American Doctor

Three American doctors risk everything to enter Gaza hospitals on a humanitarian mission as Israel launches its retaliation against Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attack. This courageous verité documentary follows physicians of Jewish, Palestinian, and Zoroastrian descent as the conflict unfolds around them. On the ground, we witness their urgent efforts to save lives and limbs amid relentless chaos. Caught between medicine and politics, they later carry their firsthand accounts to the halls of the United States Congress—bearing witness to a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.  Malaysian-born, award-winning journalist-turned-filmmaker Poh Si Teng studied journalism at San Francisco State. Working amid the war in Gaza, she explains, “With more than 100 doctors who have gone to Gaza, I wanted to create a lasting record of those who stood their ground when it mattered most—when it was so hard.” In doing so, she offers a path forward for engaging with our shared humanity through collective action. —Janis Plotkin

Poh Si Teng is a Malaysian-American journalist and documentary filmmaker. She is the director of American Doctor (2026), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Her producing credits include the Academy Award–nominated short St. Louis Superman and the Emmy-winning Patrice: The Movie. She has held leadership roles at Al Jazeera English, the International Documentary Association, ABC News Studios, and The New York Times. Her work often explores journalism, conflict, and systems of power through intimate nonfiction storytelling. American Doctor marks her feature directorial debut.