Meet Tarlan Hedayati: ER Doctor, Mountain Climber

The sun was shining and the wind was blowing as a handful of children ran through Harvester Park, their parents chatting amongst each other.  

To prepare for preschool next year, Tarlan Hedayati wants her daughter to spend more time with others her age. Plus, getting out of the house is always a reward.

What brings you to the park?

We’re just enjoying the beautiful weather, finally, after such a long winter. I’m giving my daughter a chance to run around and burn off some energy.

What do you do for a living?

I’m an emergency room doctor at Cook County Hospital.

What street do you live on?

Lake Ridge Court.

What do you like about Burr Ridge?

I’ve lived here since my sophomore year of high school, which was 1990. I like how it’s pretty close to the city but yet far enough away that I can enjoy the peace.

Do you have any hobbies?

I like to read, travel and go running. I enjoy biographies and fiction and I’m currently reading "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese. I like to travel anywhere and everywhere. The most interesting place I’ve gone to was probably Tanzania when I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. I heard that the ice cap at the top is melting and that it probably won’t be there when my daughter is old enough to climb to the top, so I figured I better get up there and see it while I can. It took a week but it was an amazing experience because I saw so many ecosystems along the way. At the very bottom, it’s all tropical with animals and vegetation, but as we got higher the plants changed and animals slowly disappeared. Reaching the top was like being on the moon because it’s all rock and ice.

What community issues are important to you?

I’d love to see more water fountains around town. I go running all the time and when I’m around here I have to carry my water bottle, which gets to be a pain.