When war engulfed Gaza, she chose to stay where she was needed most.
Yara’s Story
A physician by training, she volunteered in evacuation centers and hospitals, providing primary healthcare to civilians and children while pregnant, displaced, and living under active bombardment. Even as her own circumstances became increasingly uncertain, she remained committed to caring for others.
After six months of war, Yara made the difficult decision to flee to Egypt to ensure the safe delivery of her child. Forced from her home, separated from her profession, and without the support systems she once relied on, she found herself rebuilding her life in exile.
Although she was no longer able to practice medicine, Yara refused to let displacement bring her education to a halt.
Without a pathway to work authorization, she dedicated herself to research and academic scholarship, contributing to leading medical journals including The Lancet and Frontiers in Nutrition. She also volunteered her time mentoring medical students in Gaza, helping them continue their education remotely despite the ongoing conflict.
Yara’s dedication to advancing public health earned her admission to Stanford University’s Master’s program in Community Health and Prevention Research. However, changing U.S. immigration restrictions under the current administration effectively closed entry pathways for Palestinian students, preventing her from beginning the program.
Rather than allowing another barrier to define her future, Yara found a new path forward.
With support from the READ Project, she enrolled in Harvard University’s Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program. The postgraduate program brings together physicians from around the world to develop advanced clinical research skills and will welcome Yara into Harvard’s global alumni community upon completion.
Today, Yara continues preparing for the future she has always envisioned.
Her long-term goal is to help rebuild and strengthen healthcare systems in war-affected regions, with a particular focus on women and children whose health needs are too often overlooked. Her journey is a testament to the resilience of displaced scholars and to the knowledge, leadership, and compassion they continue to offer.
With support from the READ Project, she enrolled in Harvard University’s Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program.
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From secretly teaching girls to read under Taliban rule to advocating for women as an attorney, Zara has dedicated her life to creating opportunities for others. Today, she is rebuilding that mission in the United States with the support of the READ Project.
