MANSFIELD – Mansfield is about to be featured on an international stage thanks to a new doctor at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
Dr. Mohammad Hajjiri, a heart and vascular physician specializing in interventional cardiology and cardiac elecrrophysiology, was recently shadowed by a documentary crew for a TV series on the Al Jazeera broadcast network. The show is called “The Expatriates,” profiling Arabic figures who left their country of origin to settle abroad.
A native of Jordan, more than 6,000 miles from Mansfield, Hajjiri first moved to Ohio in 2005. The 40-year-old began working at OhioHealth in November 2017, and was chosen for the documentary based on the promising career he has ahead of him.
“It focuses on his story, the challenges he faced throughout his academic and career life and how he overcame them, and what his achievements are,” said Nasser Farghaly, producer and project manager of Noon Films, the production house contracted to film the series.
Farghaly explained Hajjiri is one of around 50 subjects filmed for the series, and one of the younger ones at that. Each 30-minute episode details exciting challenges and personal experiences of a professional who decided to emigrate to a country where the culture, language and religion are entirely different from their homeland.
The criteria for being chosen is subjects must be of an Arabic origin, must still be able to speak Arabic, and must still have ties to the Arab world, Farghaly said. Many subjects have either a scientific or political background, and must be active within their communities.
“They wanted to talk to me as I am an example of a successful Arab in the United States,” said Hajjiri, who speaks fluent English as well as Arabic. “It’s really cool, especially because this program is watched by 22 million people. I think it’s exciting.”
Hajjiri felt at home in the United States right away, having visited many times as a child – even to Disneyland for vacation. He was previously working in Cleveland, where he has family as well as back in Jordan. He came to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital on the recommendation of a mentor.
“What really sealed it was the innovation center that OhioHealth has, which gives me the prospect to continue working on innovative things,” Hajjiri said.
One of those innovations includes a mobile app for patients to download on their phones that helps monitor their heart health. Hajjiri hopes to release the app sometime this year. He also brings with him a patent having to do with stem cells, and a skill set for complex surgeries that will be performed in Mansfield for the first time.
“We’re going to spread the word that we’re going to be a center of excellence in the cardiology world,” Hajjiri said.
These subjects and more were discussed during a two-day filming process with Farghaly and Noon Films, taking place both in Mansfield and in Cleveland. Farghaly said the interviews with Hajjiri covered why he chose Ohio and the challenges he faced when he first arrived, his academic and career achievements, and family life.
The documentary also touches on Hajjiri’s work launching a campaign to send money to the children of Syrian refugees in Jordan.
“For someone who is as young as the doctor, we’ll also say something about his dreams for the future,” Farghaly said.
The documentary is scheduled to air in approximately two months on the Al Jazeera network, and has the potential to garner millions of viewers.
In addition to the innovation center at OhioHealth, Hajjiri said he chose to come to Mansfield to serve the population. So far, his two months in Mansfield have been nothing but positive.
“I’ve been feeling very welcome with a name like mine in a place that is not very diverse,” Hajjiri said. “Patients have been nice, staff have been wonderful, and people have been very kind.
“It’s always good to have a dialogue, and to talk to people from different ethnicities and backgrounds,” he said. “It removes all the borders and obstacles between us as humans.”
In addition to promoting diversity within the Mansfield community, OhioHealth also looks forward to their services being featured on an international level.
“For us it’s a great opportunity,” said Christina Thompson, media relations and communications manager. “Obviously we really focus on local care, so people who will be watching the network will be able to see some of the things we can do here, and be comfortable with the physician and learn how he got here.”
Ultimately, Hajjiri hopes the documentary also exposes the human side of physicians in a world were people are oftentimes afraid of doctors.
“Doctors work really hard on so many things, and the vast majority of doctors try their best to help their patients,” he said. “I want people to see the backstage of the work that goes through everything in order to get the final product. It’s a lot of work, and we don’t take anything for granted.”
