Anisa Dahir (‘21), a Westminster alumni currently attending Tufts University School of Medicine physician assistant (PA) program, has been awarded the National Health Service Corps Scholarship (NHSC) recognizing her academic abilities and commitment to providing healthcare to communities in need. The NHSC Scholarship requires that after Anisa has completed her PA program at Tufts University, she will serve 2 years working to provide health care in areas classified with a professional healthcare shortage.
Dahir was inspired to enter the professional health field as a PA by her personal experiences as a Somali American. A primary source of inspiration came from her mentor, one of the first PAs within the Utah Muslim community, serving minority, refugee, and immigrant populations in need of medical care. By witnessing firsthand the effect that upholding the core values of a PA can have, Dahir realized that the PA pathway was perfect for her to combat the lack of healthcare providers in minority-predominant areas.
Another event that pushed Dahir towards the PA profession was deeply personal, involving her grandmother's experiences with the healthcare system. Dahir’s grandmother contracted Hepatitis B while in Somalia, but only received a diagnosis after she arrived in the United States. However, she experienced many difficulties understanding and managing her condition due to the language barrier, leading her condition to worsen and eventually taking her life in 2011.
“Underrepresented populations face backlash among the medical community because of language barriers, systemic/institutionalized racism, lack of access to quality care, and shortcomings in cultural competence,” Dahir says.
Dahir also saw how frustrated and sad her mother was because she couldn’t comprehend the situation and what steps to take for Dahir’s grandmother’s treatment due to the language barrier. The experience stuck with Dahir, solidifying her pathway towards becoming a PA.
“It was then that I promised myself I will someday become a health care provider and ensure that no patient experiences the pain of not understanding their diagnosis,” Dahir says. “I am dedicated to providing patient-centered care, as seen by my mentor, to all of my patients, especially those who are medically underserved.”
Dahir’s commitment to the NHSC does not stop at academics; she previously volunteered as a community liaison for a health prevision program focused on diabetes and hypertension in the Utah Somali community. Dahir’s work enhanced the cultural competency of the professional health students within the program, fostering important conversations and empowering the Somali community to become more active in health education.
While in the NHSC program Dahir’s roles included translating educational materials, collaborating with community leaders, and working with health care providers to emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle. These educational materials will continue to be used within Somali community centers, Masjids, and health clinics across the state of Utah.
Dahir’s journey of becoming a physician's health assistant represents the spirit of the National Health Service Corps Scholarship, emphasizing her commitment to providing healthcare to communities in need, addressing disparities in health care, and working towards culturally competent care for Health Professional Shortage Areas.
– Violet Czech (‘26)
