She gained an MB ChB at the University of Manchester in 1973. Since 1982 she has been a full-time, single-handed General Medical Practitioner in Eastleigh. Her other professional commitments have included teaching third year medical students, being a Board member of the Primary Care Group and the lead person on the Health Improvement Programme. Presently, she is a General Practice Appraiser for Eastleigh and Test Valley South Primary Care Trust. 

In the past, Reefat has worked closely with the local community as Southampton Interfaith Link Co-ordinator for Muslims. She is the Treasurer of a local Muslim Women's organisation, Southampton Al-Nisaa Association. From 2000-2002 she served as a member of the Regional Advisory Council for BBC South.  

Since 2001 Reefat has been working with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) – the national umbrella body of Muslim organisations in the UK. Currently she is the Chair of the Social and Family Affairs Committee of the MCB. In 2006, she was a member of the Advisory Board of the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) Investigation into the Ethnic Minority Women's Employment.