Sutter values the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our physicians, clinicians and staff and strives to foster a culture where individuals can bring their whole selves to work. Sutter knows that when people show up with authenticity it can bond teams, spark innovation and create an environment where everyone is truly valued and respected. Physician leader, Dr. Mohammad Hararah, has taken Sutter’s encouragement to heart and embraced his faith at work, as he does in other parts of his life.

Ask most people how they get through a particularly demanding day and they might say coffee or a cat nap. Sutter Medical Group physician, Dr. Mohammad Hararah, has a different answer: God.

“I don’t talk about my spiritual side often, but it certainly gives me the strength for long surgeries,” says Dr. Hararah. As a head and neck cancer surgeon, long surgeries are part of his job description.

Dr. Hararah is skilled at removing cancer from hard-to-reach and delicate areas of the mouth, throat and surrounding structures. After a tumor is removed, he immediately begins reconstruction of the missing structures and tissue to restore function and appearance. These complex operations often take 12 to 14 hours to complete. In fact, microvascular reconstruction, sometimes known as free flap surgery, is among the longest and most complex procedures performed in surgery—and Dr. Hararah was the first to bring this advanced surgical technique to Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento.

Beyond these marathon surgeries, Dr. Hararah’s responsibilities continue outside the OR. Rounding on patients recovering in the hospital, consulting on new cases, checking lab results and answering patient messages. It’s easy to see why he needs a divine source of energy. His faith not only provides a daily boost, it’s also the reason he chose to become a doctor in the first place.

“As a practicing Muslim, I strive to follow the teachings of Islam,” explains Dr. Hararah. “In Islam, there is a principle that ‘whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved the lives of all of humanity,’ and that’s the level of import that I bring to each patient on whom I operate.”

“Each person on the operating table represents not just an individual case, but a life intertwined with family, community, purpose and dignity.”  – Dr. Mohammad Hararah

Dr. Hararah’s respect and reverence for humankind are themes that repeat in his life and career. After earning his undergraduate degree, he completed a Master of Public Health program to learn how best to serve the most vulnerable people in society. Dr. Hararah soon realized that surgeons are scarce in developing countries – where he hopes to work or volunteer in the future – so he started medical school with his mind set on surgery.

While in medical school at University of Wisconsin – Madison, his peers noticed his compassion for patients and nominated him to the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He was quickly inducted in recognition of his kind and collaborative approach to care which treats people, not just their disease.

“I’m committed to being present and considering the whole person in front of me, not just focusing on the pathology,” he says. “I’ve never sat in that chair or laid on that table, but I try to think of what it must feel like – the pain, fear and burden.”

Those feelings are particularly intense when the diagnosis is cancer, a medical malady that Dr. Hararah knew he wanted to fight from an early age. When Dr. Hararah talks about cancer you clearly hear his determination, a quality that patients value in equal measure to his empathy.

Tim Tritt, a Sutter employee, poses with Sutter CEO Warner Thomas after recovering from cancer of the tongue

One of those patients, Tim Tritt, recalls Dr. Hararah’s positive outlook and pursuit of cure throughout his treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. After free flap surgery, which Tritt calls ‘radical,’ he is now cancer free.

“Cancer tries to evade us, but I’m happy to invest my time to stop it,” says the ever-optimistic Dr. Hararah. In addition to patient care, that time investment includes research that has been published in national and international peer-reviewed journals and presented at top medical conferences. “All living systems are elegant in their design and there’s so much we still don’t know about how they work,” he says. “I enjoy the intellectual challenge and life-long learning that come with studying the human body.”

Dr. Hararah says his profession is full of opportunities for science and service, but his work at Sutter offers something more: the chance to share his faith and culture with others. That’s just what Dr. Hararah did during Ramadan this year, answering questions and representing his religion on a town hall for staff. “It’s dialogue like this that will foster understanding and help create care settings that are welcoming for all,” he said.

Sutter recognizes and supports a wide range of cultural and religious observances throughout the year, including Ramadan. One of the most sacred months of the year for Muslims, Ramadan is marked by daily fasting from sunrise to sunset, worship, service, communal gathering and spiritual development. In addition to the town hall, Sutter recognized Ramadan this year in the following ways:

Dates and prayer rugs were made available in Sutter hospitals during the month of Ramadan.

• Encouraged inclusive practices in hospitals, like making dates and prayer rugs available to staff, clinicians, patients and visitors. Dates are traditionally the first food eaten to break the daily fast.
• Sponsored two Iftars, the sunset, communal meal that breaks the day’s fast. These events, held in partnership with the Salam Islamic Center Mosque in Sacramento and the Islamic Society of Rancho Cordova, gave Sutter staff the opportunity to experience a meaningful cultural celebration, enjoy delicious food and develop deeper connections with community members.
• Circulated a flyer to supervisors, describing Ramadan and suggesting how managers can support their Muslim staff who may be fasting.

“At Sutter, we recognize the importance of supporting all religious and cultural traditions, ensuring every individual feels valued and respected in our care settings,” says Dana Beckton, Chief Inclusion & Belonging Officer for Sutter Health.

Group photos taken at the Iftars that Sutter helped sponsor.