Aysha Akhtar | MD, MPH

"I am on a mission to show how treating animals with kindness is not only good for animals, but also good for us. Join me as I explore how animal protection is a win-win for everyone."

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“An impassioned and moving argument that empathy with animals deeply affects humans’ health….a heartfelt call for compassion for all living species.” — Kirkus Reviews

What Do We Gain When We Embrace Empathy for Animals?

A leader in the fields of animal ethics and neurology, in her latest book Dr. Aysha Akhtar examines the rich human-animal connection and how interspecies empathy enriches our well-being.

Deftly combining medicine, social history and personal experience, Our Symphony with Animals is the first book by a physician to show how deeply the well-being of humans and animals are entwined.

Against the backdrop of her own inspiring story, Dr. Akhtar asks, “What do we gain when we recognize our kinship with animals?”

She travels around the country to tell the stories of a varied cast of characters ― including a former mobster, an industrial chicken farmer, a Marine veteran ― and comes face to face with a serial killer…

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Featured Video

How Do the Police in New York City Deal With Animal Cruelty?
How Do the Police in New York City Deal With Animal Cruelty?
Nine things I want my readers to know about me by Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH
Nine things I want my readers to know about me by Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH
I studied factory farms for years. Visiting one was far worse than I imagined:
I studied factory farms for years. Visiting one was far worse than I imagined:
Loving animals is good for us
Loving animals is good for us
Dr. Akhtar interviewed in The Chronicle of Higher Education
Dr. Akhtar interviewed in The Chronicle of Higher Education
Why does the death of a gorilla hurt us so much?
Why does the death of a gorilla hurt us so much?
Why are we seeing an explosion of new viruses Like Zika?
Why are we seeing an explosion of new viruses Like Zika?
Dr. Akhtar featured in the Unbound Project
Dr. Akhtar featured in the Unbound Project
5 Stories of 2014: The surprising links between human and animal protection
5 Stories of 2014: The surprising links between human and animal protection
Ebola has happened in the U.S. and it could happen again if we don’t address the root causes
Ebola has happened in the U.S. and it could happen again if we don’t address the root causes
Dr. Akhtar featured in Nick News
Dr. Akhtar featured in Nick News
It’s official: Animal protection IS human protection
It’s official: Animal protection IS human protection
How protecting animals benefits us, too
How protecting animals benefits us, too
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How Do the Police in New York City Deal With Animal Cruelty?
Nine things I want my readers to know about me by Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH
I studied factory farms for years. Visiting one was far worse than I imagined:
Loving animals is good for us
Dr. Akhtar interviewed in The Chronicle of Higher Education
Why does the death of a gorilla hurt us so much?
Why are we seeing an explosion of new viruses Like Zika?
Dr. Akhtar featured in the Unbound Project
5 Stories of 2014: The surprising links between human and animal protection
Ebola has happened in the U.S. and it could happen again if we don’t address the root causes
Dr. Akhtar featured in Nick News
It’s official: Animal protection IS human protection
How protecting animals benefits us, too
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Featured Articles

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Featured Interviews

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KUCI ~ “Get The Funk Out” ~ Janeane Bernstein Interviews Dr. Aysha Akhtar:
KUCI ~ “Get The Funk Out” ~ Janeane Bernstein Interviews Dr. Aysha Akhtar:
Jay Talking – Empathy With Animals:
Jay Talking – Empathy With Animals:
The Kathryn Zox Show ~ Animal Empathy:
The Kathryn Zox Show ~ Animal Empathy:
“Our Symphony with Animals” Emphasizes Shared Destinies:
“Our Symphony with Animals” Emphasizes Shared Destinies:
Podcast: State of the Universe.
Podcast: State of the Universe.
Dr. Akhtar interviewed in The Chronicle of Higher Education
Dr. Akhtar interviewed in The Chronicle of Higher Education
XTalks: Alternatives to animal testing
XTalks: Alternatives to animal testing
Dr. Akhtar’s interview on Our Hen House
Dr. Akhtar’s interview on Our Hen House
Dr. Akhtar weighs in on animal testing
Dr. Akhtar weighs in on animal testing
Interview about the book Animals and Public Health on One Green Planet
Interview about the book Animals and Public Health on One Green Planet
Hear Dr. Akhtar talk about her book with ARC UK Correspondent, Peter Crosskey
Hear Dr. Akhtar talk about her book with ARC UK Correspondent, Peter Crosskey
Spinal cord injury research: Hampered by animal models
Spinal cord injury research: Hampered by animal models
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KUCI ~ “Get The Funk Out” ~ Janeane Bernstein Interviews Dr. Aysha Akhtar:
Jay Talking – Empathy With Animals:
The Kathryn Zox Show ~ Animal Empathy:
“Our Symphony with Animals” Emphasizes Shared Destinies:
Podcast: State of the Universe.
Dr. Akhtar interviewed in The Chronicle of Higher Education
XTalks: Alternatives to animal testing
Dr. Akhtar’s interview on Our Hen House
Dr. Akhtar weighs in on animal testing
Interview about the book Animals and Public Health on One Green Planet
Hear Dr. Akhtar talk about her book with ARC UK Correspondent, Peter Crosskey
Spinal cord injury research: Hampered by animal models
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“Our Symphony with Animals” Emphasizes Shared Destinies:
“Our Symphony with Animals” Emphasizes Shared Destinies:
Our Symphony With Animals is a Top Pick on Barnes and Noble’s readouts:
Our Symphony With Animals is a Top Pick on Barnes and Noble’s readouts:
Dr. Akhtar featured in the Unbound Project
Dr. Akhtar featured in the Unbound Project
Dr. Akhtar announced 2015 winner of Belton Mouras Grassroots Leadership Award
Dr. Akhtar announced 2015 winner of Belton Mouras Grassroots Leadership Award
Dr. Akhtar’s article headlined in Science Blog by former director of the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health
Dr. Akhtar’s article headlined in Science Blog by former director of the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health
Read review of Animals and Public Health in The Huffington Post
Read review of Animals and Public Health in The Huffington Post
Animals and Public Health announced as winner by the International Book Awards
Animals and Public Health announced as winner by the International Book Awards
Animals and Public Health mentioned in the New York Times
Animals and Public Health mentioned in the New York Times
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“Our Symphony with Animals” Emphasizes Shared Destinies:
Our Symphony With Animals is a Top Pick on Barnes and Noble’s readouts:
Dr. Akhtar featured in the Unbound Project
Dr. Akhtar announced 2015 winner of Belton Mouras Grassroots Leadership Award
Dr. Akhtar’s article headlined in Science Blog by former director of the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health
Read review of Animals and Public Health in The Huffington Post
Animals and Public Health announced as winner by the International Book Awards
Animals and Public Health mentioned in the New York Times
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In The Press

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