Center for Middle Eastern Studies screens ‘American Doctor’

Rutgers’ Center for Middle Eastern Studies held a screening of American Doctor in Room 301 of Van Dyck Hall on October 8.

American Doctor is a 2026 documentary film directed by Poh Si Teng. The film follows three American physicians of diverse backgrounds who travel to Gaza to provide medical aid during the conflict. Dr. Thaer Ahmad, one of the physicians featured in the documentary, previously visited Rutgers in February 2025. The film is dedicated to healthcare workers who have worked and are currently in Gaza.

The film was followed by a discussion attended primarily by Rutgers staff members. Attendees discussed the events depicted in the documentary, including graphic images they said would “never leave their heads.” They described watching the bombings as “eye-opening and shocking,” with one attendee referring to them as war crimes.

Some participants described the scenes of hospital bombings in Gaza as heartbreaking to watch. Other attendees said they appreciated the screening because they felt the events depicted in the film were not adequately covered by mainstream news outlets.

Participants described the lack of structures and rubble strewn across the streets depicted in the film. They also discussed how growing up amid the destruction shown in the documentary could affect children’s understanding of their surroundings.

The discussion then shifted to ways participants could support the people depicted in the film and increase public awareness of the situation.

One participant expressed the view that people in Israel who disagree with their government’s actions may feel powerless to change them. Other attendees discussed the experiences of people being forced from their homes, killed, or left to witness these events. The discussion also addressed how media coverage shapes public awareness of the situation in Gaza.