We were lucky to catch up with Monica Shah recently and have shared our conversation below.
Monica, appreciate you joining us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?
You know whats funny, this is one of the toughest questions for me to answer. It’s not because I can’t think of one story, rather, so many heartwarming stories come to mind. Since starting my journey in Rheumatology, I often reflect back on all the people I’ve met; the stories they’ve shared with me; and the role I played in their story.
When people think of Rheumatologist, they think “arthritis” and “older people.” It’s not wrong. But it’s also not totally correct. In adult Rheumatology, my youngest patient is 18 and oldest patient is 101. The age spectrum is wide and hence, so are the stories I have been fortunate to be a part of.
Because my speciality deals with autoimmune diseases, the journey to diagnosis is often a long one. Most of my patients have seen two to three other specialists before walking through my door. They are not only desperate for a diagnosis but also for a cure. One of the first and toughest points I address with my patients is that unfortunately, there is no cure. Their spirit is often challenged and they wonder if they will be able to live a normal life.
A point I like to emphasize to my patients, and truly one my favorite clinical aspects about this field of medicine, are the efflux ground-breaking therapies available for treatment. This, combined with my commitment towards being their biggest advocate, I reassure them, that my hope and main goal is to have them back to living life fully.
Cue the sob stories, two of my favorite.
A 35 year old tearful female presented to me for a multitude of symptoms. She had been experiencing intermittent joint aches and fatigue for the last 10 years. She had seen her primary care physician regularly for these symptoms without any definitive answer. She stated “I was told I was always overdoing it at the gym” however stated she wasn’t even operating at her fullest potential due to her aches and fatigue. She would take excessive Ibuprofen and Tylenol when her symptoms were at its worst, along with lots of sleep, without full improvement. Then in the last 3 years, she endorsed breaking out in “random rashes” and having “stress sores” in her mouth. I could tell she was disheartened from not knowing what was going on. She just kept saying “I know somethings not right.” Most impactful, she stated that she wanted to start a family, but she didn’t feel well enough to even take care of herself. I empathized with her; someone close to my age struggling. It really hit close to home. I ordered an autoimmune serologic panel and diagnosed her with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. I started her on immunosuppressive medication, which she responded to very well. Within a few months, she was back to feeling like herself again. Due to her desire to start a family, I made sure I was very vigilant in getter her autoimmune process stable, to where it was safe for her to conceive. I partnered with her fertility doctor to make sure her pregnancy complication risk was low. As of this date, I am overjoyed to report that this patient is now a mother to a beautiful baby girl, living life fully and happily without any restrictions.
A 75 year old male patient presented to me wheelchair bound visibly in severe pain. Prior to 1 month ago, he was active; able to play with his grandchildren and go on regular walks with his wife. He was also able to take care of himself, but now he wasn’t able to even comb his own hair or grab a coffee cup. He was frustrated with now needing to be dependent on his wife and children to conduct his activities of daily living. He had seen his Orthopedics and Pain management doctors, with whom he had regularly followed, as he assumed his pains were flare ups from his prior surgeries and long standing osteoarthritis. My clinical suspicion was high for Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Elderly onset Rheumatoid Arthritis, and his clinical serology was consistent for such. I started him on therapy immediately which he responded to favorable within days. By the time I saw him back in 2 weeks, he walked into my office with a huge smile on his face and tears of joy; he felt like he was on cloud 9. Due to his underlying co-morbid conditions, I was able to get him off Prednisone with the help of a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug which also helped his Rheumatoid Arthritis. As of today, I am happy to report that this man is back to living his best life.
These are just two of the many stories that remind me of my purpose and the joys of Rheumatology. The best part is to be able to walk someone through challenging time and then see them bounce back better.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a board-certified Rheumatologist and former Miss India Florida turned fashion model and public figure. I have been blessed with these unique, and diverse life experiences that played a huge role in the woman I am today.
As a first-generation Indian American, I watched my parents work hard to achieve their success. A success they attributed to finding a field they were passionate about and doubling down. I was determined to do the same. I became interested in Rheumatology about 5 years ago during my training in Internal Medicine. I desired to be in a field of medicine that I not only enjoyed, but also attested best to my personality. Rheumatology was just that; an ideal blend of interpersonal and medical skills, which, to put simply, is a perfect fit for how I am.
With Rheumatology, I treat patients as young as 18 to those over 100 years old, for conditions such as SLE, RA, Psoriatic Arthritis, Vasculitis, etc. In total there are about 100 rheumatic conditions that I can treat with a combination of lifestyle medications and therapeutic medications as well as accessory interarticular joint injections. With that being said, to know that in this field, I will have to opportunity to help restore an active, mobile and productive life for ailing patients, brings me the great satisfaction. However the best part, is that I will have life-long relationships with my patients.
Conversely to the above work, I also love modeling. I found it to be an avenue to express my femininity and creative side, a side I didn’t know much about until I was exposed to it. Growing up Indian in America, I rarely saw women that looked like me on ads for my favorite clothing or even on television. I felt like I didn’t belong initially, I mean people didn’t even look twice at me. Now more than ever, Indian women, like myself, are being given opportunities and am so proud to be among them. I want our generation growing up and beyond to know that they too, belong.
I have recently merged my two worlds together on social media to provide content that provides a unique perspective into the beauty of two very different careers all based on a positive mindset. I share my “Morning Motivations” throughout the week in hopes to provide encouragement for individuals that are are committed to achieving their dreams, bettering themselves and and their lives. I speak and share from the heart, the words I need to hear for myself. I give out my best energy as I wholeheartedly believe, what we emit with radiate back to us. I aim to continue to grow my platform with the objective to re-define the modern woman; intelligent, ambitious, kind, and beautiful from the inside-out.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
When starting out my career, I was often asking myself “how do I gain the respect of my colleagues?” “how do I get myself to belong in this world?” The younger version of myself, listened to the chatter around me which sounded a lot like, “be like the doctors before you who’ve made it.” So, naively, I did just that. I conformed to my environment. I wore the black pant suite to interviews, professional gatherings and spoke within the lines of what was considered “right.” Plot twist, that did not get my any further than I already was. I remember having a pep talk with myself. I had to remind myself that being myself would not hinder my success, in fact, it would be the very thing to make it. And let me tell you, people can see authenticity like the sun on a summer day. I radiated confidence because I was true to myself, and that was the golden ticket. It made me more relatable, more human. I am happier now than I have ever been. I am partner in a medical practice where I am valued and respected, and the work environment is fun! I look forward to seeing my colleagues and patients everyday. To this day, I preach self-love, self-confidence, and unapologetic authenticity. The hard truth is that I know I am not for everyone, but as long as I stay true to myself, I will meet the right people and opportunities that align with who I am as a person.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My purpose and mission are driven by kindness, authenticity, and honesty. In my opinion, there is no better way to gain the trust and respect of your patients, colleagues, mentors, and following on social media, than to have integrity and treat every person with the utmost respect. I believe that the kindness I put out in the world will return itself tenfold. I also believe that authenticity has brought me far. I stay true to my beliefs and values, and I share from the heart. I hear it often from my patients and even followers on social media, “thanks for being you, doc” and thats one of the best compliments to receive. The medical treatment goals I discuss with my patients and the information I share on social media are based on honesty. I never want to sugar coat the truth, and I pride myself in setting realistic expectations. I want to continue bringing value to peoples lives, and the success I have had thus far can be attributed to just that: kindness, authenticity, and honesty.
One of my favorite Morning Motivations I have posted:
“Stop chasing and start attracting. The universe supports you when you are authentic.”
Contact Info:
- Website: gulfcoastrheumatology.com
- Instagram: @dr.moniica
- Twitter: @drmoniica
Image Credits
Bill Irwin Photographics