Elk Regional Health Center is pleased to announce that Hisham Shawish, M.D., a family practitioner, is now seeing patients at Keystone Medical Associates, located at 1095 Million Dollar Highway in St. Marys. Dr. Shawish is also seeing patients in Johnsonburg at Elk Regional’s Johnsonburg facility, located at 111 Cobb Street.
“Our communities deserve to be cared for the best physicians and the best surgeons,” said Gregory P. Bauer, Elk Regional Health System’s President and CEO. “We strive to recruit the best. I’m excited to introduce Dr. Shawish to our community.”
Dr. Shawish’s interest in medicine began at an early age. The second-oldest of eight children, Dr. Shawish’s father purchased a toy medical kit for him when he was seven years old.
“I used to make my younger brothers and sisters be my patients,” Dr. Shawish recalled. “That’s initially what got me interested in medicine. After I graduated from medical school, my family members would come to me and tell me of their medical problems when they visited me. That’s why I chose family medicine – I wanted to be able to help other people’s families the same way I helped my own.”
For Dr. Shawish, one of the most important aspects of family medicine is its emphasis on preventative care.
“I can care for people no matter what their age, from infants to the elderly,” he said. “If you get someone young started on good health habits, they’ll be healthier as they get older and helping people on that path that’s important to me. As a family practitioner, I can perform a variety of medical procedures and help people no matter what they’re suffering from.”
Dr. Shawish earned his medical degree from the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. He completed his residency at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown, Texas and performed an internship at the Al Basher Governmental Hospital in Amman, Jordan. Dr. Shawish is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
Before joining the staff at Elk Regional Health Center, Dr. Shawish was a member of the medical staff at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital.
Dr. Shawish now resides in St. Marys with his wife and their son.
“I’m so glad we moved to St. Marys,” he said. “I have talked to a lot of people about the community. It’s safe, the schools are wonderful and the people are very friendly. We love the mountains and being outside. My son can’t wait to see all the snow. This is a wonderful place to raise a family.”