "avoid all conflicts." With the ongoing stress of visa paperwork and learning the nuances of a new culture and healthcare system, well-intended but ultimately harmful and isolating advice such as this emerges.
I rarely saw people who looked like me in positions of leadership or on the podiums of national organizations, which contributed to my growing isolation. I looked different. I sounded different. I often wondered about my place here and whether I could truly fit in or belong, and whether the decision to leave my home country to pursue training in the US was a misjudgment.
Writing has always been my safe haven and my way of making sense of the world, especially as a shy and introverted person. Initially, I was reluctant to share my words with an audience. What if they were too much…too vulnerable…too honest? Additionally, I always felt the added pressure that as a Muslim, Middle Eastern woman, my words could be misconstrued to represent all Muslim, Middle Eastern women.
