Mushairat Mamun, USA
Mushairat Mamun is a first-generation American Bangladeshi who was born and raised in Queens, New York.
At 17, she moved to Bangladesh to pursue her undergraduate degree, focusing on Public Health and Philanthropy. Throughout her early medical career, Mushairat played a crucial role in addressing challenges in Maternal Health in Bangladesh. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies in Atlanta, and is the first person in her family to pursue a career in medicine.
In this episode, Mushairat Mamun discusses how, even as a child, she sought ways to learn through new challenges. She reflects on growing up in a community where health and medicine were rarely discussed, and making big decisions, like moving to Bangladesh to study and find her own sense of identity. She shares how she grew through friendships and storytelling, driven by a desire to learn more, do more, and pursue a field where she could help others.
Mushairat emphasizes the importance of discussing feelings, emotions, love, and relationships to support mental health, even when these topics are considered taboo. She highlights her experience speaking with women across all age groups, valuing the significance of hearing them discuss their health and bodies, and challenging long-standing cultural norms.
She encourages women to use their voices to advocate for themselves and others, engage in meaningful issues, and promote change. Her advice to women and girls is: “Find what challenges you and do what scares you the most. Once you learn to control that fear, you can unleash your true potential.”
3 Ways to Support Girls’ Education in Afghanistan
Education is a powerful tool for transforming lives, especially for Afghan women and girls who have faced tremendous challenges. For many, education has become the key to unlocking their potential and breaking cycles of poverty.
As one Afghan student shared, “Education is our weapon against oppression. It opens doors to opportunities that we never thought were possible.”
On this International Day of the Girl, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and pride of girls in Afghanistan—today and every day.
