KDHE Home - News 2002 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 14, 2002
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently reviewed applications of two non-citizen physicians and recommended waivers for the two-year home residency requirement. The recommendations, if approved, would allow Dr. Malaz Almsaddi to continue practicing in Dodge City, and would allow Dr. Nizar Kibar to begin practicing in Greensburg.
KDHE's Office of Local and Rural Health submitted the recommendations on November 6th to the U.S. Department of State, Waiver Review Branch and to the INS which has the sole authority to grant waivers.
This action was possible after President George W. Bush signed a law November 2nd allowing states to continue recommending waivers for physicians for two additional years (2004). This measure, called the Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, also increases the number of waivers per state from 20 to 30.
Specifically, the act contains provisions which allow state departments of public health to recommend J-1 visa waivers for physicians in exchange for practicing three years in an area with a federally defined shortage of physicians. This program, referred to as the Conrad 20 or State 20 Program, expired earlier this year.
Dr. Malaz Almsaddi is a neurologist currently practicing and planning to continue with the Dodge City Medical Center. Ford County has a primary care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation for the low-income population. Dr. Nizar Kibar has been recruited by the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg to practice internal medicine. Kiowa County is also designated as a primary care HPSA.