Born into war-wracked Somalia and a refugee for years, Muktar Farah is now on the cusp of a remarkable dental career in Minnesota.

Dr. Farah shared his inspirational path to dentistry with Incisal Edge in the dental lifestyle magazine’s summer edition.

I WAS BORN in Somalia in 1991 at the beginning of the civil war. My family was displaced, and we weren’t in a position to fly out, so we fled the country on foot. We spent the first 10 years of my life in refugee camps in northeastern Kenya.

Around 1999 or 2000, we finally made it to Nairobi and had some stability. I started my schooling there.  My mom valued education, so I was homeschooled and had some foundation, but I was still behind. In 2008, I completed my high school education in Nairobi.

Muktar Farah, recent graduate of Doctor of Dental Surgery program at the University of Minnesota

Through a refugee program, in 2009 Muktar Farah gained an opportunity to come to the U.S. Helpful advice from relatives who attended the University of Minnesota, a summer dental program there and a love for biology led him to dental school.

Minnesota was the first state to take Somali refugees two or three decades ago. Once you come, you don’t want to leave. The people are nice. It’s important to me that my story resonate with people, but I also want to show my appreciation to the state.

Dr. Muktar Farah

Read the full story and see where Dr. Muktar Farah is headed after graduation: https://www.incisaledgemagazine.com/mag/article/world-traveller/

View the hooding ceremony for the Doctor of Dental Surgery candidates conducted by the faculty of the School of Dentistry that took place recently at a University of Minnesota Commencement Ceremony: https://mediaspace.umn.edu/media/t/0_7sgh6jci