Dr. Oza’s story is one of perseverance, compassion, and unwavering commitment to service. After graduating from medical school in India in 1975, Dr. Oza arrived in the United States in 1976 with just eight dollars in his pocket and no contacts or resources. His luggage had been mistakenly sent to London, and he didn’t know a single person in the country. Yet despite these humble beginnings, he completed his residency at Edward Hines V.A. Center and Loyola University in 1979 with a dual fellowship in oncology and hematology.
Having grown up in a small town, Dr. Oza made it his mission to serve rural communities that often lack adequate access to healthcare. “I don’t want to go to a place where I want to be… I want to be in a place that wants me,” Dr. Oza once said — a quote that embodies his approach to medicine and life.
In 1982, he opened his medical practice in Mount Vernon without a famous name or financial backing, relying solely on the strength of his medical knowledge. His guiding philosophy was simple: “If you have a wide base of knowledge, you don’t need any other introduction.”
Over the next 30+ years, Dr. Oza would go on to treat thousands of patients from across a 50-mile radius — many of them without insurance or the means to pay. True to a promise he made to his mother, Dr. Oza treated all who came to him in need, regardless of their ability to financially compensate him.
His impact extended far beyond the walls of his medical office. Dr. Oza and his wife, Armpana, organized free Thanksgiving dinners for years, seeking not only to feed those in need, but also to provide comfort to those who were lonely. “You could have millions of dollars and still be lonely,” Dr. Oza once remarked.
In the early 1990s, Dr. Oza founded the region’s first hospice program, which today continues to serve more than 50 patients at a time. He also donated 50% of his office’s income to what is now SSM Health / Good Samaritan Hospital, and later sold the remaining 50% in 2015.
Dr. Oza retired in 2017, but his legacy continues. He and Armpana split their time between Mount Vernon and Austin, Texas, while remaining actively involved in local causes — including a recent generous contribution to the Jefferson Rural Fire Protection District.
The couple are proud parents of three children, two of whom have followed in Dr. Oza’s footsteps as physicians.
“Dr. Oza has made life better for everyone here,” one speaker said during the ceremony. “We are grateful beyond words, and it is with great pride that we honor him today — not only as a doctor, but as a true pillar of this community.”