Afghan physicians celebrate their academic achievements in cancer research
The Afghan physicians and graduate students Amanullah Darman and Fátima Darman defended their master’s dissertations at the State University of Maringá (UEM) through the Graduate Program in Health Sciences.
The couple left Afghanistan as refugees and settled in Maringá in 2022. At UEM, they continued their academic studies and conducted research in the health sciences. For two years, they devoted themselves to their studies while also adapting to a new language, culture, and social context.
According to Professor Renato Leão, coordinator at the International Cooperation Office (ECI), earning a master's degree represents an important academic achievement and is also an example of perseverance. “Aman and Fátima's journey can serve as an inspiration to other refugees and migrants seeking new opportunities for education and professional training in Brazil,” he noted.
Darman conducted research on “Global inequalities in the burden of breast cancer: an ecological analysis of incidence, mortality, and prevalence according to the Human Development Index.” Fátima, meanwhile, conducted the study “Trends in colorectal cancer mortality among women in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, the United States, and Canada: a comparative analysis for the period from 2012 to 2022.”
Darman has already been admitted to the Doctoral Program in Health Sciences at UEM and will continue his research in the field. He dedicated his master’s dissertation to Brazil, “the country that welcomed me with respect, warmth, and opportunities.” He also recalled “its generous people, who made me feel at home,” and Afghanistan, “my homeland, which will always be in my heart. May this work be a symbol of friendship between these two nations.”
“This couple’s achievement is very significant because it is giving a new lease on life to those who have come from another country and had to leave everything they had behind,” said the ECI coordinator. “In addition, we are training professionals who will be able to work here in our community. This is another outreach initiative offered by UEM to the Maringá community,” concluded Renato Leão.
Translation team:
Felipe Amorim Piva
Julia Pedriali Rosa