No Lamp Burns Till Morning

هیچ چراغی تا صبح نمی‌سوزد

Growing up, Dr. Saami witnessed firsthand the resilience and compassion that would later shape his career in medicine. His father, a Baha’i from a Jewish family, and his mother, a Muslim woman from a modest background, fell in love on the eve of the Islamic Revolution. Their love story, however, was soon overshadowed by political turmoil. Forced to flee Iran, they arrived in California with little more than hope and determination.

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A Fresh Start

Dr. Saami’s father, despite his limited English, restarted the family business with an unshakable belief in the unity of humankind. His kindness, fairness, and respect for others quickly earned him the affectionate nickname “Smiley Mikey.” These principles—love, respect, and fairness—became the foundation of Dr. Saami’s worldview, guiding him in every aspect of his life.

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“A broken hand works, but not a broken heart”

 دست شکسته کار می کند، ولی دل شکسته نه

At twelve years old, Dr. Saami’s world changed forever when his parents were involved in a devastating car accident. Neither had been wearing a seatbelt. His mother suffered multiple fractures and internal bleeding, while his father sustained severe brain damage, spending the next eight months in a coma.

The injustice of this event defined Dr. Saami’s adolescence. Medical bills consumed their home, their savings, and their business. At one point, he and his mother found themselves in a homeless shelter. When his father finally returned home, he was no longer the man he had been—heavily medicated, confused, and unable to care for himself. The responsibility of caregiving became too much for his mother, who felt she had no choice but to return to Iran, leaving a seventeen-year-old Dr. Saami alone with his ailing father.

Balancing work, school, and caregiving, Dr. Saami found solace in his father’s presence. Though he had lost his memory, he never forgot his son. The time they spent together—playing chess, sharing laughter, and embracing love—helped Dr. Saami reconnect with the values his father had always embodied.

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“In the ditch where water has flowed, it will flow again.”

در جویی که آب رفته باز هم خواهد رفت

When his mother returned, Dr. Saami was able to focus on his education. He transferred to UC Berkeley, where he became deeply involved in sustainability initiatives and scientific research at UCSF, advancing regenerative medicine. His work in clinical settings exposed him to the stark disparities in healthcare, fueling his commitment to advocating for vulnerable patient populations.

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From Challenges to Leadership

At Johns Hopkins, this passion materialized into action. He co-founded Refugee Health Partners, pairing medical students with refugees from the International Rescue Committee’s special needs cohort. Through this initiative, students learned to navigate healthcare through the lens of those who had survived unimaginable hardships.

As the president of the Johns Hopkins American Medical Association, Dr. Saami and his team led advocacy efforts that influenced state legislation. One such success was a campaign to expand access to Maryland’s organ donor registry after hearing the story of a woman who had lost her husband while waiting for a transplant.

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A Lifetime Commitment to Making an Impact

While the road to medicine was never easy, Dr. Saami’s personal experiences provided clarity of purpose. His father’s accident initially ignited his desire to help others, but his education and advocacy efforts solidified his commitment to healthcare access, regenerative medicine, and public policy.

The hardships he endured reinforced the values his father had instilled in him. Though his father never regained his memory and eventually passed away, his kindness, resilience, and unwavering principles live on in Dr. Saami.

Throughout life’s challenges, one lesson from his father has remained his guiding light:

"Do good, and good will follow you."

نیکی کن، تا نیکی به دنبال تو بیاید.