Hometown: Tehran, Iran
What's something on your bucket list?
I want to learn how to fly an airplane. I always wanted to take a course to become an amateur pilot.
What's your favorite place you've traveled to and why?
I love Alaska for its breathtaking natural beauty, stunning and diverse natural landscapes, mountains, glaciers, dense forests, and picturesque coastline. It also has unique wildlife ecosystem including grizzly bears, bald eagles, and whales.
Favorite family tradition:
My grandma started cooking a soup with her special recipe in celebration of the birth of her first child (my oldest uncle) and invited the family to their house to share. She increased the size of the pot with the birth of each of her children. Soon, the pot got so big that she could feed the neighborhood and her annual soup party became a staple of the neighborhood. All neighbors would join her each year and celebrate on the same day helping with the preparation and cooking. It became sort of a ritual. She kept doing that for seventy-some years until she passed away.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
I am proud to have graduated with my Ph.D.
What did you want to be when you were small?
I’m not sure which one was first but recall wanting to be a pilot, an astronaut, and a medical heart surgeon.
My latest book recommendation:
“Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age” by Sanjay Gupta
My life story in exactly one sentence:
I have navigated through many challenges, despite many mistakes, to create a satisfying life, surrounded by a loving family.
My favorite restaurant in Atlanta:
I love Rumi’s Kitchen in Colony Square. They have some of the best Mediterranean foods in Georgia.
My favorite comfort food or family recipe:
My wife’s special recipe for lasagna is a favorite.
