Agenda

Fulfilling Potential: Foreign Trained Physicians A Pathway Forward for Maine

A Remote Conference: January 19, 2023 - 9:00 am - 12 pm

As we work together to address workforce issues in Maine, we often overlook foreign-trained professionals. This population of credentialed physicians is locked out of practicing at a time when they are needed most. At this forum, we will hear from some of Maine’s foreign-trained doctors about their experiences and leaders from around the country who will share their insights and experiences about how to address this issue as well as explore options for Maine.

9:00 AM - Welcomes and Keynote Speaker

Mufalo Chitam, Executive Director, Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition

Erik N. Steele, DO, President, Maine Medical Association

Mohamed Khalif, MD, Founder, The Washington Academy for International Medical Graduates.

9:30 AM - Overview of Challenges - Panel Discussion with Q & A

José Ramón Fernández-Peña, MD, MPA, Founder and Executive Director, Welcome Back Initiative

Susan E. Bell, Ph.D., Co-Author of “The Case for Refugee Physicians: Forced Migration of International Medical Graduates in the 21st Century,”

Georges Kanda, MD, Director of clinical services at Greater Portland

Health

10:30 AM - Breakout Rooms - Physicians Share Their Stories

10:45 AM - Break

11:00 AM - Progress in Other States Panel Discussion with Q & A

Michael Zimmer, JD Senior Policy Advisor, World Education Services

Robert P. Marlin, MD, Ph.D., MPH, Chief, Metta Health Center at Lowell Community Health Center, and member of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Foreign Trained Medical Professionals

Amy Grunder, Director State Policy and Legislative Affairs MA Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Mohamed Khalif, MD, Founder of the Washington Academy for International Medical Graduates

11:50 Wrap and Adjourn

The event is organized by

New Mainers Resource Center, Portland Adult Education

The Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership.

Co-Sponsored by the following organizations

Maine Medical Association

Maine Hospital Association

The Maine Primary Care Association

Greater Portland Health

Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition

Maine Osteopathic Association

Maine Health Access Foundation

Welcome Back Initiative

Office of Maine Refugee Services, Catholic Charities of Maine

Portland Public Schools, City of Portland

The Betterment Fund

The Maine Adult Education Association

United Way of Southern Maine

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Almost all of the foreign-trained and credentialed physicians living in Maine are effectively locked out of their profession. At this forum, we will hear from some of Maine’sforeign trained doctors about their experiences and leaders from around the country who will share their insights and experiences about how to address this issue as well as explore options for Maine. This event will

include two participatory panels in addition to time in small group settings to meet with foreign trained physicians in Maine.

Speakers include:

Mohamed Khalif, MD

Founder of the Washington Academy for International Medical Graduates. In 2019 Mohamed Khalif was appointed to serve on the State Medical Graduate Workgroup. His organization successfully advocated for licensing reform every year since 2019 and helped pass three pieces of legislation during this time. The most recent legislation, HB1129, established a license for unmatched (unable to obtain a residency) doctors in Washington State.

Susan E. Bell, Ph.D.

Susan E. Bell is Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, at Drexel University, where she is also a Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Science, Technology and Society (CoAS) and the Urban Health Collaborative (Dornsife School of Public Health). She published an article based on this research in 2021 with Lillian Walkover (“The Case for Refugee Physicians: Forced Migration of International Medical Graduates in

the 21st Century,” Social Science & Medicine) and is working on a second article about women refugee physicians. She is currently writing a book about outpatient hospital care for immigrant and refugee patients in Maine, tentatively titled Permeable Hospitals.

Robert P. Marlin, MD, Ph.D., MPH

Chief of Metta Health Center at Lowell Community Health Center. He also was appointed to the Massachusetts Special Commission on Foreign Trained Medical Professionals which issued a report in July 2022.

José Ramón Fernández-Peña, MD, MPA

Founder and Executive Director, Welcome Back Initiative

Originally trained as a physician in Mexico, he has been at the forefront of immigrant inclusion in the US. He founded the Welcome Back Initiative in 2001 with a center in San Francisco. Now made up of a federation of 11 programs across the country, including Maine, the Welcome Back Initiative has been helping foreign trained health professionals living in the US integrate into the US healthcare system.

Michael Zimmer, JD

Senior Policy Advisor, World Education Services

Recognized as a national expert on licensing. He has previously served as the Cabinet Director for Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan. Amongst other positions, he has been the Director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Executive Director of the Michigan Administrative Hearing System.