PHI Spotlight: Meet Dr. Mohammad Sediq Hazratzai, Afghan Refugee, Physician and Public Health Professional

Due to growing conflict, violence and poverty, millions of children and adults from Afghanistan and the Ukraine have been forced to flee their countries, leaving behind everything that they have and know—their homes, country, families, and way of life. Many have also experienced the loss of loved ones. Upon arriving in the United States, refugee families face additional challenges, such as a lack of economic resources, social networks, healthcare access, literacy, and knowledge of language and culture.

Dr. Mohammad Sediq Hazratzai, MD, MPH, knows what this feels like on a personal level—and has dedicated his career to connecting newly arrived refugee families with information, resources and services provided by culturally rooted staff who are also part of the refugee communities. “As an Afghan refugee, physician, and public health professional, my interest in this work stems from witnessing firsthand the profound health challenges faced by refugees and immigrants,” said Sediq. “After resettling in the United States, I recognized that many immigrants and refugees continue to encounter significant barriers to healthcare access and integration. My lived experience and expertise in immigrant and refugee health motivated me to leverage my background to address the disparities these populations face.”

In 2022, Sediq joined the Public Health Institute as a principal investigator; in his first year he was awarded a PHI Development Assistance microgrant of $7,500—and with it, he started the Sehat Initiative, which has grown to be PHI’s Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CIRH). CIRH works to address the humanitarian and healthcare needs of refugees, providing resources and information directly to refugee communities; partnering with school districts, community-based organizations and others to deliver culturally responsive, trauma-informed workshops tailored to the unique needs of refugee children and families; and training service providers on refugee health profiles and evidence-based, culturally appropriate services. CIRH also hires directly from the communities it serves—helping to ensure that new clients feel seen, heard and understood by CIRH staff, while honoring the expertise of community members and creating access to economic opportunity.

Since the launch of this work only two years ago, CIRH has rapidly expanded its successful local model to provide support services to newly arrived youth and families from Afghanistan and Ukraine, including school-based services and services to address mental health needs. In October, CIRH hosted their first in-person conference, which brought together over 160 representatives from school districts, community organizations, universities, and refugee communities, and key federal, state, and county agencies. The event also included a panel of refugee students to elevate their voices and experiences, ensuring that their perspectives could be heard by those serving them.

Learn more about Dr. Mohammad Sediq Hazratzai, MD, MPH →