Meet an asylee driven to provide health care After fleeing her home in Afghanistan, Sheeba Shafaq began the long process of rebuilding her medical career in the United States. February 18, 2021 Photo: Derek Knowles/IRC Sheeba Shafaq always knew she wanted to work in health care, particularly women’s health. She can’t imagine herself doing anything else. The 29-year-old was on her way to becoming an OB-GYN in Afghanistan when her work promoting women’s rights led to threats to her life and she sought asylum in the United States. Now, the only member of her family in the U.S., Sheeba has thrown herself into the long process of earning the new credentials she needs to rebuild her career. She currently works as a supervisor in a mobile medical clinic that has focused almost solely on COVID-19 testing since March. There she puts in 10-hour days while taking classes and preparing applications for medical school. She also mentors IRC clients—including other asylees and refugees—interested in health care and shares information about the coronavirus vaccines with refugee communities.