Forced to Flee Haiti, Efdjeen Never Gave Up On Her Dreams of a Medical Career

A former IINE client, Efdjeen gave a Suitcase Stories® performance at IINE’s 2026 Golden Door Award Gala, where the below video was shown for the first time. 

A Call to Serve

When Efdjeen was a child in Haiti, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to be when she grew up. “I was curious about everything,” she says. “I loved art, and I also loved the idea of being a businesswoman.”

As she got older and thought more deeply about the question, she realized that what she really wanted to do in life was to help people. “I thought about my mom. It was always her dream to become a doctor, but she couldn’t. So I thought, ‘Okay, I got this.’” 

Making Strides

This goal motivated Efdjeen. She worked hard in high school and got accepted into a pharmacy program at a local university. It wasn’t medical school, but she found that she really enjoyed it. Rather than trying to transfer as she had originally planned, she finished the degree and found a job as a pharmacist. Meanwhile, to further her mission of helping people, she began volunteering at an international leadership organization.

“Honestly… I don’t even know when I had time to sleep.” 

Still, she felt called to pursue her original goal of becoming a doctor. On her second try, she got into medical school and earned her degree, but her graduation came at a challenging time. The COVID-19 pandemic had hit, delaying her path forward. She took the challenge in stride, taking up painting as a hobby that allowed her to explore her artistic side as she continued to work as a pharmacist.  

As soon as she was able, she went back to medical school and began her internship. Then a new challenge arose. 

“The situation in my country became more dangerous as gangs took over—but I still had to finish my internship. Every week, I traveled for hours between my job and the hospital. Sometimes, because my lighter skin complexion made me an easy target for kidnappers, just to make it there safely, I had to hide under the seat of the bus so I wouldn’t be seen.”  

Despite the fear, Efdjeen remained determined.  
 
“I was too close to the finish line. I couldn’t give up. So, I completed my internship and became that doctor.”

On Pause

When Efdjeen returned home, ready to start her new life as a doctor, she found that the reality of gang violence had grown too dangerous to avoid.

“My neighborhood was attacked. My home was destroyed. My family had to run. My doctor journey was on pause. 

She did not want to leave, but her family was terrified for her safety and convinced her it was the move she had to make. With her mother, father, and sister, she would journey to the U.S. where they could live with an aunt.  

Starting Over

After all she had achieved in Haiti, persevering through setbacks and hustling hard to realize her dreams, starting over in the U.S. would not be easy.

“We had to start over from zero, like, real zero. Not even a ‘starting from the bottom’ kind of zero. We felt so many mixed feelings: gratitude and joy because we were with our family, safe, breathing new air with no gunshot sounds, but at some point, we also felt a bit lost, uncertain about the future. Sometimes I even felt depressed, but we never gave up.”

To help support her family, Efdjeen began working as soon as she was able, finding jobs as a machine builder and tester, and as a sales associate at a local mall. She knew she wanted to get back into the medical field. But where to start? She was thrilled when she learned about the opportunity to join IINE’s free CNA for Success program, which combines contextualized ESOL instruction, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) clinical skills training, and job readiness training. True to form, she worked hard in the course, passed her exam, and earned her license to become a CNA.

“IINE made me start to feel comfortable with the medical terminology. It was such a great pleasure for me—but I wanted to do more than that.” Efdjeen explained her goals to her IINE Career Navigator and asked what other steps she could take. Fortunately, IINE had just launched a new initiative modeled after CNA for Success, the Medical Assistant Training program. Efdjeen enrolled, completed the course, and earned her next certification.

New Pathways

IINE helped Efdjeen secure a job as a clinical medical assistant with a partner organization, the Lowell Community Health Center.  
 
“Most of my patients are refugees and immigrants, just like me. I’m working toward a Physician Assistant program because I firmly believe that one day, I’ll become an Anesthesiologist.” 

Meanwhile, Efdjeen says she is not the only one in her family finding pathways to happiness in Lowell. “My mom is now a bus monitor, and she loves it. My sister is pursuing her finance career, met the love of her life, and got married. My dad is learning English every day, and honestly, we’re all still learning English together.” 

The resilience of Efdjeen and her family is paying off, and her new community has gained a new healer. 

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Refugiados e inmigrantes emprenden largos y difíciles viajes para huir de la violencia y rehacer sus vidas en Estados Unidos. Tú puedes darles la ayuda que necesitan.