Mustafa A. Barbhuiya's journey from remote Assam village to top US pathologist

Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 13-06-2025

Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya

Daulat Rahman/Guwahati

Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya of South Assam’s Hailakandi district has become an inspiration for youths in North East India as he is among the top 100 most influential people in Pathology in the USA.

Featured in ‘The Pathologist Power List’ 2024, Dr Mustafa has demonstrated innovation, leadership, and achievement in the field of Pathology.

The journey of this 'shy and silent' child to Dr Mustafa, the famous pathologist, was not an easy one.

Dr. Mustafa completed his elementary schooling (HSLC/10th) in Bahadurpur, a remote village in the Hailakandi district. In the early nineties, his village had no electricity and not even a motorable road.

Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya with other pathologists

“I used to cycle from my village on muddy roads to attend Advanced Mathematics and Science classes in the Hailakandi town. I went to Gurucharan College, Silchar, Assam for 12th and Bachelor of Science with a major in Zoology and a pass course in Botany, Chemistry, and other science and language electives,” Dr. Mustafa told Awaz - The Voice.

He studied further at Jiwaji University, Gwalior, for a Master's and PhD in Biochemistry, which paved his way to become a Clinical Biochemist and a Molecular Biologist.

“Now every student of Sanuhar Ali Memorial High School & Gurucharan College wants to follow Dr Mustafa. Students of the two institutions where Dr. Mustafa studied harbour the dream of doing something big for society. We are in touch with Dr Mustafa, and he has assured us to visit his school and college to interact with the present students to inspire them to dream big,” a teacher at Sanuhar Ali Memorial High School said.

Dr. Mustafa completed his PhD in Biochemistry at Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in July 2013. He went to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, in July 2013 to pursue advanced postdoctoral training.

Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya with his wife and son

“The ultimate goal was to return to India and set up my laboratory around clinical biochemistry and molecular diagnostics in my home state, Assam. However, the circumstances after completion of my postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins and the lack of securing a suitable job back in India compelled me to pursue things in the United States. I further completed my clinical chemistry fellowship in Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, and have become a practicing clinical biochemist and clinical laboratory director,” he said.

Dr. Mustafa currently holds the position of section medical director, overseeing the Clinical Chemistry and Point of Care Testing operations of Baystate Health Pathology services across Western Massachusetts, USA. He provides clinical consultation to physicians and other healthcare providers regarding laboratory test interpretations in the subspecialty area as a systems consultant.

He ensures that the clinical laboratory meets all US federal and local state regulations while delivering on time and giving proper diagnoses to patients. He is responsible for the effective management and administration of clinical operations of the Clinical Chemistry and point-of-care testing service within the Baystate Health Pathology operations. He also serves as an Assistant Professor of Pathology, Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences, at UMass Chan Medical School- Baystate Regional Campus.

Dr. Mustafa at his workplace in the US

Dr. Mustafa has set up a global non-profit organization, the Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics, both in the USA and India. “My next goal is to take my non-profit foundation activities to low and middle-income countries around the world and locally serve in underserved areas of the United States,” he said.

Academically, Dr. Mustafa is making efforts to continue his research areas of interest. His primary areas of research are studying biliary tract (liver and gallbladder) cancer mechanisms and discovering biomarkers of diagnostic and therapeutic value.

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The ultimate aim of Dr. Mustafa is to return to India and his birthplace to serve poor and needy people. “It gives me immense pleasure that my success has become an inspiration for many in the North East. I feel humbled. I am always ready to help anyone from India who wants to come to the US to pursue a career similar to myself,” Dr Mustafa said.