Faces of St. Peter's: Sudha Nahar, M.D.

Meet the positive, passionate gastroenterologist

We can thank an Indian custom —the arranged marriage—for the presence in America of gastroenterologist Sudha Nahar, M.D., 45. She was at a medical college in Udaipur, India, when her family proposed the match, but her husband-to-be was studying for a Ph.D. in engineering in the United States. After moving to this country, Dr. Nahar did a residency at what is now Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and a gastroenterology fellowship at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick. Residents of Warren, she and her husband have two daughters, Ritu, 20, and Rupal, 15, both of whom are proficient in a classical Indian dance called bharatanatyam.

Why gastroenterology?

One, this field deals with many organs—esophagus, liver, pancreas, intestines and more—not just one. Two, it can treat dysentery and parasite infections, which are common ailments in India. Three, I used to live in Piscataway, and after commuting to Philly for my residency, the trip to New Brunswick, where my gastroenterology fellowship was, was an offer I couldn’t pass up.

What’s an arranged marriage like?

It’s not a forceful thing. It’s more like we trusted our parents as they knew us best. I was 22 and my mother was a teacher. A colleague of hers had been a tenant of my future in-laws. It turned out that my father and my future fatherin- law had been grade-school classmates! Tell me about bharatanatyam. It’s a dance from southern India that tells a story and conveys ancient cultural values. In August, Rupal did a two-hour solo performance called an “arangetram” before 400 people to earn her diploma from the Tala Shruti School of Dance in Fords, as her sister did a few years ago.

What makes your life fun?

I like cooking and watching Bollywood movies, and I enjoy my work. As a doctor I’m in the best profession there is, and in America I’m in the best country. What else can I ask for?

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