One Toledo Family’s Compassion Creates Call to Medicine
Although the Alumni Association enjoys when our alumni remain a part of our local community throughout their lives, we recognize the amazing contributions many of our students and alumni make as they venture out across the globe. Dr. Amit “Bobby” Mahajan ’06 is no exception. His impact, and that of others like him, is inspiring and illustrates the true influence and mission of The University of Toledo.
Dr. Mahajan completed his undergraduate degree at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, medical school at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, and his internal medicine residency, chief residency, and pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the University of Chicago. He then completed his interventional pulmonology fellowship at the Harvard Medical School in The Massachusetts General Hospital and The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
“I loved my experience at The University of Toledo. I learned the importance of hard work and working to achieve my goals. I wanted to absorb and read everything I possibly could during my medical school experience.”
Dr. Mahajan has deep roots in the Toledo community. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Mahajan shared, “The University of Toledo Medical School was incredibly familiar to me since I grew up in Toledo and knew that I could obtain a world-class education there. I wanted to stay close to family during my medical education and knew that having a strong community of support during that time would be essential.”
His mother, Dr. Ajay Mahajan, completed her internal medicine residency at the Medical College of Ohio, before it merged with The University of Toledo in July of 2006, and his father, Dr. Vijay Mahajan, is a pulmonologist at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. “The chance to learn and rotate with my father and mother during my third and fourth years of medical school was a huge driving force,” Dr. Mahajan recalled.
Inspired by his parents’ compassion and dedication to helping others, which he so clearly inherited, he began to shape and build his career. Along the way following guidance from a trusted professor.
Dr. Mahajan distinctly remembers receiving advice from Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of The UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, vice provost for educational health affairs and distinguished university professor while sitting in his office. Dr. Cooper shared that although clinical medicine is amazing, he advised Mahajan to also diversify his career. Dr. Cooper encouraged him to get involved with research, education and administration because having multiple facets to a successful career leads to a much happier life.
Shaping the Nation’s Health
This, in part, is likely what led him to become a national volunteer spokesman for the American Lung Association (ALA). This role involves educating patients, physicians and administrators on the importance of lung health. His role also includes performing education on a national level regarding lung cancer, lung cancer screening, incidental lung nodules, asthma, and air pollution and its effects on lung health. This experience has been incredibly rewarding for Dr. Mahajan and he is proud to be able to spread the importance of lung health with others.
Through his work, Dr. Amit “Bobby” Mahajan was awarded a Presidential Service Award. “The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge for everyone in the medical profession. We all had to take on roles we were not accustomed to performing to provide the best possible care for our patients,” he shared. “I worked closely with the American Lung Association to educate the public about the dangers of COVID-19 and the importance of getting vaccinated.” As a result, he was awarded the White House Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his work in interventional pulmonology and his contributions to the COVID-19 pandemic response. This is the true embodiment of improving the human condition, a mission that Dr. Mahajan so clearly lives out through his work every day.
“In some ways, I just considered myself to be doing the right thing for the community. During those challenging times, I relied immensely on my family, namely my wife, Sharmi, who supported me and kept me going with her constant encouragement.”
Dr. Amit “Bobby” Mahajan
Currently residing in Vienna, VA with his wife and three children, Dr. Mahajan still ensures his family knows how important they are. Dr. Mahajan loves spending time with his wife and three kids Rheidan (10), Rhoen (8) and Rhaiva (3). He shares that his family continues to be his source of inspiration. “I try to do everything I can to spend as much time as possible with my family despite a busy work schedule.”
With such strong family ties rooted in the service of others, it is obvious that Dr. Mahajan makes a positive impact on the lives of not only his personal patients, but individuals around the globe who have seen his work, heard him speak or supported his advocacy of better lung health. He, like so many of our alumni, are improving the world through their work and passion. We are proud to be just a small part of Dr. Mahajan and his family’s story.