Dr. Ashok Shah Internal Medicine, Titusville
Dr. Ashok Shah was born in Sojitra, Anand District in the State of Gujarat, India. At the age of 15 he began to have dreams about becoming a doctor after witnessing his town doctor help people in need. He finished medical school in Baroda and decided to come to the United States at the age of 28 and as a newlywed.
“I came to this country with a zeal to succeed with $20 in my pocket and my education as my sole investment,” Dr. Shah said.
He completed the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates’ qualifying exam in the Philippines and after completing his residency at Jamaica Hospital in New York, he came to Titusville to practice internal medicine where he has been serving the community for the past 21 years.
Internal medicine deals with adult patient medicine, treating diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems along with congestive heart failure and
coronary artery disease.
“It is challenging and rewarding work, at times frustrating,” Dr. Shah said. “But never a dull moment.”
He is also staff physician at Vitas Hospice Care where he manages patient care in the final days of life —
a different perspective from traditional practice.
He also serves as a medical advisor at local nursing homes and was appointed a Parrish Medical Center board member by the City of Titusville.
Dr. Shah works to educate patients about their conditions. “Educated patients are the best patients,” he said. “I still remember a quote by my mentor ‘take care of the patients and other aspects of medicine
will follow.’”
His association with BIMDA started in 1998 at the insistence of Glad Kurian and later by Dr. Mukesh Aggarwal. As a member of the executive board and later as the sponsorship chair, a position he held for last the 12 years, BIMDA is now a well-known name in the medical community in Brevard County.
Dr. Shah has been married for 32 years to his wife Geeta. They have two grown children who have no doubt inherited their father’s passion for learning and success.
His daughter who is a graduate of the University of Rochester with a degree in biology and anthropology, is a graduate of Pittsburgh Medical School and now pursuing her oncology fellowship in Philadelphia. Their son is a business graduate from Pittsburgh School of Business, currently pursuing an MBA degree. “My son continues to be my single best friend with his vast reading and philosophical approach to life,” said Dr. Shah.
“My philosophy in life is simple — reciprocal altruism,” Dr. Shah said. “I believe in helping people who want to help themselves, who can appreciate help, and help for the betterment of society.”
For more information on BIMDA, please visit Bimda.com or call (321) 952-0853.
This article appears in the February 2015 issue of SpaceCoast Living HEALTH.
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