‘Forecaster’ notes career path of UNE physician assistant student
On March 18, 2014, the Forecaster ran an article titled “Underemployed immigrants: A plug for Maine’s ‘brain drain’?” which discussed the fact that many foreign-trained professionals in Maine are unable to practice their professions because of language and licensing barriers.
One such professional featured in the article is Abdul Qani, a 37-year-old former doctor who moved to Westbrook, Maine, from Afghanistan four months ago with his wife and three children. Though he graduated as a physician in his home country in 2004, he is currently enrolled at UNE in the Physician Assistant Program.
According to Sally Sutton, program coordinator for the New Mainers Resource Center, the avenue that Qani is pursuing is often the best choice for foreign-trained doctors who have a very long road back to their careers.
Qani, despite his strong English skills, takes a course in health care-related English at the resource center.