Dr. M. Iftekhar Ullah is an Associate Professor in the Division of General Medicine who practices inpatient, outpatient, and sleep medicine. Here, Dr. Ullah shares his path to UMMC and what has kept him here for 15 years.

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What is your professional background?

I graduated from Dhaka Medical College in 1993, finished an internship there and worked as an internist for about 2 years. I moved to the US later and finished my Masters in Public Health (Epidemiology) in 1999 from the School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. I worked as the Cardiovascular Epidemiologist in South Carolina for one year after that. I finished my residency in internal medicine in New York in 2003 and worked in the Mayo Clinic Health System before moving to Mississippi in 2008.

Tell us about what you do at UMMC.

I have enjoyed working at UMMC very much, especially teaching the students, residents and fellows as well as participating in research. I have published numerous original research articles and review papers so far in collaboration with UMMC and VA physicians. I have been proficient in statistical analysis, which helped me tremendously in these endeavors. Besides serving as an internist, I am also board certified in Sleep Medicine and I served as the Program Director for the Sleep Medicine Fellowship for a couple of years. Obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep related disorders are under-recognized, but they have significant impact on other disease processes, including heart failure, stroke and cardiac arrhythmia. I have been educating our students and residents about it and they are doing a fantastic job in recognizing the disease symptoms and sending these patients to our Sleep Disorder Clinic for prompt evaluation and treatment. The Division of Cardiology is also closely working with me to get high-risk patients into the sleep clinic quickly for evaluation and treatment to improve cardiovascular disease outcomes.

What advice would you give to someone pursuing medicine today?

Pursuing a career in medicine can be highly rewarding. As a medical professional, one has the opportunity to make a significant difference in people’s lives by providing essential healthcare services and preventing and treating illnesses. Additionally, the field of medicine is constantly evolving with new technologies and treatments. Discoveries are being made every day, offering a lifetime of learning and growth opportunities. The demand for medical professionals is steadily increasing, ensuring a stable and fulfilling career path. The need is even more in the state of Mississippi. However, the career path is long and one should only pursue it if he/she has love and passion for it.

What do you like most about UMMC?

The work autonomy is one of the best things about working at UMMC. The staff and coworkers are friendly and extremely helpful. The nursing service in the hospital is also excellent.

Tell us something about yourself that people may not know.

I have a few hobbies that I enjoy outside practicing medicine. I have been doing photography since I was in high school. I also do videography and have produced a few educational videos and 4 short films that are on YouTube! I can also build PCs and help my friends troubleshoot any software and hardware problems when they need it!