From New Jersey to Baghdad
Adam Hisham Hamawy was born in Egypt and raised in Old Bridge, New Jersey, by his immigrant parents. His path was initially one of academic and medical ambition, attending Rutgers University for both his undergraduate degree and his M.D. He completed his residency in general surgery at the prestigious Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. However, his career took a decisive turn with his decision to serve his adopted country. Hamawy joined the U.S. Army, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His service included an eight-year tenure in the New Jersey National Guard and a nine-month deployment to Baghdad during the Iraq War, where he served as a combat trauma surgeon at the 31st Combat Support Hospital. His work during this period
earned him multiple commendations, including the Meritorious Service Medal.
A Surgeon's Skill Under Fire
In the high-stakes environment of a combat hospital, Hamawy’s skills as a surgeon were put to the ultimate test. He treated hundreds of service members and civilians, performing complex reconstructive procedures under the most challenging conditions imaginable. One of his most notable patients was then-Major Tammy Duckworth, whose Blackhawk helicopter was shot down in 2004. Duckworth has publicly credited Hamawy as being instrumental in saving her life that day. This experience, he has said, profoundly shaped his philosophy of care, forging a deep understanding of how physical reconstruction is tied to a person's sense of self and well-being. He often notes that few surgeons get exposed to the sheer complexity of procedures he faced in the military, an experience he considers the cornerstone of his surgical expertise.
Civilian Practice and Humanitarian Work
After his military service, Hamawy established a private practice as a board-certified plastic surgeon in Princeton, New Jersey, specializing in both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. His practice website emphasizes translating the skills honed on the battlefield to his civilian patients, viewing his role as a blend of technician, artist, and teacher. Beyond his local practice, Hamawy has a long history of volunteering for international medical missions in war and disaster zones, including trips to Bosnia, Haiti, and Colombia. This humanitarian work brought him back into the national spotlight in May 2024, when he joined a medical team in Gaza organized by the Palestinian-American Medical Association and the World Health Organization. After Israel closed the Rafah border crossing, he and his team were trapped for a period, with Senator Duckworth personally intervening to help secure their departure.
A New Battlefield: Politics
Hamawy's experiences, particularly his mission to Gaza, proved to be a major catalyst for his entry into politics. In 2026, following the retirement announcement of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, he entered the crowded Democratic primary for New Jersey's 12th congressional district. Campaigning on a progressive platform that includes Medicare for All and redirecting military spending to domestic needs, he secured endorsements from prominent figures like Senators Bernie Sanders and Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. His campaign made his medical service a central theme, arguing that the nation should prioritize "healthcare not bombs." He successfully won the Democratic primary, making him the strong favorite in the heavily Democratic district. His candidacy has not been without controversy, facing scrutiny for past associations, including volunteer work in the 1990s for a charity later linked to al-Qaeda and his appearance as a defense witness in the 1995 trial of Omar Abdel-Rahman. Hamawy has dismissed these as attacks based on guilt by association, pointing to his long record of military and humanitarian service.
