Altruism in the Face of Disaster
Since his days with the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, Dr. Aman Sabharwal ’94 has gone on to a remarkable career as an internist and hospitalist. But since the tragic earthquake magnitude 7 earthquake in Haiti, which displaced 1.2 million people, Aman drew on his own dedication and Beta value of selflessness to take his opportunity to make a difference.
“I work with Jackson Health System, and we were among the first group to send physicians, nurses, and physician’s assistants to aid the people of Haiti following the earthquake,” Aman said. “So, we received the first wave of patients coming back to the states in Miami. Being involved in the triaging efforts with hospital operations and administration regarding the evacuation. That fist contact with those patients is what first inspired me.”
“We made our way to Haiti two weeks after the earthquake, with just our crew and 2,000 pounds of medical supplies. It was an adventure from the get go. We couldn’t fly into Haiti because the airport was non-functional. We had to travel over many miles of gravel road to the heavily guarded boarder between Dominica and Haiti. We were lucky to have support from US Agency for International Development and the U.S. Embassy because we needed military escort.”
“We got to a field hospital about 40km outside of Port Au Prince. It basically consisted of row after row of tents, with cots and patients. As you walked between the tents you could hear the patients screaming and yelling, because there was no available pain control.”
“We treated mostly trauma patients, broken legs and arms, amputations, infections, and a whole host of concurrent medical conditions that hadn’t been taken care of because of the tragedy, like diabetes and high blood pressure. It was really satisfying when we brought the supplies to the nurses working there, and they were overjoyed. It was quite an experience.”
The bravery and self-sacrifice that Aman showed in travelling into uncertain territory in the middle of a disaster to tend to those in need is reflective of the values he learned with Beta.
“From pledgeship on we’re taught the value of selflessness and the importance of relying on our brothers,” Aman said. “Those basic values of things very handy when you’re far away from what you know fending for yourself.”
Aman was traveling with a special assistant to a U.S. congressman who became like a pseudo Beta brother to him. “We counted on each other to make it through.”
Despite his busy schedule, Aman makes it a priority to keep in touch with his brothers from the Epsilon Lambda Chapter. He said he keeps in touch with most of his own pledge class, as well as the class above and below his own.
He was able to return to the University of Missouri for the chapter’s 25th anniversary.
“The current Betas are a dynamically amazing group of individuals. I was amazed to see what they have accomplished, what they have done with the house, and numbers that they are recruiting.” Aman said.
Aman believes in the strength of chapter’s future based on the quality of its new brothers. When asked what advice he had for Betas still in school, he replied, “They should continue to strive for dreams and to set goals for themselves. They should do everything they can to achieve and always keep in mind that there are those less fortunate.”
“Beta has always had philanthropic and makes it part of the lives of active brothers,” Aman said. “When you get out of school, you get away from the habit of giving. You’re busy and not organized to do it. My experience reminded me to continue to take time out of busy life and schedule to try to give and those in need.”
This spirit of altruism also relates to supporting the chapter. Aman supports the chapter through active participation in events. “All alumni need to do what we can. We have the best intentions but we tend to put it off or fail to follow through me. I know I intend to do more, to ensure the future Betas have the same vision values and goals that we had.”
Reconnect with Aman at fratkid21@gmail.com.