College supports female Afghan medical students to attend Women in Leadership conference
19 June 2025
College supports female Afghan medical students to attend Women in Leadership conference
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (“the College”) is delighted to be sponsoring a group of female Afghan medical students to attend a major conference being held today (19 June) in the College. The group are studying medicine in Scotland and are part of a cohort of 19 female Afghan medical students barred by the Taliban from completing their university studies in Afghanistan, who came to Scotland in 2024 to complete their medical training with the support of the Linda Norgrove Foundation.
Today’s conference Women in Leadership 2025: Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders- run by the College in association with NHS Education for Scotland (NES)- features an international collection of experts, inspiring role models and disruptors, celebrating and supporting the leaders of today and those who follow in their footsteps across all healthcare sectors and beyond. The College has provided complimentary places for the Afghan medical students to attend the conference and is covering their travel costs.
Commenting today Dr Kerri Baker, the College’s Dean of Education and Co-Dean of Training, said:
The College is delighted to be able to support the female Afghan medical students and enable their attendance at today’s Women in Leadership conference.
It is an honour to welcome this extraordinary group of Afghan women who, despite immense challenges, remain steadfast in their pursuit of medical education and determined to qualify as doctors.
Their tenacity and vision in the face of adversity are amongst the leadership qualities we aim to celebrate at today's conference, and we hope they will find it engaging and informative as we focus on how we can support more women become leaders across the globe.
Professor Andrew Elder, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:
The College believes that access to medical education should be equitable, fair and inclusive.
We are therefore pleased to welcome colleagues from Afghanistan to this symposium and we hope that their attendance inspires delegates to stand up for equity of access in all we do.
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Further details of today’s Women in Leadership conference are available here
More information on the Linda Norgrove Foundation’s campaign to bring the students to Scotland can be viewed here
The photograph above shows the Afghan students at the conference today with Dr Kerri Baker, the College’s Dean of Education and Co-Dean of Training. (L to R, Bibi Hajera Safi, Zahra Hussaini, Dr Kerri Baker, Soraya Ghaznawi and Arifa Wahdat.)
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