We were lucky to catch up with Muhammad Raza Aftab recently and have shared our conversation below.

Muhammad Raza, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

During my third year of medical school, my father suffered a heart attack. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp how common—and how preventable—such events could be. Later, during my residency, I began to see a pattern: heart disease, strokes, and many other chronic conditions often gave us warning signs well in advance. With the right screening, early intervention, and lifestyle changes, much of this suffering could be avoided.

That realization changed the course of my career. Ever since, I’ve made it my mission to help others catch these risks early and take action—before a crisis forces them to.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a primary care doctor, my deepest interest lies in prevention. Every time a patient walks through my door—no matter the reason—I’m quietly evaluating their risk for the major health threats that affect most people: heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, fractures, liver and kidney problems, dementia.

These are the conditions that so often lead to suffering and shorten lives. My goal is to reduce that risk as much as possible—through lifestyle changes when we can, and with medications when we must.

I’ve learned that a proactive approach to health pays off far more than trying to treat disease once it’s already taken hold. Preventing illness before it strikes isn’t just good medicine—it’s the best gift we can offer.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

No matter what field or career you choose, lifelong learning is one of the most important principles you can carry with you. Every new thing you learn builds on what you’ve already learned—it doesn’t just add, it multiplies your possibilities.

I’ve always been a big believer in continuous learning. Even small, consistent steps forward will take you much farther than bursts of intense, short-lived effort. It’s not about knowing everything at once—it’s about growing a little every day.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

For me personally, delivering high-quality care has always been the priority—and I believe that commitment naturally translates into a high-quality experience for others. Without relying heavily on marketing, I’ve been fortunate to build a successful practice simply by focusing on doing the right thing, consistently and well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chicagodpc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagodpc/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhammad-raza-aftab-91b4431a6/