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We're excited to share that a short piece outlining the work we've been doing alongside Dr. Norboo and the Ladakh Institute of Prevention team was recently published in a popular emergency medicine global health blog! Please click here to read the article.  The Last Himalayan Doctor: Documenting a 60-Year Medical Legacy
This July 2026, a team of emergency doctors, including ATMA's own Indy Sahota, are heading back to the Indian Himalayas for our annual Ladakh Mobile Medical camps. However, this year’s trip includes a very special addition: we will be filming a documentary to honour the 60-year legacy of Dr. Tsering Norboo! Dr. Norboo is a true pioneer who has dedicated his career to delivering humanitarian medical care to some of the most remote villages in Ladakh. As he approaches the end of his remarkable journey, we want to capture his untold story and highlight the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare in this region. This film is more than just a biography—it is a lens into the incredible, quiet work that local healthcare providers do every single day to keep their communities safe. To bring this important story of grassroots global health to life, we have launched a dedicated fundraising campaign. Our team is personally self-funding all of our travel. The funds raised through this new campaign will go strictly toward the film's production, equipment, and dissemination costs. How You Can Support Please note that this documentary fundraiser is completely separate from our ongoing medical work:
Thank you so much for your continued support as we work to preserve this vital piece of global health history and continue our medical mission in Ladakh! 60 Years in the Clouds: The Life and Work of Dr. Tsering Norboo At 83 years old, Dr. Tsering Norboo is more than a physician; he is a foundational pillar of the Himalayan medical landscape. Over a career spanning six decades, he has navigated the shifting borders and extreme altitudes of Ladakh to provide care where none existed. From leading the region’s first polio vaccination drives to his quiet role as the personal physician to the Dalai Lama, Dr. Norboo’s life is a testament to the power of a single, dedicated presence in the most remote corners of the earth. This summer, ATMA is documenting Dr. Norboo’s journey as he returns to the high-altitude settlement of Karzok. In a region currently transformed by climate change, geopolitical tension, and urbanization, Dr. Norboo remains a steady, humble archive of Ladakhi history and resilience. As he nears the end of his clinical career, our documentary project aims to preserve his story before the "Land of High Passes" loses its most tireless advocate. This film is a tribute to a life lived in service to those above the clouds, and an urgent look at the future of healthcare for the people who remain there.  Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS) is a serious high-altitude condition affecting millions worldwide—yet little was known about its impact in Ladakh until now. In the largest study ever conducted in the region, our team from the Ladakh Institute of Prevention and A Thousand Metres Above Foundation surveyed nearly 400 residents living between 4000–5000m. The results were striking: CMS affects 30% overall, and nearly 60% in the highest altitude region of Rubsho. These findings, presented at the International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) 2025 in Montreal, shed new light on how altitude, lifestyle, and environment intersect—and why Ladakh’s high-altitude communities need tailored strategies to manage this hidden health threat. More information and detailed report can be found here.  On Sept 5th, 2024, we held a medical outreach clinic in the village of Matho, approximately 30min away from Leh. Matho is a large village of 200 households and we were hosted by the village council and the King of Matho for this camp. In all we were able to provide comprehensive medical assessments and treatments for almost 50 people in the village. Many suffer from non-communicable, lifestyle diseases that are exacerbated by living at high altitude and in extreme temperatures. The team worked tirelessly for over 12 hours to make sure all the high-needs patients in the village were seen and cared for. As with all ATMA-LIP medical outreach camps this work wouldn't happen without your support! ATMA Team |
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April 2026
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