AYAZ VIRJI is a family physician practicing in Dawson, Minnesota. He received his B.A. in history at Georgetown University in 1996 and his M.D. from Georgetown Medical School in 2000. In addition to his 14 years of medical practice, Dr. Virji has authored several peer-reviewed scientific publications, and one patent, and he studies comparative religion in his free time. He continues to present his "Love Thy Neighbor" lectures in schools, libraries, community centers, places of worship, colleges, and universities throughout the country.

“So many narratives about rural America in the wake of President Donald Trump’s election have been told through the eyes of the white working class. Yet Ayaz Virji’s memoir as a Muslim doctor in small-town Minnesota offers a revealing perspective that challenges us to think more broadly about community and faith in Trump Country, where the author chronicles the conflicts between his calling to practice rural medicine and find acceptance in his religious identity.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Clear-eyed . . . Written in powerful vignettes that jump easily from flashback to present . . . Virji shows the community work he—and many others—are doing to combat a negative political climate through education and outreach. This is a vivid account of one man’s efforts to make sense of political tensions, racial hatred, and religious misunderstandings.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
“Both candid and compelling, Virji's book is strong medicine for an age plagued by the ills of xenophobia, misinformation, and distrust. A courageous and necessary memoir in troubling times.”—Kirkus Reviews