Speaker
Description
Romania is universally considered an emigration country, and especially one from which medical professionals choose to emigrate, usually in Western Europe or North America. On the other hand, various themes related to the healthcare system are common in the public discourse, focused on systemic issues and problematic patients’ experiences. This proposal is constructed on an exploration of the other, less visible and far less developed, side of reality: Romania as a destination country for doctors and nurses. It is based on 10 biographical interviews conducted with healthcare professionals who immigrated in Romania from the Republic of Moldova. This type of interview enabled us to capture the meaning of migration as lived experience integrated in the broader life histories of participants, whose narratives are analyzed, with a focus on the (narrative) resources used by individuals in order make sense of their migration decision and experience. Our findings suggest that Romania holds a special status as destination country for potential emigrants from the Republic of Moldova due to several aspects, such as historical relations and geographical proximity. Moreover, Romania is seen as a gateway to Europe or, more precisely, an option for reconciling family attachment and struggles for professional development and recognition.
| Presenting author | Alexandra Deliu |
|---|
