As a 7-year-old Kurdish child in Iraq, a country torn by war and conflict, I was spotted by a U.S. Marine deployed to my country with a grenade in my hand, who saved my life by exchanging the grenade for a bag of candy. Because of my turbulent childhood, I was diagnosed with complex PTSD in 2013. Thus, I aspire to live in a world where the vast majority are trauma-informed, feel psychologically safe and valued for they work they put out, and return home fulfilled.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic began, I have been open about my dormant childhood trauma. I have been traveling worldwide to give talks on topics such as trauma-informed care, leadership, and the workforce.
I often use the word “nomad” to describe my lifestyle. Throughout the years, I have embarked on various global adventures, such as trekking in Southeast Asia, summiting Everest Base Camp in Nepal, exploring the W circuit in Patagonia-Chile, visiting Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain in Peru, hiking Pukhansan in South Korea, climbing Ben Lemond in New Zealand, and reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
After having traveled to more than 100 countries worldwide, I developed an appreciation for the diverse mix of cultures, people, and traditions.
My interest in trauma stems from personal experiences of living through wars, navigating complex relationships, and continually learning what it means to be human.
I hold extensive knowledge, skills, and experiences in executive and trauma-informed leadership, administrative management, regulatory, practice, and accreditation systems gained through my 15 years of serving the profession as a pharmacist, Director of Content Development, and Business Partnership at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), State Executive for the Florida and S.C. Pharmacy Associations, Director of Quality Assurance at the University of Duhok College of Pharmacy, and as a field provider in Iraq and Western Syria.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts from Agnes Scott College, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Northeastern University. I was recently recognized by the Washington Business Journal “40 Under 40” leader and by The Pharmacy Times as the “Next Generation Pharmacist” for my work on combating opioid abuse nationwide through pharmacist patient care services.
I have keynoted nationally and internationally on a wide range of topics including but not limited to mental health fitness and well-being, racial and developmental trauma, addiction, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
I am a proud author of Trading Grenades for Candy: A Kurdish Refugee’s American Journey, The We You Don’t See: Understand the Long Shadows of Trauma, and Childhood Baggage: Overcoming Trauma Patterns that Limit Success (coming soon).
In my free time, I have served as a faculty adviser for the All-Women Blogger’s Club, where I teach young women from minority communities how to voice their opinions through writing.
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