Historic achievement by a Kurdish doctor: A story spanning from Duhok to Harvard.

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, one of the world's most prestigious healthcare institutions, has achieved a historic milestone by adding the first doctor to its staff who graduated from a medical school in the Kurdistan Region. Dr. Jagar Jasem, a native of Duhok, has begun his role in the hospital's hematology department, marking a significant achievement for the Kurdish medical community.
Dr. Jagar Jasem, a graduate of the Duhok College of Medicine, has started working as a hematology specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital—Harvard Medical School’s largest teaching hospital and a facility consistently ranked among the best in the United States. This appointment marks the first time a doctor graduating from a medical school in the Kurdistan Region has been appointed to such a position at MGH.
This achievement is viewed not only as a personal success for Dr. Jasem but also as a historic milestone for the Kurdistan Region’s education system, which has made significant investments over the past two decades to establish universities and medical schools that meet international standards.
One of the world's most respected medical institutions: MGH
Founded in 1811, Massachusetts General Hospital is the oldest and largest teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Frequently ranked as the number one hospital in the U.S. by *U.S. News & World Report*, MGH’s hematology department is a global leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Being selected for the medical staff of this institution is considered one of the most competitive and prestigious positions for a physician worldwide. The rise of Kurdish graduates on the global stage
This success story—spanning from a medical school in Duhok to a leading Harvard-affiliated hospital—reflects the progress made by educational institutions in the Kurdistan Region in preparing their graduates for the highest echelons of professional life, as well as the ambitious goals of the new generation of Kurdish students.