The North American Spine Society has been working to assist one of its members and his family to safely leave Afghanistan.
Eric Muehlbauer, executive director and CEO of the NASS, organized a GoFundMe fundraiser in November for Sayed Abdullah Ahmadi, MD, PhD, a member from Afghanistan. Dr. Ahmadi worked at a government hospital in Afghanistan that was not allowed to treat Taliban soldiers, according to the fundraising entry. He was able to flee to Finland, but his family remains in Iran.
In a November letter of support shared with Becker's, Mr. Muehlbauer said Dr. Ahmadi and his family have been targeted by the Taliban since August 2021. Earlier in 2022, his brother was jailed as a way to get Dr. Ahmadi, the letter said.
Mr. Muehlbauer's letter also thanked Dr. Pietari Kinnunen, PhD, of Oulu University Hospital in Finland for supporting Dr. Ahmadi in the country.
If Dr Ahmadi and his family make it to the U.S., he will join a research fellowship, according to the fundraising entry. So far, more than $2,000 has been raised for Dr. Ahmadi's family via GoFundMe.