{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/iiif/b27pn90c32/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Soroosh Behshad, interview, 2023"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/113/original/Elib_shield_hz_rv.png?1612182578","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Moving image"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English (primary)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Publisher"]},"value":{"en":["Emory University Archives, Emory University"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2023-02-20 (interview)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Behshad, Soroosh (Interviewee)","Vatanpour, Azadeh (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e© Emory University. This online edition is made available for individual viewing and reference for educational purposes. It may be reproduced, distributed, publicly displayed, or reused for non-commercial purposes only. To request permission for commercial re-use, please contact the Rose Library. \u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Preferred Citation"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eSoroosh Behshad oral history, February 20, 2023, Clarkston Community Oral History Project, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University. \u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Holding Repository"]},"value":{"en":["Rose Library"]}},{"label":{"en":["Genre"]},"value":{"en":["Oral history interviews"]}}],"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u0026copy; Emory University. This online edition is made available for individual viewing and reference for educational purposes. It may be reproduced, distributed, publicly displayed, or reused for non-commercial purposes only. To request permission for commercial re-use, please contact the Rose Library.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Emory University Special Collections"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Emory University Special Collections"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/113/original/Elib_shield_hz_rv.png?1612182578","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/290/986/small/wfj68.mp4_1757528645.jpg?1757528645","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - wfj68.mp4"]},"duration":2617.28,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/290/986/small/wfj68.mp4_1757528645.jpg?1757528645","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-emorymss.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/290/986/original/wfj68.mp4?1757528643","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":2617.28,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Soroosh Behshad [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAzadeh V.:\u003c/strong\u003e Hi, my name is Azadeh Vatampour, and today it's Monday, February 20, 2023. We are here to have an interview for Clarkston Oral History Project. Welcome to the Emory Oral History Program. Can you please introduce yourself?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=0.0,26.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Soroush B,: Yes, my name is Soroush Bashad, and I am currently an associate professor in the College of Medicine, and I am an ophthalmologist here at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=26.0,40.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e Soroush, welcome, and thank you very much for your time. Would you please tell me a bit of information about your background and your studying and occupation?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=40.0,53.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yeah, so... My family immigrated to this country as refugees, fleeing religious persecution following the revolution in Iran in the late 70s, early 80s. I was actually born in Austria while my parents were in transit, and then we ended up arriving in the U.S., and my family actually moved around a lot. Initially, my father was a physician in Iran, and my mother was an attorney, and so there was a process of, you know, redoing their training and their schooling, and so we moved around a lot, and then I ended up moving to Arizona, where I basically grew up. And, you know, it was through that process that I decided that I wanted to go into medicine myself, mainly because I felt like it was a field where I would be able to give back to the community, and my goal was also to have a career where I could do work internationally as well. So it was nice being in Arizona because we were close to the border with Mexico, so during my undergrad schooling, I was able to spend a lot of time with different healthcare projects and service opportunities in Mexico that really helped me, you know, finalize that decision that, yes, I want to do medicine, and yes, I wanted to be involved in international work. So I completed my medical school training and also got my master's in public health, at the University of Arizona in Tucson. And then after I graduated, I then decided to go into ophthalmology, and the reason I chose ophthalmology was I was looking for a field in medicine where, you know, I could really have an impact, and that impact that I could see relatively quickly and do kind of things that are more cost-effective and be able to, you know, change people's lives. And so I really, you know, through my different rotations, I thought with ophthalmology, with doing a very simple surgery, you can restore people's visions and vision, and then they can basically be active in the community, be economically involved. And so, you know, that was kind of the major reason. And the other was being able to once again bring that idea of doing work internationally. And with ophthalmology, there are many opportunities where you can, you know, invest a little bit in terms of resource capacity building and really make an impact. On various communities internationally. So that kind of helped me make that decision. And I went into ophthalmology, I did my training at Tulane University, and then I decided to get a fellowship in corneal and external diseases, kind of wanting to further specialize with corneal transplantation. So that brought me to my first job, which was back in 2016. I was hired. And came to Emory and got involved in the medical school and the Department of Ophthalmology here.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=53.0,240.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e Wonderful. That was very clear and a very good introduction. Thanks. So you left Iran and then your family left Iran and then you were born in Austria. And then you came here and moved around. Based on that, where is home for you? Where do you feel that you belong?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=240.0,266.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e You know, this is a funny question that you asked me. Because, you know, for me, home is an easy place just because we moved around a lot. And I really wasn't tied to one city or one state, you know. And it's funny reflecting on it. It's like everywhere I've lived, like over a dozen cities, you can always find positive stuff. And, you know, great reasons for wanting to live in that city. So I think that process. I think you bring up a good point that it's opened up my perspective that I don't feel limited. Like to me, my home is where I make it, you know. And it's where I can be involved in my community. And not just with work but, you know, with service and stuff like that. So it's not just, you know, where I'm from or where my family is. But, yeah, I do think that that is something that because of that process of moving around and the culture here in the U.S. that I'm not really tied to one place.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=266.0,323.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e Tell me about your own experience growing up in your neighborhood, in your community. How was it? How did it feel growing up in that neighborhood?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=323.0,335.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e You know, I think one of the things for me was is I knew from a young age I didn't fit in. So I never got stuck on this idea of trying to fit in. I basically at a young age was like, listen, I'm different. I know that. And I'm happy. With these differences. So I didn't per se lose my culture. So it's funny. A lot of my relatives, for example, that came later than me, you know, for example, I speak Farsi better than them. I know more about our music, more about our culture just because I embraced it and I just was like, you know, these are my differences. And I always had that strong interest in wanting to be connected with my, you know, my mother tongue and my culture. So, you know, on the other hand, I think growing up, my friends just accepted me as being, you know, the Persian guy that, you know, was going to tell you how everything that we deal with on a daily basis originated from the Persian Empire or something like that. You know, so that is something I've noticed has been different for some of my other friends who have similar kind of upbringings is that early on in their upbringings, they kind of wanted to blend and not want to speak their, you know, their first language. Or listen to their, you know, listen to their primary music. But then when they got older, they felt like they were missing something, and they wanted to reacquaint themselves. So that's definitely something I think that was part of the process with my upbringings. You know, I think being a refugee and coming to this country, my family, you know, early on, we were helped by neighbors, community members, NGOs, churches, other, you know, other groups. And so, you know, being at the receiving end of those early on and in my family's arrival in this country, it was always important for us to also give back. And so as long as I can remember, you know, with our family, we were always involved in our community, even with my, so my father's a physician, like, you know, our house weekends, evenings was like a clinic. Any of our neighbors, if their kids were sick or, you know, a friend of a friend, you know, they would be coming to our house and my dad would, you know, take care of whatever medical condition they had. So that kind of went from a young age. You know, of wanting to be involved in helping people in our community, even if we're not directly related to them or they're not very close to us was important. And that's kind of helped mold me to who I am today, where, you know, I feel like that's normal for me to be involved in that kind of service. So, yeah, I think, I think those things really helped shape who I am growing up.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=335.0,490.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e Can you walk me through an average day in your life when you were a kid? And your family in the neighborhood and what did you see there? Just one average day.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=490.0,503.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e I think the difficulty for me to answer that question is it just depends on where we were because the days were different because, you know, when we were living in Chicago, we were living in a lower socioeconomic neighborhood. We were, I would say, a minority because most of the people in our community were African American. And we people didn't know what we were. Were we white? Were we Indian? Were we, you know, so, you know, that was a totally different experience for me. But whereas in Arizona, you know, totally different perspective. So I don't think that really answers your question. But I think, you know, I think I think it just depends on where I was in my life and at what stage, because I think earlier on, you know, coming to this country as an immigrant refugee. The day to days were different, just given that there were language barriers and, you know, more economic barriers. Whereas when I got older, you know, we were much more incorporated in the community. Just to have a little bit of idea of what was happening.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=503.0,572.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e Just give me some of your earliest childhood memories of neighborhood or community. Or what's something that you feel that it's it's worth remembering and memorizing?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=572.0,597.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yeah, I think I would say so. And that you're helping me there with that question. But I think, you know, when I can start remembering would be, you know, when I was somewhere in the area of like three to five years of age and we had arrived to Wisconsin and, you know, it just was a Midwestern culture. And our neighbors were very, you know. Like we moved into this apartment complex and everybody came and like greeted us. And even though we didn't really speak the same language, they were very welcoming. And I just remember every night a different family wanted to have us over at their house for dinner. And so it was like we felt so special, you know. And then it got to the point that sometimes it got a little awkward because the family, oh, no, we want the Tuesday night is our night. Let us have them, you know. And so they felt like they were taking the making us feel welcoming to another level. And so that was that was, you know, as a child seeing that, like, you feel welcome that like that's how your community is is embracing you.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=597.0,655.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"And what were things that you enjoyed when you were a kid in different neighborhoods that you live? I know there were a lot of difficulties. And like a feel like as a minorities. But there are like a moment that you enjoyed, if any. I love to hear.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=655.0,671.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e I think looking back, we lived in different neighborhoods that were pretty diverse.\n\nAnd, you know, I enjoyed being able to go to the various parks and be playing with kids who were of a different, whether it was socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, religious background. And just. I think in retrospect. Those were great memories because when I think about it, a lot of my friends, for example, growing up there, their group, their close knit were the same culture or the same, you know, socioeconomic background or the same religion. And I think that that for me was those were like very cherished memories of, you know, not having this. You have to stick in, you know, and stay with this specific group of people. And I do think that to this day has helped me to be more open minded and has affected my relations with people on a daily basis and my own patients, you know, just because everybody has different upbringings and backgrounds. And so it helps to have that experience from a young age.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=671.0,743.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e And then you went to the college. How was this life in college different from your childhood and your neighbors in that time?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=743.0,757.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yeah. You know, I think. I'm very much. I think I looked back and I'm like, wow, how. How did I end up where I am? Because I don't know how. My college experience was pretty good. You know, I feel like going from, you know, a household where your parents are like, you know, very strict and telling you what you can and you can't do into a situation where you have no rules and you know, you're the one deciding what you're going to do and when you're going to bed. So. Yeah, I guess I have to give my parents a lot of credit for they somehow got in my mind and you know I was able to kind of navigate college without a lot of distractions that that could have happened you know so I think that as well was another great experience where you know where you're going from your high school and your neighborhood to a totally different group of people and everybody once again has different backgrounds and different interests and what they're going to do, and you know I think those are great memories of mine where once again being able to make those relationships and you know live and go to school with people that to this day play an important role in my life.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=757.0,3613.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"46\n\nAV: And it was like a immediate decision that you had in your life that I want to be a doctor, or the life in in college changed your mind about your occupation and your future?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=3613.0,4440.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yeah I remember so I was like a Persian we say shaytun I was a little shaytun kid and I remember when I was growing up you know my parents had this talk with me and my sister and they're like you know whatever you want to do when you grow up that's fine you just it needs to be something positive that you're going to make an impact on your community and I remember my parents said “well what do you guys what do you want to do?’ And I said “I want to be a garbage man,” and then my parents were like “okay he has a point we need garbage men they're part of our you know our community and they're you know they're helping things so if you really want it that's what you want to do then then you can do it.” So that's kind of where my journey started of being that thorn in my parents. But you know I would say a part of it was my upbringings with my parents because you know initially when I said okay I love my biology classes I really like science I want to be a doctor my father who's a physician was like “are you sure? You really you know like the schedule's tough you know you're going to get stressed out it's a long process you know,” and so I definitely had earlier on you know an understanding and my parents kind of made me even in high school and middle school like volunteer to just make sure that these were the right choices but I think I entered college open-minded thinking I wasn't set on medicine but it was through that process and then my experiences and getting to work you know even as an undergrad student internationally you know they're right over the border that really helped me decide that you know yes I want to do public health and I want to do medicine and you know I can make these two things come together to really make an impact.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=4440.0,4540.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e So you successfully finished your study you found job you came to Atlanta at Emory when was your first encounter with Clarkston? I just want to know that like it do you have do you know and you remember?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=4540.0,4554.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Vividly okay, so I had just moved to Atlanta there's a little backstory so I was involved with an organization that was providing care to Syrians who were both either in you know combat zones or outside in refugee camps and you know so initially setting up a tele-ophthalmology program to be able to provide care to Syrians who are within Syria and so for example I would be working with a veterinarian in or it might be a urologist whoever was available to provide the eye care there on the ground and then basically we've had this opportunity where I could you know they could review their cases with me and I could you know give them advice. And then you know then it progressed to me actually going on the ground working in refugee camps and providing care and you know like many of the other opportunities I’ve had it's so gratifying to be able to do that work even though you're traveling you're tired you're working hard but it just it's like this rush that you get and so I remember coming back from one of my trips and I was like you know this is great to travel and do this work but like I really need to be more involved like closer to home it would be much more sustainable and so it was like one it was like a week or so after I came back and I had a patient who was seeing me in my own private clinic at Emory and they were a refugee and so you know through the process you know I walked in the room and I saw okay there's the refugee but there's a refugee who's going to be there and I’m like okay I’m going to go to the or three other people in the room and they're speaking fluent English you know I’ve not really seen this set up before and then through questioning I realized that these were all you know different members from the community in Clarkston who were helping this refugee patient who had some initial insurance to help coordinate the visit you know make sure whatever they needed the instructions were properly translated and you know to help them even with more social kind of support and so that's when I asked him like where do you live and the patients said Clarkston, and so I started to research it and I realized this place is literally a 12-minute drive from my house it's the most diverse city I need to be involved here. And so it was because of that patient that kind of got my interest and then you know I got connected with the Clarkson community health center, and luckily they were really wanting to add ophthalmology care to their clinic and so that's kind of what sparked my initial work in Clarkston. And you know there's a huge demand for eye care and you know many of the people whether they're you know residents they're immigrants refugees whatever the situation is all of them are really just trying to be productive in their communities so they want to work they want to be able to support their family and so a lot of times vision is one of the hindering factors for them they need glasses or they have an eye condition that needs surgery, and so even though going into it I wanted to provide this service I didn't realize what kind of an impact we could have. And so you know it was a steep learning curve because you know when you work Monday through Friday you're like well we're gonna this clinic it's going to be on the weekend and let's you know start it and see what happens and it was through the process that realizing okay well most of our potential patients are going to be working on the weekends you know and so considering you know off you know doing our clinics in the evenings when people are not working, and that really helped kind of the care that we needed to the patients there. And then another huge thing that we saw as a need and a demand was glasses, you know, so like I would say 75% of the patients that I, you know, was seeing and continue to see there in Clarkston, they just need glasses, you know? And so a lot of times there's an economic barrier to being able to get the glasses. And so we worked with, an NGO here in Georgia called the, Georgia Lighthouse. And so they were very eager and interested to help us with this. And so we were, we set up, you know, basically every couple months where they would come in at our clinic. And when the patient was done having their eye exam, they would walk over their glasses prescription to them. And then they would, basically, provide glasses to them you know, at a very discounted rate, we're talking like a few dollars and very high quality glasses. And so that was something very unique in this population that something as easy as that really could make impact and help the community there. You know, and I think the other thing that we have done a little differently in our clinic at Clarkston is, you know normally like a patient sees a primary care doctor, say, oh, you need to see the ophthalmologist. They get sent to me. I say, oh, they have diabetes. They need to see a endocrinologist. And so it's a lot of back and forth. And we, we realized with the patients that we're working with, their time is limited. And so a lot of times what we do is we have all the services at the same time. So the patients are coming in, checking in if they're diabetic, they're getting diabetic education, then they're having their eye exam. Then they're seeing the diabetes doctor, then they're seeing the pharmacist and they're having their labs. And so this is kind of all done on the same day. which I think in this population, if you're an immigrant or a refugee is very helpful if that's like your only day off. And so these are kind of some of the unique things that we tailored to the Clarkston clinic to be more specific for the population that we're, we're trying to target and treat.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=4554.0,4893.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e Definitely. I have a lot of questions to ask you, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just kept talking. No, no, that's fine. That's actually, it's a very good important, information. I just want to go back to your talk about like having doctors to see a patient in one sitting different doctors seeing a patient in one sitting. How do you navigate that? How do you do that? Is that possible? You have enough doctor over there just to do that or?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=4893.0,4926.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yeah, it's actually amazing how anytime we need like some sort of a specialty, I will ask one of my Emory colleagues and I would say, I can't say never, but I think it's pretty rare that they're like, yeah, I'm not interested. They're just like, oh man, I want to help. Like, let me know. And I'm going to bring five other people with me, you know? And so there is this genuine interest which is great. You know, I think a lot of times we get stuck on all the negatives of what's going on in the world and the world's so bad, but then we have such positively, you know, that people are jus dying to be involved in volunteer on their time off. I think it's also another unique thing is that a lot of, for example, yes. I go and I'm the attending doctor for the eye care, but I usually have a resident. So it's one of my trainees that's coming, who is coming on their own time and interested. So that's an additional doctor all over there in training. They're very motivated to be helping and target this population. and then we have undergrad students and other volunteers, and even some of the high school students that are living in Clarkson too, who are volunteering. And so a lot of times that's the most help because they speak the languages of, you know, the patient, the patients that we're seeing. And so immediately our patients feel welcome and, you know, the ability that they're able to not only have the care that they need, but everything is properly translated, you know, and it's another community member that's now volunteering at the clinic who's involved with that. So, yeah, I think the major constraint with the Clarkson clinic is the space like manpower, woman power volunteers, you know, that's never been an issue. It's more, okay, how do we fit all this in the same space? Cause we have a demand and we need to, to, you know, offer this care, but you know, space is kind of the rate limiting step.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=4926.0,5032.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e And have you get any news or like help just to have a bigger space from the beginning that you started, you started from 2017 working with Clarkson and from then how, how can you take me through the changes that you saw through this clinic, the changing based on space, people that they work over there?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5032.0,5055.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yeah. So I think initially when I showed up, we basically had a closet. it was like a very small space and then, you know, the Clarkson team there and the executive board is super proactive. And so they immediately saw after a clinic or two, they're like, okay, we need to really have more space. And so then, you know, we, we were able to take over more space within the clinic and then being a little bit you know, kind of creative. And so for example, we were able to get some of our equipment to be more mobile and we were using, you know, on the days that we would be there, the dental team wouldn't be. So the dental equipment's in the room, but kind of being creative to use the dental room in addition to the rooms that we had you know, and so I think it's just continued to grow. And then also just kind of networking with other NGOs that are in the in Georgia that provide eye care to come with us on those same days. So that way, not only do we have more equipment, but we have more, volunteers and we're offering different types of care on the same sitting or the same day. And then the other, the more recent thing has just been fundraising that the Clarkson Community Health Center has done to basically be able to build a new clinic. That's going to be much larger. And in that new clinic there's going to be dedicated space which is going to be for ophthalmology and different specialties as well. Whereas now it's kind of whatever day of the week it might be the eye room, whereas tomorrow it's going to be the lab and the next day it's going to be pharmacy. So, you know, it's a very creative and resilient group of people that are just constantly trying to, to make it work in that space.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5055.0,5154.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e And do you get any help from Clarkston community or is just like people from outside the Clarkston that they come and help people?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5154.0,5165.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yeah, I think you know, for me, one of the it's a little emotional, I'm sorry, just seeing that, you know, some of our patients who came in, who didn't have anything come back years later and you know, make donations to support our work. You know, I think that for me is, is a, is a big deal, you know, because you've made an impact in someone's life that they are -- they prioritize it. Like when I'm financially stable, I'm going to come back and do it. I can make a donation. I want to help pay for someone else to have an eye exam, you know? And so I don't think there's anything more rewarding than, you know, seeing something like that. And no matter what, I think the take home is that you're really making an impact in people's lives because I don't think that that's normal activity, you know, that, that like you're no longer, you know, you, you came to Clarkston, had nothing. Now you're stable. You come back to, to check in and also make donations and make sure that same care you thought it was so important you want to make sure that same care is offered to other people as well. So you weren't supposed to make me cry, that was in the consent, no emotional.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5165.0,5246.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e It seems that it's part of my interviews [laughs].","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5246.0,5250.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yeah. I think, yeah, I think that, that definitely that's a huge thing. I think the other thing for me that you know, cause a lot of times you're in that work and you're, you're just trying to get patients in and out, like you're, you know, you have all these patients, you don't want, you know, you're, you don't want to take care of them. You don't want them to take up their time. But like some of the times I've been, I've been listening to some of the conversations that are happening in the waiting room, you know? And so that's the other thing to me that really for me is, is like a positive experience. So these people are coming for an eye exam and they're waiting, their eyes are getting dilated and they're sitting in the waiting room and then they're talking to each other and they're from different countries. And I just remember at one point there was a patient that literally had been a few weeks since she had come to the U.S., and she was very stressed out and she didn't know what she was going to do. And another patient who's also refugee is basically calming her down and saying, “don't worry, this is what you need to do. You're going to go to this organization. This is what's going to happen.” So, you know, that to me was like, okay, this is the right place when people in our waiting room are providing, you know, support. So you know, stuff like that, I think happened on a, on a regular basis that you know, just, I don't think you see that everywhere else.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5250.0,5314.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e And do you have any memorable event of these talking and these conversation? Did you have, do you have any memory of them, that struck you as this is funny, this is interesting?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5314.0,5329.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e I mean, I think you know, it's more of an interest for me, but it's, it's whenever I go, when we have our clinic, you know, we, we try to make sure that we have our list of patients that are coming that day and what countries are coming from. And so making sure that if we can, if one of our volunteers that day speaks the same language. And so for me, it's a very I would say. Fun activity is like, when I see that list and I'm just seeing like, you know, someone from Lesotho, like, I have to Google that country, you know and just, you know, just the diversity and, and where the, the people that we're serving are coming from. You know, I think that, that, that to me is something that I, I really enjoy. But yeah, I think, I think also just patients are very grateful. They're very patient in our understanding. And you know, I, I think they do. They genuinely, they, they just show, they shower you with love and appreciation for what you're doing. So it just makes you want to be, keep doing it because you know, they're just, they're so thankful, you know.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5329.0,5398.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e The beginning of our conversation you said that you always look at medicine because it's very international and you could, you thought that you could do work internationally after working in Clarkston and having like a, all this group of people, diverse group of people over there, do you still think about medicine just to be like to go abroad, just to do your work or like a Clarkson it's enough for you?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5398.0,5425.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Oh, I definitely think Clarkson is enough. I mean, I, I still do international work, but I tell all our trainees, like, you know, right now in your training, like you can't take a week or two weeks off and go across the world and travel and do something like you you're stuck here. So you know, if you actually want to make a real big deal. Big impact, like getting involved here locally in Clarkston, you'll be able to have a much more sustainable and larger impact than you would if you traveled across the world, you know? And so I think that is an important factor that, you know, obviously I highlight to myself, cause this is something we're doing multiple times a month, you know, and we also have other organizations that we work with, so we can continue the care for these patients. It's not like I'm just offering an eye exam. You know, if they need surgery, I bring them to Emory, we'll do it here or we'll do it at Grady. And so, you know, there's that continued follow up and that ability to really, have an impact. Whereas sometimes internationally, like you may do a surgery and then you leave, you don't know how that patient really did. Did they have a good outcome? Did they have a bad outcome? Are they getting followed up on, you know, and then I think, you know, we, nowadays we are more focusing on capacity building in other countries. So. And that takes a lot of time and investment. If you're on the international field, if you really want to make an impact, you're going to have to go build the eye center, train the surgeons, train the nurses, you know, have the resources available, whereas here Clarkson it's just down the street and we can keep it going and, and just add more and more to that care that we offer.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5425.0,5526.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e And I know that you are, you have if, you know, limited time and you can go to the neighborhood a lot, but if you want to describe Clarkson neighborhood, how do you describe it?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5526.0,5538.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Well, so one of my joys is whenever we're done with clinic is I always, we do something as a group, we go have food, you know, just because the restaurants are like, you're not going to find food like that everywhere, you know? And so I, I definitely make an effort to, to explore and you know, just kind of see it. And that, and for me, it's, it's. Yeah. It's exciting. Like, I, I enjoy that. I enjoy you know, meeting people. And so Clarkson really has a lot to offer and I don't think, I mean, maybe you could find another city in the United States, but I haven't found a city that's quite like Clarkson, you know, and has that diversity and not only diversity, but people are, you know, getting along, working together and side by side, you have an Ethiopian place, you have a Nepalese place, you have a Burmese place, you know, store, restaurant, shop.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5538.0,5596.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e Now, we talked a lot about your good work and like the community, but what would you say were the greatest challenges you faced in Clarkston?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=5596.0,9149.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e So. So I think it probably has to do with when we need to refer patients outside of our clinic. So they need extra care. And, you know, whether we have to refer them to Grady or Emory, there can be loopholes where, you know, they're unable to make the call. We can get the appointment, we can get it paid for, but they don't have transportation or they can't make it. Or, you know, they may be undocumented and we need some sort of documentation to get the appointment covered if we refer them out. You know, so those are, it's more kind of the logistical stuff that we have, the issues. And so for me, I think the solution for this is trying to build as much as possible in the clinic that we can offer there, just because we know when we start having to refer patients out. That's where, you know, people can fall through the cracks. So, you know, and our department has been very generous and like, if there's equipment that we have, that's like, it's functioning, but we need to get a new one where they'll allow me to take it and put it in Clarkston to avoid having to send a patient out for some sort of special test or imaging, you know, and so those are things that we're constantly working on of just trying to keep everything localized as much as possible. But I think the big issue is, you know, surgery, because I don't foresee us being able to offer surgery. And so that's another area that we need to kind of work on and get better is when we have to refer patients out for more involved procedures and surgeries, you know, have a better system in place.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9149.0,9315.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e I remember you mentioned that when you were a kid, especially like in Chicago, you felt that you're minority somehow in neighborhood that you were living. And also when you were in school, you felt that you were different. Now, how do you feel? How do you feel when you're in Clarkston?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9315.0,9335.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e I guess I feel like I fit in. Because we're, you know, even though we're all different in our backgrounds, we're all, you know, I feel like I'm no longer an active refugee, but I, you know, I am, I have that life story. So, so yeah, that's an interesting question that you pose that way, because I think I feel the most, if I had to compare, like how I feel in my own clinic versus at Clarkston, I feel much more at home when I'm there. So, and I think the other interesting factor is like, I can't travel to Iran, my home country. I've never been able to go because it's not safe. And I think everybody has that interest and that want to be able to go back and help their people, you know, and it's just not on my agenda right now. I can't, it's not safe. And so I think this potentially is a great substitute for me where I feel like I'm helping my people, other people that have come to this country, whether as immigrants or, you know, refugees. So I guess I, you know, that may be one of the many things that I'm getting out of this experience is that fitting in.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9335.0,9401.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e And do you think this is the place itself or people that they create this sphere for you?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9401.0,9405.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I think I would have to strongly say the people.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9405.0,9410.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e What are your visions and hope for the future of Clarkston?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9410.0,9415.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e You know, I think we can learn a lot from Clarkston, I think, you know, we were talking about it before that, you know, if you're listening to the news, it's like there's so much negativity going on and, you know, all different places where there's wars and whether it's between different religions or different ethnic groups or racial groups. And then you look at something like Clarkston, where many areas where, you know, if they're in their home country, they would not be getting along with their neighbors. But in Clarkston, they are, I think that's something that we really need to continue to learn from. Because there's hope in that, you know, and I think it may be something that a lot of the negativity is put on and leads to that. Whereas in Clarkston, where it's much more open and much more diverse, we don't have those issues because I think if you compare it to other places, it really shouldn't work as smoothly as it does. So I think that that would be something that we could definitely have taken, learn from that and apply it in other places. And also this idea that, you know, when there's fear about immigrants coming or refugees coming, I think Clarkston is just a beacon, you know, hope of positivity that like shows that, no, that's not the case. Actually, they're not stealing opportunities from other people. It's actually thriving and making things better. And I guess you've been talking a lot about immigrants and refugees, but a lot of times our patients in the clinic are also people who were, you know, born here or like second, third, fourth generation. So it's not always just immigrants and refugees that we're taking care of. It's also people in the area that are local and, you know, their families have been here for generations, but they still don't have insurance or need care.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9415.0,9524.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e I just wanted to ask about that particularly because these people, how do they feel about these changes in Clarkston? Because Clarkston definitely changed a lot through times and they see it as something positive or negative.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9524.0,9539.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e I'm pretty sure you could probably find some local people that have some negativity to say, but all the people that I've come across have all been fairly positive about it and excited and supportive. And I've come across quite a few people that, you know, saw a news story about Clarkston and they were like, this is where I want to be. And they moved there so that they could be involved more in this work, you know? So I think, you know, that's been my experience. It's been actually positive. So going back to the previous thing that we were talking about, like it's applicable, you know, I think if it can change local people's perceptions of like, no, this is a good thing immigrants and refugees coming to our community.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9539.0,9585.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e And I remember you were talking about two impacts. You wanted to study medicine because of three impacts. One, a travel internationally that we asked, we talked about it. And the other is just vision, you know, giving vision to people. And how do you see -- along with the physical vision that you help people with, how do you see that your work gives vision to people in Clarkston?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9585.0,9608.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e So, you know, I think it's it comes where, you know, someone has wanted to work and support their family and they're unable to. And whether it's from glasses or we treat a disease and their vision is restored and they get that back. I think, you know, that that helps. But it's interesting because I think where we're going with this is more applicable in my practice at Emory. You know, at Emory, I see patients that may come from three or four states away just because the care I offer is very specialized. So I may have a patient from Kentucky or Arkansas and, you know, their experience is totally different, you know, and so they drove all this way, they come here and then they see this doctor who has a strange name that's different than theirs, who's going to take care of them. And first of all, they get really impressed when I speak English. Usually the comment I get is “you speak really good English for your people”. But I've had many patients where, you know, they came, they traveled, they had the surgery they needed, and it could only be done at Emory. Their vision is restored. So, yes, they're happy they can see. But I feel like their perspective has changed because their whole life they've been told negative things about, you know, foreigners or people with the same skin tone as me, you know, and, you know, here they are. And I've heard it many times directly. Where they're just like, I've had the opposite experience, like you've changed my life that now I can, you know, see my grandkids, I can do the things I need to do on a daily basis to get by. And so I feel like that to me, even though it's my work, I'm getting paid to do it. I feel like it is a service that, you know, opening people's perspectives that, you know, you can't just hold on to these stereotypes or these negative ideas just because we're all basically part of the same family. And we need to kind of have that perspective with one another, that we're here to help each other.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9608.0,9725.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e And that also, it was part of the whole idea of Clarkston that somehow changed the vision\n\nof people with the medical center, right? Is that correct?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9725.0,9733.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Yes. And yeah, I think even Emory has continued to just have nothing but positive things come out of partnering with organizations in Clarkston. And even with the medical center. And I think, you know, having the medical school, having the medical students be able to rotate and, you know, be involved in the clinic, like that's really improved their clinical exposure and, you know, their ability to provide service. And I think a lot of times when we're doing our interviews, whether it's for medical school or for residency, those are the questions and new applicants are asking us, like what service opportunities do you have for me when I come there? Like what, you know, kind of community work can I be involved in? And so I know Emory is very happy that we can quickly be like, listen, we're involved in Clarkston. It's very close by. And these are the things we're doing. And, you know, it's just interesting with this newer generation, those are things that they're looking for. It's not just like, oh, you're the top school. It's what else can you provide me in the area of humanitarianism?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9733.0,9796.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e Thank you. Soroosh, do you have anything you would like to share with me that I haven't asked you?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9796.0,9803.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e I think, yeah, no, I think you've, you've hit everything. I think I talked a lot. So","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9803.0,9811.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eAV:\u003c/strong\u003e That was fascinating. Thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9811.0,9816.0"},{"id":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986/transcript/86847/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSB:\u003c/strong\u003e Thank you.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://aviary.libraries.emory.edu/collections/3448/collection_resources/159728/file/290986#t=9816.0,9817.0"}]}]}]}