Emad Khalil Siloam Health

Emad Khalil 

As a shortage of medical providers continues, international medical graduates must complete an arduous process to qualify to practice in the United States. The training process ensures the safety of patients, but because international medical graduates face additional barriers in immigration status and earning power, some opt not to stay in their chosen field.  

Emad Khalil is “the most overqualified phlebotomist in Nashville” as he is known at Siloam Health, a local nonprofit serving uninsured immigrants. After completing medical school and residency, he practiced internal medicine in Egypt for four years before immigrating to the United States through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. In 2001, at the age of 33, he arrived in the U.S. with his wife and young son. He would have had to repeat his exams and residency upon arrival — a process that takes years. 

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