Dr. Makhija’s journey began in the suburbs of Mumbai in the mid-70s when the US sought to attract doctors from around the world. He took the ECFMG exams on a whim, not knowing that this impulsive decision would change the course of his life. When the results came out, and he had passed, he saw it as a sign and decided to apply for a Visa to come to the US. 

 

At that time, you needed a sponsorship letter or $700 in your bank account to have your visa approved. Dr. Makhija had neither. As luck and timing would have it, he met up with a colleague who knew someone in the United States; they agreed that as long as he figured his way out once he got to the States, they would provide him with a sponsorship letter. 

 

Once he got to the States, the journey began. With $25 in his pocket, Dr. Makhija arrived in NYC in November and waited almost six months, working in a garment packaging warehouse, before being accepted into a residency program. 

 

“The perks of the job was we could use their phones. To make phone calls to apply for residencies.”

After successfully completing his residency, Dr. Makhija’s senior resident offered him a private practice in Carbon County, a rural part of Pennsylvania with a population of 50,000. Little did he know that the practice was mostly Medicare patients, and he and his fellow doctors would only get $9 per visit! But that didn’t stop him from giving his all, working long hours, and often dealing with challenging cases.

“When I used to have patients come in for labor, I used to labor with them.” 

 

This hard work and dedication helped him build his reputation in a predominantly White county, where he and one other doctor were the only doctors of color. 

 

“You had to prove yourself that you knew what you were doing. I started to dedicate myself to the people and help people.” Dr. Makhija recalls, reflecting on his commitment to his patients and the community.

 

His dedication to the community, continuous learning, and expansion of knowledge to be the best physician for his patients led to Dr. Makhija’s caring reputation. His commitment to his patients, his willingness to learn and adapt, and his perseverance in the face of challenges have made him a beloved figure in his community.