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Dr Amarjit Singh, Emergency Physician, Chicago
“I work to make a difference to the community”
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Dr. Amarjit Singh receiving The Asian American Humanitarian Award 2013 and lifetime volunteer service medal of honour by Asian Chronicle USA
It is no shocker that medical doctors of Indian origin are a brand in the United States because of their outstanding professional credentials. Dr. Amarjit Singh, a medical doctor, however, has gone a step further—he has made a difference by volunteering actively in providing services to various medical organisations, the Asian-American community, and the local community at large.
He was born to parents of Indian origin settled in Burma who later moved to India. In 1977, Dr Singh completed his graduation in medicine from the Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. After his medical degree Dr. Singh worked in Zambia, Africa and the United Kingdom prior to immigrating to the United States where he settled in Chicago. Over the past 20 years Dr. Singh has worked at the Cook County Hospital and St. Bernard Hospital and currently is a physician in the Emergency Department of Mount Sinai Hospital and Level 1 Trauma Centre in Chicago.
Dr Singh has a long list of accomplishments in his career spanning 36 years. Naming a few, he has served as the President of IAMA in 2005 and has been the membership Chair of AAEMI. He was also the Chairman of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago in the year 2011 and 2012. He has been a regular volunteer physician at the Sikh Religious Society community centre in Palatine, Illinois and IAMA charitable clinic, Chicago where he provides free medical services and consultations to the deprived patients over weekends. Acknowledging his work, he was honoured with The Asian American Humanitarian Award 2013 and lifetime volunteer service medal of honour by Asian Chronicle USA in November 2013.
He is one of the many Non- Resident Indians making India celebrated all across the globe. Dr Amarjit Singh talks to India Empire about his work and accomplishments
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You completed your education in New Delhi, India and later moved to Chicago. What is the difference in the education system of India and the United States?
I have been in Chicago since 1979, so I am sure that the education system has changed a lot in India ever since. With internet, Google and other technological advancements are freely available now but these were non-existent back then. Other than that the main difference is - in US you have to be self motivated to study and learn because of so many distractions in daily life. While in India we were motivated by desire to elevate our situation, desire to get a good job, go abroad, help your family financially or make your 'khandan' and family proud. Also, in US exams are multiple choices but in India the format is different, it is a long paragraph answering style. So, memorising was the norm.
You have been practising medicine in Chicago, How different is it from India?
In India there are no medical records, no confidentiality and no standard of care. Every doctor in India may be a MD, homeopath, unani, vaid or homeopath and practice medicine in their own way as there is no medical society monitoring the standards and quality of services. It is much regulated here, every bad outcome is peer reviewed and since everything is under regulation, it drives you to excel in practice. The fear of malpractice also forces you to give your best as even a little negligence is fined here and can bankrupt a family finances.
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.
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March 2014
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