PYSK: Dr. Siamec Vahabzadeh, Columbia Family Medical Group
Job description:
Evaluation, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic medical and psychiatric conditions.
Years lived in Columbia/mid-Missouri:
10 years.
Original hometown:
Beaumont, Texas.
Education:
University of Kansas, Bachelor of Science in biology; SABA University School of Medicine; UMKC for family medicine residency training.
Favorite volunteer/community activity:
My favorites are Boys and Girls Club, The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, and church-sponsored homeless shelters.
A Columbia businessperson I admire and why:
I respect and admire any business person who builds a company from the ground up and continues to appreciate the staff and community during the process — no matter how large the company becomes.
Why I’m passionate about my job:
I enjoy making people feel better even in the worst of times.
Why I’m passionate about my company:
I enjoy working with my medical colleagues, and I have a supportive, caring staff.
If I weren’t doing this for a living, I would:
Be a poor comedian (I love making people laugh).
What people should know about this profession:
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to take care of thousands of patients. The hardest part of this job is to remember that we are human and mistakes can be made.
The next challenge facing my industry:
The growing cost of health care and medications, which sometimes interferes with the best medical management.
My next professional goal:
To remain respected by my peers and patients in the community.
Biggest lesson learned in business:
Making sure the decisions I make involve what’s best for the majority and not just for a few.
Greatest strength:
Being a perfectionist.
Greatest weakness:
Being a perfectionist.
What I do for fun:
Spending time with my family.
Favorite place in Columbia:
The Penguin Piano Bar. All of us are singers at heart.
Accomplishment I’m most proud of:
Being a good husband, father, son, brother, and physician.
Most people don’t know that I:
Like to remain private — so this interview was the hardest thing I have ever done.