DOCTORS continued from
DOCTORS continued from page 23 could pay for their education.” Jessica Kado said talking shop is a natural when the siblings get together. “My mom and dad put their two cents in as much as we do,” she said. “And when my sister and I were pregnant, being a doctor did not help us at all. We just did whatever our mom told us to.” Giving Back Auraha helped found the Chaldean American Medical Student Association (CAMSA) during her sophomore year. The group has held several fundraisers for Adopt-a-Refugee-Family and, most recently, Project Bismutha. Their latest effort, held on August 28, included some 60 medical students doing a 5K run/walk on Belle Isle. The event raised ,500 for Project Bismutha. “It seems like there is an increase in Chaldean medical students, and the older ones are giving the new ones support and advice,” said Auraha. Over at Michigan State, Mansour and fellow student Devone Mansour (no relation) also started a CAMSA chapter. Ramy Mansour said he had about six or seven fellow Chaldeans in his class on the Detroit campus. Jessica Kado noted that earlier generations The physician-heavy Kado family celebrates the medical school graduation of Karl Jr (in hat) last June. Pictured are Stephanie (front left), Nicole, Jenna, Julie Ann, Jessica, Rachel (second row left), family friend St. Mahdoukh (a nun visiting from Iraq), parents Karl and Julie, Karl Jr., Kimberly, Herman, Ruba; Brian (top row left) and Luke. often did not emphasize higher education as they struggled to make ends meet. “It seems like the community has just made that transition over to medical school. There is a whole wave of people being educated instead of doing the family business,” she said. Elyas sees more families encouraging their children to become doctors. “Medical school is free in Iraq but here it is very expensive,” he noted. “We have been here long enough to support our kids to go to medical school because financially we are doing much better.” The future physicians hope to incorporate their language skills into their practices. Many are first generation so have a decent grasp on Chaldean and/or Arabic. “I speak a little Arabic and when I absolutely need to use it, it comes out naturally. I don’t know how,” laughed Mansour. “I may make my parents speak only Arabic to me so I can learn it better. Because I was born in Iraq, I don’t want language to be the reason I can’t help someone.” Roumaya knows some Chaldean from speaking with her grandmother. “I’ve tried some translating in the hospital,” she said. “I can ask what I need to ask, but I have to pause to think.” Auraha also speaks Chaldean and has taken three years of Arabic. It’s already coming in handy. “Even at Beaumont I come across many Chaldeans who don’t speak English,” she said. “I recently did a full history and exam in Chaldean. I surprised myself that I could do it.” Yeldo said he is looking forward to returning to his native Michigan. “I miss working with my community, Chaldean and otherwise,” he said. “I am so excited to be able to come back home and take care of people I have such a strong connection to.” Dr. Tiffany Kays Zair is now seeing patients in your neighborhood at the new Dearborn Town Center and in Detroit. Dr. Zair is a board certified therapeutic optometrist, specializing in optometry exams, bifocals, general contact lens fittings and specialty contact lens fittings, including contact lenses for keratoconus, post graft and post refractive. Tiffany Kays Zair, O.D. Call for your complete vision exam today! Well Eye Care Center – Detroit 313.577.8900 4717 St. Antoine Detroit, MI 48201 Between East Warren Avenue and Mack Avenue on St. Antoine Well Eye Care Center – Dearborn 313.945.7724 4700 Schaefer Road, Ste 165 Deaborn, MI 48126 On the southeast corner of Michigan and Schaefer Eye exams available Monday through Friday • www.kresgeeyewear.com 25 % OFF Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses at the Kresge Eyewear for Life Optical Shop, with this coupon. We offer brand name frames with options for every budget including Coach, Gucci, Versace, Juicy Couture, Giorgio Armani, Tiffany & Co., and more. If combined with insurance, 25% will be deducted from the out-of-pocket cost of eyeglass frames only. Offer valid with coupon only through December 16, 2011. If you have questions about the discount, please call the Dearborn optical shop at 313.945.7650 or the Detroit optical shop at 313.577.1334. 24 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2011
NOVEMBER 2011 CHALDEAN NEWS 25
