Dr. Amarjit Singh posing with colleagues after receiving The Asian American Humanitarian Award 2013 and lifetime volunteer service medal of honour

How difficult was it to establish yourself in the field of medicine in Chicago?

All the trouble here is getting into residency. If you get in residency program once and have an above average intelligence, your path is set. All you need is these two qualities and you are on your way to a decent income. Currently, there are more than a thousand applications pending for few residencies. So, foreign graduates are having a tough time in the US. The only graduates with 95 per cent score on FMG exams can be hopeful and for rest there is not much that can be expected in coming time.

What makes Indian doctors “most preferred doctors” in the United States?

Our ability to converse in English clearly helps us over doctors from other countries. Also, our education in India makes us stand out, we are taught the clinical medicine that makes us better in a number of ways. Indians are generally considered to be great listeners and polite. We also have very good bedside manners and treat the patients gently and kindly.

You have been an active volunteer in all the social programmes. What inspires you?

Since, I have been born in Sikh family we have always been taught the concept of Sewa. Once you connect with a human being it is a very spiritual kind of experience where you don't expect anything from the other person and that is what I practice. I feel connected to other people in need and try to be useful in any way possible.

You have been awarded with “The Asian American Humanitarian Award 2013”. How does it make you feel?

Getting an award doesn't mean much to me, all I can say is that “I feel acknowledged”. I feel great about the acknowledgement I have got from my peers. It not only makes you that you feel that your work is making a difference but also pushes you to do more for the society and more importantly your own community.