Dr. Mimi Syed, a local emergency room physician who made two recent trips to the Gaza Strip will speak in Olympia, Friday, April 11th, 7-9 pm, at The United Churches of Olympia Social Hall, 110 11th Ave SE, in downtown Olympia.

Dr. Syed is a board-certified emergency medicine physician, a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and an assistant clinical professor at the University of Washington and Washington State University. From August 8 to September 5, 2024, and from December 3 to December 31, 2024, Dr. Syed served in both al-Aqsa and Nasser Hospitals in Gaza. She will discuss her experience there and the impact of the current and ongoing war on Gaza’s children, the injuries she saw and treated, the targeting of hospitals and healthcare workers by the Israeli military, and the lack of “basic life essentials” for the people of Gaza. Some images in this presentation may be unsettling.

Dr. Emily Antoon-Walsh, pediatrician, will introduce Dr. Syed and talk about her own work with the Institute for Understanding Anti-Palestinian Racism. The presentations will be followed by Q&A.

The educational event is sponsored by the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice and Palestine Action of South Sound (PASS) in remembrance of activist Rachel Corrie’s stand in Gaza on March 16, 2003, as she stood to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian family’s home and whose birth day is celebrated on April 10th. Palestinian sweets will be provided. The free event is open to the public and all are welcome.

For information contact info@rachelcorriefoundation.org.