September 20, 2010, Washington, D.C. – In 2007, Leila, a student at Stanford University, lost a sister-in-law in a fight with cancer. At the time, her brother, his wife, and new-born child lived in Vancouver, Canada, a mere two hour flight from Leila’s California residence. However, due to the nature of visas granted to Iranian students, Leila could not risk a trip abroad to visit her family. “To me, making the decision to go out of the United States is basically equivalent to answering this question: am I able to handle my studies and research from outside America if I go out and my clearance doesn’t come on time?” Unfortunately for Leila and many other Iranian students the answer is no.
September 23, 2010 – It’s a privilege to bring you this story about Nazie Eftekhari, founder and principal architect of HealthEZ, founder of The Araz Group, and a member of IAPAC board. Ms. Eftekhari enlisted as a Mentor when we launched the PAAIA Mentorship Program last April and was matched with three talented Iranian American youth who are aiming for a future in healthcare. Nazie not only brought her three mentees to Minnesota for an intensive workshop with healthcare experts—all expenses paid—she also jumpstarted their career by finding them jobs. How extraordinary is that?! And in this economy too! What follows is the story as told by Nazie and her mentees, Keyvon Hosseini, Shayli Eshaghi, and Christine Soufastai.
In Nazie’s Own Words
“On Thursday September 2nd, 2010, I met with my mentees in person for the first time at Interlachen Country Club for breakfast…”
I’m here at the Seyhoun Gallery on upper Melrose Avenue in the heart of West Hollywood’s gallery district with the lovely Maryam Seyhoun for a one-on-one.
What a lovely space. Please tell us a little about Seyhoun Gallery.
Thank you. The original Seyhoun Gallery was founded by my mother, Mrs. Masoumeh Seyhoun, on Soraya Avenue in Tehran over forty years ago. It was the first gallery in Iran that was designed after Western art galleries. I founded the Los Angeles branch back in 2004.
