PCOM Assists Afghan Refugees Arriving in Philadelphia
September 22, 2021
As the war in Afghanistan ended last month, the process of evacuating and resettling
thousands of displaced Afghan refugees began. Philadelphia International Airport,
one of several primary entry points for incoming evacuees, has functioned as a hub
to evaluate and process individuals and families fleeing Afghanistan before their
eventual resettlement in the United States. This effort required a mobilization of
volunteers with critical skills and experience, including health professionals and
native speakers, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) was prepared to answer the call.
With the arrival of the first refugees, Farzaneh Daghigh, PhD, professor of Biochemistry and an Iranian-American fluent in Farsi, heard there was
an urgent need for translators/interpreters, among others, and knew she could help.
Assisting with welcoming, intake, interpretation and distributing donated essentials
(clothing, toothbrushes, etc.), Dr. Daghigh witnessed the humanitarian crisis firsthand,
“I saw some people who had one blanket around them, and that’s all they had.”
Selli Abdali (DO ’23), a first-generation Afghan-American and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) student, joined Dr. Daghigh in assisting the evacuees with intake and translation
in addition to evaluating for any possible medical needs. She instantly felt a unique
bond with the arriving families. “My family came to America in 1989 and I have four
older brothers who were all born in Afghanistan,” said Abdali. Two of her initial
goals after becoming a physician were to travel to Afghanistan and provide medical
care. Unsure if that possibility will ever become a reality, Abdali describes the
arrival of Afghan evacuees in Philadelphia as “Afghanistan coming to me” and feels
honored to be able to help both the Afghan and medical community.
Volunteering since the first flights arrived, Abdali was asked to participate by the
Temple Emergency Action Corps, a student-run organization at the Lewis Katz School
of Medicine at Temple University that trains medical students to be involved in disaster
and humanitarian relief projects. As the only-known medical student in the area fluent
in Pashto (one of the primary Afghan languages), her main role as a volunteer was
to interpret English to Pashto and scribe for the doctors on-site. “I helped identify
details or obtain history that might be missed by someone with no knowledge of our
culture,” said Abdali. “The Temple students and I also provided detailed guidelines
for medical workers on proper etiquette and cultural consideration when interacting
with the Afghan population.”
Abdali has continued her volunteerism in the weeks since, and while it has been a
transformative experience for her personally, she hopes the impression she has left
with the evacuees will be as equally lasting. “Being the daughter of Afghan refugees,
I hope that the parents of these young children know that leaving everything behind
in Afghanistan for a better future in America is possible, and I am proof of that.”
How to help refugees in the Philadelphia area
If you are interested in getting involved, several organizations in the Philadelphia
area are assisting with support and resettlement of Afghan refugees, including:
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About Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands
of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists
who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms.
PCOM operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and school psychology, and graduate degrees in
applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic
medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, non profit leadership
and population health management, organizational development and leadership, physician
assistant studies, school psychology, and public health management and administration.
PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service
to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care
to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For more information, contact:
Daniel McCunney
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Email: danielmc1@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304 | Cell:
267-449-1360