[Black Agnes]

Medical school requirements are probably very different in Iraq. Most 'foreign' doctors aren't recognized as such in the US w/o extensive retraining. There are exceptions.

[Happygal]

In Ireland, we have quite a few Iraqi doctors etc., but ALL of those doctors are trained in Britain, Ireland, France etc.

Iraq is/was a very affluent society. Like much of the Middle East. It's no Africa. For them 24 is VERY young (too young!) for a practising doctor.