Marina Pourafkari was born in Iran to a disciplined, well-educated family. Her father, an army officer, and her mother, a teacher, instilled in her the value of excellence. Despite growing up amid political unrest and the Iran-Iraq war, Marina excelled academically, earning a spot at Shahid Beheshti University at 17 to study medicine. There, she met Hamid, her future husband, and they married after graduating.
Specializing in radiology, Marina became a leading expert in Iran. However, concerns about their daughters’ futures prompted her and Hamid to immigrate to Canada in 2010. Starting over, Marina faced cultural and professional challenges, beginning as a volunteer researcher. Through perseverance, she earned fellowships at top Canadian universities. In 2020, Marina joined Kingston Health Sciences Centre as a Cardiothoracic Radiologist, thriving in her field while caring for her family. Grateful for Canada’s multiculturalism and opportunities, Marina cherishes her journey and her family’s success.