Curiosity about the human body brought Dr Asif Najmuddin to the field of medicine. He pursued a medical degree from Aga Khan University, in his hometown Karachi, Pakistan, where he was a regular at the Darkhana Jamatkhana. In 2007, Dr Najmuddin moved to the United States, where he has been serving as a pulmonary and critical care physician for the past six years at Medical City Denton in Texas, and attending Carrolton Jamatkhana.
His specialisation as a pulmonary and critical care physician means that Dr Najmuddin has been on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic, currently serving as an ICU physician. He says one of the biggest challenges has been managing all of the unknowns that come with a new virus, especially as guidelines continue to evolve. With new learning from the scientific community, come new disruptions to the workflow. In addition to a whirlwind of activity attending to patients and training healthcare providers on updated guidelines, he is constantly having to slow down to wear his personal protective equipment. In those moments, Dr Najmuddin reminds himself about the importance of being patient, collaborative, and consultative. The disruption also occurs at home, where he continues to wear a mask to protect his family from exposure.
Yet, Dr Najmuddin considers himself fortunate to be able to serve as part of the US and Texas critical care workforce, not only because it’s what he signed up for when he chose to be a doctor, but also because it means he can serve his community and his Jamat by helping them gain new knowledge and insight about coronavirus.
“Don't live in panic, as stress may suppress your immunity and put you at higher risk for infections. Eat a diet comprising fruits and vegetables, which can help you fight infections,” he said. “Use this time to sit back and reflect on things that we take for granted in our usual busy lives. Read a book, talk to your family, use technology to your advantage and connect with loved ones.”
