“It all started with Upwardly Global… and it snowballed from there.”
When Dr. Mohammad Sediq Hazratzai arrived in San Francisco in 2016, he brought with him an impressive resume: a medical degree from Afghanistan, a Master of Public Health, and more than a decade of experience leading public health initiatives with the United Nations. Yet, despite his long list of credentials and global expertise, he quickly learned that starting over in the U.S. was more complicated than he had ever imagined.
“I was never unemployed in my adult life,” he shared. “Back home in Afghanistan, I always moved from job to job without even an interview. But here, I started applying for lower positions. At one point, I was applying for entry-level jobs, and people weren’t even calling me for interviews.”
A Matter of Survival, Not Choice
His decision to immigrate wasn’t one of opportunity — it was one of survival.
“Afghanistan was a country at war,” he said. “It was not good or bad. It was life and death. There’s a famous proverb that says nobody will leave their home unless their home is the mouth of a shark. That was sort of applicable to my circumstances.”
Transitioning to life in the States was jarring. In less than 24 hours, Mohammad felt as if he had nothing; his professional licenses were not accepted, and he was without friends and community to network with. He recalled his first six months in the States as the hardest time of his life. But a contact at a public health event introduced him to Upwardly Global and changed the trajectory of his journey.
“At first, I wasn’t sure. I never heard of Upwardly Global,” he admitted. “But I filled out the form, and within a week I received a call. That’s how the whole journey started.”
Finding Hope Through Upwardly Global
Through Upwardly Global, Mohammad was paired with a coach, Layla Divine, who helped him refine his resume, navigate mock interviews, and guide him through the unfamiliar job search process in the U.S.
“Having a coach was great. She was really professional and knew what she was talking about,” he said. “At first, the mock interviews were uncomfortable for me — I had never done them before. But they pushed me out of my comfort zone and prepared me for real interviews.”
Mohammad’s push out of his comfort zone led to real results. When he accepted his first job offer, he had three more conditional offers in the pipeline.
Leading the Mission and Paying It Forward
Today, Dr. Hazratzai is the Executive Director for the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health, a program of the Public Health Institute, and is helping thousands of others who have experienced similar journeys.
“Right now, we are one of the largest refugee-serving organizations in California,” he explained. “By 2026, we will have served about 30,000 refugees.”
His work is both professional and deeply personal. As a refugee himself, he mentors refugee physicians who are navigating the same challenges he once faced.
“They’re at a watershed moment, wondering if they should work at Walmart just to make a living or try to find something aligned with their career,” he said. “I’m only a few chapters ahead of them. I want to give them hope and guidance.”
His advice to other newcomers is simple yet profound: “Be hopeful. Be consistent. Be persistent. It is hard, but the bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity.”
A Voice at the Table: Working With Upwardly Global
Along with his work at the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health, Mohammad also serves on Upwardly Global’s Board of Directors, an honor he doesn’t take lightly.
“This organization gives you a voice and puts you at the highest level,” he said. “What’s unique is that everyone, at every level, is deeply mission-driven. They truly believe in the work.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Hazratzai hopes the organization will continue to grow and expand its reach beyond U.S. borders.
“I want Upwardly Global to do more and to be bold, not only in the U.S. but globally,” he said. “There are millions around the world who need this kind of support to reach their full potential.”
