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Photo by Aaron Gang Photography

Mustafa Albustani, MD

Mustafa Albustani grew up in Iraq, a country that he says has not known peace during his entire lifetime. In the midst of witnessing unimaginable suffering, Albustani had the great fortune to watch his parents, who are both doctors, serve their community by providing free medical care to those in need. Their noble example provided encouragement and inspiration for him and his brother. In 2001 Dr. Albustani got accepted to the Alkindy College of Medicine where he had the chance to observe extraordinary pediatricians who helped children heal, not only from illnesses, but from their traumatic injuries as silent victims of war. Inspired by his parents’ model, he knew that, “since children are our future, I wanted to contribute to a brighter future.” Yet dealing with a growing number of kids with chronic disease and knowing how difficult and challenging the transition of care can be, he realized that combining pediatric residency with internal medicine would be the perfect way to help the underserved community.

After the war, his parents along with a few other physicians started Anwar Human Organization, an independent humanitarian mission that provides medical assistance to underserved people all over Iraq. Albustani served as a volunteer (and physician later) coordinating blood donation campaigns to help with severe blood supply shortages caused by the escalating violence that occurred in Iraq after 2003. In a country torn by war and punctuated by frequent casualty, donating blood is sewn into the fabric of its social consciousness. Every campaign, which typically lasts three to four days, draws in roughly four to five thousand pints of blood.

Albustani says that the lessons he has learned from his past has made him realize how much one person can impact society and how much responsibility physicians have in a community. In 2013 he began his residency training in the Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Program at OU Tulsa. Albustani feels that working in underserved areas is part of his contribution to the world and says that’s why he chose Oklahoma University at Tulsa.  “The extraordinary role that Wayman Tisdale Clinic plays in serving the poor North Tulsa community was inspiring and I wanted to be part of it,” he explained.

Currently Mustafa Albustani is in his third year of training and feels fortunate to have the opportunity to represent The University of Oklahoma at Tulsa in the national Med/Peds Residents Association.