Documentary ‘American Doctor’ Explores Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis

The Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, premiered the film American Doctor on January 23, 2026. The event was attended by figures such as Kirstine Barfod, Mark Perlmutter, Thaer Ahmad, Poh Si Teng, Feroze Sidhwa, and Reem Haddad. Morning Edition spoke with some of these individuals about the impactful documentary.

The film offers a gripping look at the severe healthcare challenges in Gaza amidst ongoing conflict. Following the journey of three American surgeons, the documentary captures their medical missions in the region. It also presents the struggles faced by Palestinian medical professionals under extreme conditions. These challenges include bombardments, displacement, and severe shortages of essential supplies in hospitals often targeted in attacks.

Covering more than just battlefield realities, the documentary follows the surgeons as they return home. This segment highlights their efforts to report the situation in Gaza to the world. With international journalists restricted from entering Gaza, the film provides a rare glimpse into the region’s plight.

Director Poh Si Teng begins the narrative with a poignant scene in Mark Perlmutter’s North Carolina home. He discusses an arresting image of deceased Palestinian children, urging Teng to include the uncensored photo for its journalistic significance.

Striking a balance in representation, Teng shared, “There’s always such a delicate balance. You show too much and it’s gratuitous. You show too little, and it’s not real, and it’s a disservice and a huge disrespect for those who have passed on and the surviving family members.” She shared these thoughts in an interview with Leila Fadel for Morning Edition, joined by physicians Perlmutter and Thaer Ahmad.

Ahmad outlined the overwhelming conditions in Gaza hospitals. He explained, “Every single day, you are dealing with what we call mass casualty events, meaning that there are dozens of people coming in at one single time. And you don’t have the resources to treat them—you don’t have the space.” He highlighted the compounded difficulties imposed by blockades on essential supplies.

Perlmutter, reflecting on his extensive overseas experience, stated, “I’ve amputated hundreds of legs in my overseas mission work over 30-plus years. I’ve never had to amputate them without anesthesia before. The only thing they could do was sing to the baby.” He characterized the restrictions on medical supplies as intentional strategies of the Israeli government.

The film captures real scenes within Gaza through the eyes of Palestinian cinematographers while Teng films the physicians’ lives outside. This includes documenting their interactions with the press and U.S. policymakers back home.

Addressing U.S. involvement, Teng remarked, “At the end of the day, if the U.S. wanted this to stop, it could,” pointing to substantial U.S. financial support to Israel. This context underscores the significance of sharing the experiences of doctors who navigate both the intense fieldwork and challenges within their own political and media landscapes.

American Doctor is now showing in select U.S. theaters.