Human Connection1 min read

A Gentle Mind, A Curious Soul: Dr. Harminder Chawla

A soft word. A steady hand. A mind that never stops wondering.

From the book Healing Stories of Hope

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
— Dr. Harminder Chawla

Dr. Harminder Chawla is not one to seek the spotlight, but his light is undeniable. Born into a family of healers—more than 50 physicians scattered across generations—medicine was part of his DNA.

The road was not always straight. At one point, he dreamed of dentistry, but financial constraints rerouted him. That turn led him to medicine and, eventually, to nephrology—a field that welcomed him when other doors remained closed.

After emigrating to the United States at his brother's invitation, he passed his medical exams in 1986, took on academic roles at NYU, and volunteered his time teaching 8th-grade Black students in a church enrichment program.

At Long Island Community Hospital, Dr. Harminder became known as a quiet mentor, a diligent teacher, and a kind soul. He embodies the values we cherish most in medicine: intellectual honesty, curiosity, patient-centered care, and humanism.

Takeaway: True brilliance needs no noise. Compassion needs no parade.

Stories are shared with consent and carefully de-identified. Names, dates, places, and clinical details are changed to protect privacy; some stories are composites.