Sheela Murthy Champion for Women Award Honors Dr. Leslie Mancuso of Jhpiego
Key Takeaways
- Murthy Law Firm announced the Sheela Murthy Champion for Women Award will go to Dr. Leslie Mancuso, leader of Jhpiego, at the Laughter Is the Best Medicine Gala.
- Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, runs global health programs that improve maternal and reproductive care — services that often reach migrants, refugees, and displaced families.
- The recognition highlights the role of international health organizations in supporting both local and migrant communities and the demand for foreign-trained health professionals.
- Immigrant health workers considering U.S. employment commonly use visas such as J-1 (exchange visitor), H-1B (specialty occupation), and immigrant routes like EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver); physician-specific programs include J-1 waivers (often called Conrad 30 waivers) for underserved areas.
- For applicants, recent years have seen unpredictable USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) processing times; premium processing and early credentialing (ECFMG for physicians) remain important practical steps.
Award and event
It has been reported that Sheela Murthy of the Murthy Law Firm will join Jhpiego at its annual Laughter Is the Best Medicine Gala to present the Sheela Murthy Champion for Women Award to Dr. Leslie Mancuso. Jhpiego is an international, non-profit affiliate of Johns Hopkins University focused on maternal, newborn and reproductive health in low‑resource settings. The award recognizes leadership that improves health outcomes for women and families worldwide.
Why this matters for immigrants and the global health workforce
Jhpiego’s programs frequently operate in contexts with high migration, refugee displacement, and strained health systems — meaning their work directly affects migrant and refugee populations. At the same time, U.S. and global health organizations increasingly rely on international talent: doctors, nurses, public health specialists and program managers. Foreign-trained health professionals seeking to work in the U.S. often navigate visas such as J-1 (exchange visitor for training), H-1B (specialty occupation worker), and immigrant categories like EB-2 with a National Interest Waiver (NIW). For physicians specifically, J-1 waivers — commonly the Conrad 30 program — allow doctors to remain in the U.S. by serving in underserved areas instead of returning to a home-country residency requirement.
What this means for people navigating immigration now
Recognition of leaders like Dr. Mancuso underscores demand for global-health expertise but does not change visa rules; applicants still must meet credentialing and immigration requirements. Foreign medical graduates generally need ECFMG certification for many U.S. clinical pathways, and employers or sponsoring organizations must often file petitions with USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). In recent years, processing times have been less predictable, so applicants should plan for delays, consider premium processing where available, and consult an immigration attorney to match their qualifications to the right visa pathway. Beyond paperwork, awards and partnerships can open networking and funding opportunities for immigrant professionals interested in global health careers.
Source: Original Article