To be immigrant doctors in the US: Today's tensions are not new

Dr Satheesh Kathula, author of 'Immigrant Doctors: Chasing the Big American Dream', speaks to The Sunday Guardian.

- MANEESH PANDEYA

At a time when America is rethinking its immigration policies and grappling with shortages in healthcare talent, "Immigrant Doctors: Chasing the Big American Dream" arrives as both a timely reminder and a necessary provocation.

It is often said that every seventh patient in the United States is cared for by a doctor of Indian origin-a number that may soon become every sixth. Behind this statistic lies the remarkable, decades-long journey of foreign-trained physicians whose white coats carry not just medical tools, but stories of sacrifice, grit, and unwavering hope. These "white-coat dreamers" helped shape one of the world's most robust healthcare systems, even as they navigated cultural bias, relentless stress, and systemic hurdles. Their resilience remains the quiet force sustaining American medicine through its toughest eras.

In his new book, “Immigrant Doctors: Chasing the Big American Dream", Dr Satheesh Kathula revisits his journey from a small village in Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana) to Chicago, interwoven with the struggles and triumphs of fellow immigrant physicians. The result is more than a memoir-it is a call for reflection and policy dialogue at a time when America's healthcare future still rests heavily on the shoulders of foreign doctors as "white coat angels".

In this exclusive interview, Dr Kathula reflects on the tears, toil, and tenacity that defined his journey and those of countless others who served America with skill and hope. Excerpts:

Q: Your book is a tale of every immigrant's battle to live the Big American Dream. Looking back today, was that journey worth it?