Bradford charity plays key role in banned doctor’s dramatic fight back
A refugee doctor who fled to Britain to escape Iran’s feared secret police is to resume his medical career – thanks to a pioneering organisation in Yorkshire.
Dr. Seyed Almaleki, 38, arrived in the UK in 2004 after getting into conflict with agents from Iran’s intelligence services by refusing to exempt favoured individuals from military service on medical grounds. He was banned from academic and research work by Iran’s powerful Religious and Political Assessment Board and went into exile to avoid further harassment.
This week Dr Almaleki starts work at a hospital in the North East, where he will complete his training to work as a doctor in the UK after receiving specialised one-to-one help from Bradford-based charity QED. The organisation has a reputation for pioneering hugely successful education, training and employment initiatives for ethnic minorities in Britain.
Dr Almaleki landed in Britain knowing no one. His qualifications were not valid in the UK. After a fortnight at an induction centre in Leeds, he moved to Bradford, determined to continue working as a doctor. For two years he studied intensively to improve his English and met the rigorous standards required by the General Medical Council . He was eventually joined by his wife and two sons.
In 2007 he contacted QED in a bid to find a job where he could complete his UK medical training. They assigned him an individual adviser who worked intensively with him to strengthen his employment prospects by improving his interview technique and interpersonal skills. They also helped him to identify suitable job opportunities.
This week he takes up a training post at the University Hospital of North Tees & Hartlepool where he will complete his UK training as a hospital doctor.
“I escaped Iran because I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice my medical knowledge for people who just wanted to misuse the system,” said Dr Almaleki. “Getting the chance to use that knowledge again in the UK is fantastic. QED has been immensely helpful to me and lots of other people, too. What’s especially good is that they tailor-make the advice to suit your particular needs.”
Dr Almaleki qualified as a doctor at Tabriz Medical Sciences University in 1998 and worked as a GP at a private medical clinic before being exiled. He also worked with government departments and was chairman of the Sports Medicine Association in Iran.
QED founder and chief executive Dr Mohammed Ali OBE said, “Dr Almaleki is an excellent example of the way QED helps people realise their potential and achieve their ambitions often against huge odds. He has overcome extremely challenging obstacles both personally and professionally to land this job and we wish him well.
“Our organisation will continue to work with those facing disadvantage to ensure they can play an active and meaningful part in the community.”
