- July 30, 2025
- Interview by: Apoorva Mahale
Dr. Hashmat Ullah Faizi’s inspiring journey from Kabul to Portland reflects his unwavering dedication to medicine and service, even in the face of upheaval, and marked by courage, resilience, and an unrelenting pursuit of purpose. Motivated by the severe shortage of skilled doctors in Afghanistan, he pursued medical school and earned his M.D. in 2020, graduating amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Without hesitation, he volunteered at the Afghan-Japan Communicable Diseases Hospital, at a time when fear of the virus was widespread, before being hired officially due to his commitment and competence.
“Even under daily risk, I remained committed to my patients,” he shared. “Medicine wasn’t just a profession, it was a calling.”
He quickly transitioned from outpatient care to the emergency department, where he underwent intensive WHO training in ICU care and ventilator operation. Later, he served as a lead Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) officer and eventually pursued residency in general surgery at Esteqlal Hospital. Yet halfway through his residency, everything changed with the fall of Kabul in August 2021. As someone who had worked in public health, with international partners, and in prominent medical institutions, Dr. Faizi’s safety was gravely at risk. He fled to Pakistan with his wife, living in uncertainty for nearly a year.
“It was one of the most difficult periods of my life,” he recalls. “We had no status, no guarantees. But we never gave up hope.”
In 2024, Dr. Faizi and his wife were granted humanitarian parole and resettled in Oregon. Like many evacuees, he arrived with hope — but also faced immense challenges in rebuilding his life from scratch in a new culture, environment, and language.
Dr. Faizi serendipitously met Darwaish Zakhil, Community Advancement Director, Afghan Support Network (ASN) at a wedding party within 2 weeks of arriving here. His brother-in-law had been living here in Oregon and that is how Dr. Faizi decided to come to Oregon as he already had family staying here. It was here that the Afghan Support Network (ASN) became a transformative partner in his journey.
Through ASN’s Career Coaching & Education programs, Dr. Fiazi decided to work towards obtaining a USMLE medical license through the ECFMG department where he was connected to ASN’s Doctor Recertification Program, which supports displaced Afghan medical professionals in pursuing their U.S. licensing process. He is deeply grateful to ASN for their steadfast support in his exam preparation endeavors. ASN took responsibility for paying his exam fee and financially supported him in procuring the necessary study material to succeed in the Level 1 exam. Dr. Faizi is particularly thankful for the networking opportunities and is thankful to ASN for putting him in touch with senior Dr. Abdullah Sultani who recently started his medical residency program in the US last year following a similar path and mentored Dr. Faizi, providing invaluable insights from his own experience of charting this journey.
Despite the hardships of his past, Dr. Faizi, encouraged by ASN and driven by his determination to continue his medical career in the U.S., has persevered and moved steadily toward his goals.
With encouragement and resources from ASN, Dr. Faizi started his test prep on 1st June 2024 and on 17th June 2025, he appeared for the USMLE Step 1 exam and successfully passed the USMLE Step 1 exam on 2nd July 2025, a major achievement that marked the beginning of his return to the medical field. “Having access to guidance, mentors, and a place like Afghan-Home made a huge difference.”
“USMLE exam is extremely difficult. Many people take time off and prepare full-time for this entrance. Medical students in the US pass this exam during the final year of med school and focus entirely on preparing for and clearing this exam. Many people are unable to pass this exam on their first attempt and take up to 4 attempts”, Dr. Faizi muses. 
Beyond academic and career support, ASN provided Dr. Faizy and his family with housing navigation, rental assistance, and wraparound services. These supports allowed the couple to stabilize in their new community.
One of the most meaningful places in his journey was Afghan-Home, ASN’s community center in Beaverton. There, Dr. Faizi found not just services, but a sense of belonging. “It became like a second home,” he says. “A place where I could participate in cultural events, and be surrounded by people who understand our journey.”
Now preparing for USMLE Step 2, Dr. Faizi remains committed to resuming his medical career and hopes to serve underserved immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S. His story is not just one of personal recovery, but of determination to give back. “I want to be a doctor again — not only to heal, but to represent my community with pride.”
When asked about what’s next on the cards for Dr. Faizi? He responded “The second exam I need to tackle next is the USMLE Step 2 and I am currently preparing for it.” “I’m currently waiting on scheduling my exam as I’m facing some barriers like eviction notice from the landlord. I plan to attempt it in December 2025 or January 2026”, he adds thoughtfully. The exam preparation is a rigorous process and requires at least 8 hours of consistent preparation a day, so he begins his days early at 4am and gets in about 6 hours of preparation before getting ready to leave for his day job.
Dr. Faizi is eager to practice general surgery in the US and learn from US professors. He fondly recalls the early days of his career when he volunteered at free medical camps in Afghanistan. “We worked closely with pharmacists and received plentiful donations of medicines”, he recollects. He found the experience of working in medical camps deeply fulfilling, and cherishes the passion for community service it nurtured within him. He continues to be in touch with his medical peers back in Afghanistan who still administer the free medical camps. “Someday I wish to start a charity program of my own and offer my medical services to community members”, he signs off.
Through his story, Dr. Faizi brings ASN’s mission to life, empowering Afghans to not just survive, but thrive. His path reminds us that with care, community, and commitment, healing and hope are always within reach.
