Manos Juntas opens its doors every Saturday. Today, I picked up two of my students and headed there to volunteer. Both are young doctors from Pakistan: Dr. Zaeem Faisal from Lahore, and Dr. Ashraf Ali from Peshawar. They are completing a rotation in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine at our Norman Endocrinology center, gaining firsthand experience in the American healthcare system.
Both hope to train in the United States, then return to serve their hometowns. On our drive, we had thoughtful conversations. They asked me about my own journey as a physician midway through my career. I reminded them that while many dream of returning home, the reality is complicated. America is built by immigrants, and as the saying goes, “You can never truly go back.” By the time people establish a new life here, they are deeply rooted. I stayed in Norman for my children. Seeing the University of Oklahoma, I knew I wanted them to study there, and it took years of work and saving to make that possible.
They asked whether it is better to settle in the US or return to Pakistan. I told them there isn’t one right answer, it depends on what matters most to each person. Dr. Ashraf nodded thoughtfully. “I’m beginning to understand,” he said, “that our priorities define us.” Both were experiencing America for the first time, and I reminded them how travel opens our eyes to the world and its people.
When we arrived at Manos Juntas, we set up in Dr. Shook’s old office. He used to see patients there before he passed away two years ago. The space feels brighter since Dr. Zaeem Faisal and I cleared the clutter a couple of weeks ago and vacuumed. The summer heat has begun to ease, though one of the air conditioners remains broken because of financial constraints. Working in the warm rooms, I sometimes felt dizzy, a reminder of how getting older changes the body’s ability to regulate heat.
“Who runs this clinic?” Dr. Ashraf Ali asked.
“We do,” I told him. “Volunteers, supported by donations.”
That day, we cared for many patients. Most spoke Spanish; one woman from Cameroon spoke French, and we used Google Translate to communicate. We treated diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol issues, infections, anemia, and obesity. An elderly couple preparing to return to Mexico requested a three-month supply of their medications. A young woman of about 26 came in with a respiratory infection. Seeing her curiosity and energy, I encouraged her to volunteer as a medical assistant. Her eyes lit up as she asked how, and she soon picked up an application form at the front desk. Whenever I meet young people with potential, I try to inspire them to grow and improve their lives. By lifting one person at a time, we lift the world.
Dr. Ashraf Ali was deeply moved. “My brother is an optometrist,” he shared. “Together, we provide free eye and ear exams for people back home.” His words reminded me how human connection transcends borders. No matter the language, culture, or religion, we are united by our shared humanity.
At the close of the clinic, volunteers gathered over pizza and oranges. The students live together as paying guests with a local Oklahoma family. Zaeem cooks, while Ashraf does the dishes. “He makes too many dirty dishes,” Ashraf joked, “and by the time I finish washing them, the food he fed me is already digested!” We laughed together, sharing the warmth of friendship.
Afterward, I dropped them off in Bricktown so they could explore Oklahoma City, who knows if they’ll ever have the chance again?
Every Saturday, Manos Juntas opens its doors to serve the community, and every Saturday it becomes a classroom, not just for medicine, but for humanity. This is the heart of what we do. We provide much-needed care to the community while nurturing the next generation of physicians, helping them grow into compassionate healers. In giving, they learn. And in learning, they build a better world.
- The Role of Manos Juntas in Teaching - 19/09/2025
- Beginnings That Are Also Continuations - 27/07/2025
- Is Narendra Modi Modeling His Policies After Benjamin Netanyahu? A Geopolitical Reflection - 21/06/2025
