Seyed Saravi, PharmD, PhD, stepped foot in Boston Logan Airport Wednesday to begin work as a researcher at Boston-based Harvard Medical School following an eight-month journey from Iran, The Harvard Crimson, reports.
Thirty-one-year-old Dr. Saravi was issued a previously-approved visa to conduct research in the U.S. and was scheduled to begin his work in February. However, following President Donald Trump's executive order suspending immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries — including Iran — in January, Dr. Saravi's visa was denied.
Dr. Saravi was one of four researchers from Iran slated to conduct research at the medical school. All four were affected by the president's executive order. The three other individuals arrived to the U.S. in February, the report states.
"Patients in Iran and ... the United States suffer from the same diseases, and I hope that scientists and doctors in both of our countries … can work together to advance our knowledge and discover new cures," Dr. Saravi said shortly after his arrival in Boston. "Bans and restrictions make humans stronger. Now I am really stronger than before because I have passed many limitations, many restrictions. The hardness of this is the coat of glory."
Dr. Saravi is scheduled to begin work at the medical school next week.