2025 Global Golisano Health Leadership Award Recipient from Mongolia: Dr. Shamsiya Murat
Dr. Shamsiya Murat has been involved with Special Olympics since 2015, and in that time, she’s played a variety of important roles in initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access and care for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
For over 25 years, Dr. Murat has been working as a pediatric ophthalmologist in Mongolia’s only public children’s hospital. Here, Dr. Murat independently translated and distributed the eye screening guidelines published by Special Olympics, which are now widely used by medical professionals in Mongolia. In addition to expanding adoption of inclusive materials among medical professionals, Dr. Murat has organized various training sessions for healthcare professionals on how to deliver inclusive services to people with IDD. These trainings have helped raise awareness of the health needs of people with IDD among medical practitioners, effectively reducing stigma, and fostering empathy and understanding in healthcare settings. Through compassionate and early diagnosis, Dr. Murat’s efforts have helped prevent vision loss and address other significant health concerns, often faced by individuals with IDD.
Dr. Murat’s involvement with Special Olympics has not only been life-changing for her, but also for her children as her son and both of her daughters have volunteered with Special Olympics. Her youngest daughter served on the Special Olympics East Asia Youth Leadership Council.
For over 25 years, Dr. Murat has been working as a pediatric ophthalmologist in Mongolia’s only public children’s hospital. Here, Dr. Murat independently translated and distributed the eye screening guidelines published by Special Olympics, which are now widely used by medical professionals in Mongolia. In addition to expanding adoption of inclusive materials among medical professionals, Dr. Murat has organized various training sessions for healthcare professionals on how to deliver inclusive services to people with IDD. These trainings have helped raise awareness of the health needs of people with IDD among medical practitioners, effectively reducing stigma, and fostering empathy and understanding in healthcare settings. Through compassionate and early diagnosis, Dr. Murat’s efforts have helped prevent vision loss and address other significant health concerns, often faced by individuals with IDD.
Dr. Murat’s involvement with Special Olympics has not only been life-changing for her, but also for her children as her son and both of her daughters have volunteered with Special Olympics. Her youngest daughter served on the Special Olympics East Asia Youth Leadership Council.