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The Somali Medical Association was formed in 2004 at its first meeting in Columbus, Ohio and held its second annual meeting here in Minnesota.
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This is the second of a series of interviews with Somali Medical Doctors.The series is part of an effort to learn more about a) the jobs of our top of the line Somali professionals; 2) learn more about health-related issues as they see it from their professional fields; and 3) any health-oriented messages they would like to share with our readers all over the Somali inhabiting regions as well as the Diaspora communities.
Dr. Mahmoud Dahir Afgarshe is a Somali internist and works as an M.D. at the Region Hospital in Saint Paul city, in the State of Minnesota. Dr. Afgarshe is educated in Somalia and in the United States of America. WardheerNews (WDN): Where did you do you internship and what are your thoughts regarding the grinding schedule of finishing medical school successfully? Dr. Afgarshe: I did my first internship in Mogadishu Somalia, but I also did another internship and residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C. in the United States of America. It was a very challenging residency in which I had to adjust to very novice technology and a different patient population than the one that I used to serve. I did however adjust well, and in fact became a chief resident during my third year of internship. For the first time in my life, I worked for more than hundred hours a week. This was a grueling schedule and a tough life. WDN: Dr. Afgarshe, you practice medicine in Saint Paul city, with a large Somali immigrant population. Can you tell us the common health issues of the >Somali community? Are there particular health issues that are unique to recent immigrants? Dr. Afgarshe: I work at the Center for International health at Regions hospital, where I see patients both at the clinic and in-patients at the hospital. I see multi-ethnic patients and I may speak two or three languages in any day during my practice. The most common health issues of the Somali community are infections diseases, gastro-intestinal disorders, Hypertension, Diabetes, osteoarthritis, etc. Somalis have acquired new problems related to the new environment, including abundant food, sedentary life style and stress. WDN: As an internist, you are more involved in preventive/health maintenance medicine. Do Somali adults who are your patients come and do their annual or necessary checkups? Is there enough awareness among your patients and the community at large on issues of blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes? Dr. Afgarshe: One of the major challenges that we face is educating the community in preventive medicine and health maintenance. I have conducted at least six videotapes on topics discussing major Somali health issues, and local Somali TV channels aired these videotapes. WDN: You have recently been involved in organizing a professional association for Somali doctors in North America. You have had concluded your second annual meeting on the week of June 26 through July 1, 2005. Your thoughts on this, please? Dr. Afgarshe: Well, we aspire to establish a professional association and play positive role in our fields. A professional association would give us clout as Somali doctors in North America and have a say in our communities. Moreover, such an association may in the long run give us a forum to exchange ideas and interact with each other so as to be able to sharpen our marketing skill in the markets where we practice our trade. Those are the main objectives of our nascent organization. .
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