Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya, a native of Hailakandi district in Assam, has been honoured as one of the top 20 Pathology Heroes in the United States, placing him among the 100 most influential individuals in pathology. Recognised on ‘The Pathologist Power List’ 2024, Dr. Barbhuiya’s journey from a remote village in southern Assam to international recognition highlights his dedication to innovation and leadership in the field of pathology, reports the Awaaz.
Dr. Barbhuiya’s early education journey was marked by challenges. Raised in Bahadurpur village without electricity or proper roads in the early 1990s, he cycled daily on muddy paths to Hailakandi town to attend advanced classes in science and mathematics. He later attended Gurucharan College in Silchar for his undergraduate studies in zoology, followed by a Master’s and PhD in Biochemistry from Jiwaji University in Gwalior, where his expertise in clinical biochemistry and molecular biology began to take shape.
Two mentors, Prof. Baby Singha and the late Prof. Meenu Rai, were instrumental in his development as a clinical biochemist and molecular biologist. Prof. Pramod K. Tiwari, his PhD supervisor, helped shape Dr. Barbhuiya’s career, instilling in him crucial insights into the study of medicine and disease.
After completing his PhD in 2013, Dr. Barbhuiya advanced his expertise with postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Despite hopes of establishing a laboratory in Assam, he remained in the U.S. due to limited professional opportunities back home. His journey continued with a clinical chemistry fellowship at Penn State College of Medicine, after which he became a practising clinical biochemist and laboratory director.
Today, Dr. Barbhuiya serves as section medical director for Clinical Chemistry and Point of Care Testing at Baystate Health Pathology in Massachusetts. As an assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School’s Baystate Regional Campus, he provides consultation on laboratory tests and manages clinical operations, ensuring compliance with state and federal healthcare standards.
Dr. Barbhuiya also founded the Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics, a global non-profit organisation operating in both the U.S. and India. His goal is to expand the foundation’s reach to underserved communities, both domestically and internationally. In addition, he continues his research on liver and gallbladder cancer mechanisms and the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers.
