Page 27 - FINAL San Diego Woman interactive

Women of Distinction

Dr. Sudabeh Moein children throughout the world. A lofty

goal, to say the least, but that did not stop
her. Dr. Moein went on to medical school
GLOBAL PHYSICIAN, INVENTOR & in Chicago and holds the distinction of
being the first female Iranian graduate
WOMEN’S ADVOCATE from the medical program that matched
for the OB/GYN residency at Harbor-UC-
LA Medical Center. She was also the
By Judith A. Habert first female Iranian woman accepted to
the program. Upon her graduation from
When you look at the list of achieve- to the USA, and became a doctor, that I her residency training, her dedication
ments this woman has, as a physician and would find a way to give back to the poor and hard work was formally recognized
as a human being, you can’t help but be in and destitute globally. I would do every- when she was awarded the title of the best
awe of her. Dr. Moein didn’t start off with thing I could to help women and children resident surgeon and received recogni-
the means or ability to achieve her dream, throughout the world in any way that I tion by the Society of Laparoendoscopic
but she triumphed through adversity. could.” Surgeons.
Knowing this will allow you to under- After graduating, Dr. Moein came to
stand why this woman chose the role she San Diego to work at Scripps Green as the
did in life. We can only be thankful that first Iranian Ob/Gyn at Scripps Clinic.
someone like Dr. Moein exists in this Soon after she opened her own OB/GYN
world. Among all the pain and suffering practice with the title of Women’s Integra-
that exists, Dr. Moein believed that it was tive Center for Obstetrics & Gynecology,
her calling to make sure that two very helping to guide women through often
important factions of our society, wom- difficult pregnancies and helping to deliv-
en and children, had a better chance to er hundreds of healthy babies, and offer
survive and prosper. cutting edge surgeries. She soon became
Although she is very proud to tell you certified as one of the first few robotic
of the many contributions and accom- surgeons in her field. Along the way, Dr.
plishments of her parents, while she was Moein’s goal has always been to concen-
growing up, these were in another world, trate on some female issues that she felt
one which was on the brink of war and had long been ignored. She realized that
did not hold much promise for a young there were so many ways she could help
woman wanting to gain an education, patients, especially in areas that women
become a doctor and help those in need. are often reticent to speak about.
Dr. Moein did not grow up in this While at Scripps she had the great
country with a silver spoon in her mouth pleasure to work with Dr. Mimi Guarneri,
and a trust fund to see her way through an esteemed physician who has dedicated
college and medical school. At the age her career to helping people both in this
of 17, when most children are visiting Photo by Dawn Nicoli/Nicoli Productions country, and in the outreaches of India.
colleges to decide which college fits their One of Dr. Moein’s dreams was real-
needs, Dr. Moein was escaping from a When Dr. Moein finally made it to ized in 2010, when she accompanied Dr.
country in the ravages of war, afraid she the US, she wasted no time gaining the Guarneri and a host of other well-known
would simply become another statistic of education she desired. She did her un- and well-respected doctors and health
the unrest. dergraduate degree at UCLA in micro- care professionals to India to help bring
Her journey was one of 2 years. At 17, biology and molecular genetics. “While medical aid and training to many ex-
Dr. Moein escaped through the borders of taking an epidemiology course I fell in tremely impoverished areas. This touched
Afghanistan and Pakistan and spent two love with public health, so in my last year Dr. Moein’s heart so greatly with the
years trying to get to the United States. of college, I took courses in the school realization of how she could help so many
During her quest to get to America, she of public health, and I took the GRE and women in India, often saving lives along
obtained a job working with the United the MCAT exams at the same time. I was the way, that she has since returned over
Nations. “This was my first exposure to thrilled when I was admitted to the grad- ten times and continues to work hand in
refugees, and I marveled at the work done uate school of public health at UCLA.” hand with the doctors and health care
by the UN. I remember telling my boss Dr. Moein took every course avail- professionals in India.
about my dreams of becoming a doctor able for women’s and children’s health This experience forever changed the
and her encouraging me to find a way to because she knew that one day she would way Dr. Moein would look at her life.
get to America. It was at that point, that follow her dream and her mission to help “There were changes that I felt I needed
I made a promise to myself that if I got eradicate the suffering of women and to make once I looked at life on planet

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