Dr. Durrani loves speaking about a variety of topics, including advocacy, STEM education and careers and technology (AI, blockchain, telehealth) in healthcare—he’s on the advisory board for Acoer—a blockchain healthcare organization—inequities in medicine and social media in medicine. He is also a host for a children's television series, "STEM City," on NBC in Houston. Dr. Durrani is passionate about STEM education and inspiring future generations to pursue careers in STEM. He recently published Basketball, Sciences and Rockets—a book that demonstrates the diversity of pathways children can take into fulfilling STEM careers.

Despite the many obstacles Dr. Durrani faced growing up, becoming a physician is a testimony to his passion, never-give-up attitude and the lessons he learned from his parents. He watched them work 12-plus hours a day, with little days off, to make ends meet.  

A first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Pakistan, Dr. Durrani experienced barriers to health care firsthand. With family income just below the poverty line, they only saw a doctor if someone was really, really sick. At a young age, he recognized the inequity in healthcare and wanted to understand why it was that way. That’s when his interest in health policy and access to care was born.

When it came to college, there were no savings or funds for Dr. Durrani. He literally applied to over 150 scholarships and received enough to attend The University of Texas. After double majoring in biology and political science, Dr. Durrani earned an internship at the White House and got to briefly work on some of the expansion acts of the Affordable Care Act.  

During the two-year time frame that Dr. Durrani's family was fortunate enough to have insurance, his father had a heart attack, which led to open heart surgery. He knew that if it had happened to his father just a few years earlier, it could have been catastrophic. Seeing how one law impacted his own family in such a positive way drove his passion for improving access to care. Above all, he wants to create positive change. Inspired by that experience, he carried that problem-solver energy, entering into medical school and becoming a physician.  

Dr. Durrani knows follow-up care is critical for good patient outcomes, and for many patients, that can be challenging, including transportation to in-person care. Telehealth follow-ups are a great option, however many patients lack reliable internet and resources. Dr. Duranni works diligently to assure his patients know about programs that subsidize costs and reduce that barrier to care. Taking the time to connect those dots for his patients and going that extra mile energizes him for the emotional toll of the everyday harsh realities of the job.  

During the pandemic, Dr. Durrani was working on the front lines as a physician in an emergency room in Houston. He saw firsthand how difficult it was for physicians and staff, especially those working in the ER. It led to burnout, with many leaving their positions and an increased rate of suicide.  

Dr. Durrani took his frustrations and concerns and applied them to become an advocate in the media for fact-based information to help and inspire others. As a young physician, Dr. Durrani was an advocate both in his hospital and on the federal level with his involvement with the American College of Emergency Physicians. Every time he links underserved patients to better care, he remembers what he loves about his work.  

Dr. Durrani says his career path comes from following his passions and turning obstacles into opportunities. "This recipe, I believe, leads to avoiding burnout and a fulfilling career that allows me to be useful and bring something unique to the table for the organizations I interact with," he says. Read Less ^