[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 27, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  HONORING DR. MEHR RAHMATULLAH AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN CENTRAL 
               FLORIDA FOR ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

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                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 27, 2020

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, born in East Pakistan, Dr. Mehr Rahmatullah 
grew up on a farmhouse surrounded by coconut trees, cattle, goats and 
poultry. Growing up, she watched her mother volunteer much of her time 
to those in need and became inspired to seek a profession in which she 
could do the same.
  While studying medicine at Dow Medical University in Karachin, she 
donated blood frequently to the patients who could not afford care. She 
also worked to transport patients from her village to the University 
Hospital in order to be treated by her professors during her clinical 
rotations. As a Medical Officer, she volunteered treatment to 
impoverished patients with T.B. using her own meager salary and 
enforced a practice of supervising patients receiving their medication 
to ensure that they took it. Although she didn't know at the time, this 
method was actually the now-famous Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) 
practice, which was made the standard practice for T.B. treatment by 
the World Health Organization. She moved to America right after getting 
married in 1988, and soon thereafter prepared for the United States 
Medical Licensing Exam.
  After passing, she completed her first-year residency training at St. 
John's Mercy in St Louis, an affiliate of St Louis University. In her 
second and third year of residency, she moved to serve in Internal 
Medicine at Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida. After almost 25 years 
into practice and having received certification as a Diplomate from the 
American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Rahmatullah continues to 
practice as well as volunteer her time at Shepard's Hope Clinic for 
economically disadvantaged patients and serves as an Honorary Member of 
a local School Board at MAGO (Muslim Academy of Greater Orlando). She 
has also served as Chairman of the Credentials Committee at Osceola 
Regional Hospital in Kissimmee, Florida.

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