Syrian Students' Vision To Rebuild Health Care In Syria

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As a young woman in her native city of Aleppo, Syria, Mirna Law always wanted to study medicine and pursue a career in health care.  Her interest began while serving as an intern at a hospital in Syria. 

"Before the fighting and conflict started, there was relatively good health care and public hospitals were available to everyone.  Today, the conditions have deteriorated and many physicians have left the country," she says.

Now at the age of 21, Mirna is completing her studies at Bryn Mawr College, where she will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.  "I wanted to learn more about sciences such as physiology and neuroscience so I can go into health care," she says.

Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college in Bryn Mawr, a community near Philadelphia.  The college works in association with the Institute of International Education (IIE), which provided scholarships to 43 Syrian students at 34 colleges and universities in the United States. 

The IIE receives funding from Syrian businessman Mr. Moataz Al-Khayyat, who is the owner of UrbaCon Trading & Contracting.  He now lives in Qatar after the Syrian regime confiscated his business assets. 

"Investing in the education of the Syrian people is very important" said Mr. Al-Khayyat. "These young Syrians will be tasked with the difficult undertaking of rebuilding their country and they need the proper knowledge to be successful."

Mirna's scholarship program provided the opportunity to serve an internship at Bellevue Hospital outside of New York City where she worked in the emergency room and gained valuable experience observing doctors in the ER.

Mirna is particularly interested in pursuing women's health care, with a focus on reproductive health for women.  "I am interested in family planning and the education of reproductive health – which is taboo to talk about right now in Syria," Mirna said. "Abortion is illegal and most medical decisions are made by men because of the Syrian culture."

"I am especially appreciative of the IIE Scholarship and Mr. Al-Khayyat. Investing in education is investing in Syria's future and its potential," she said. "Syria is a beautiful country; I want to make a contribution to Syria and also help those in the United States through my education and career."

Contact: Jan Du Plain, [email protected], 202-486-7004

SOURCE UrbaCon Trading & Contracting

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