Physician Spotlight: Osama Abdul-Rahim, MD

Q: What path brought you to medicine?

A: When I was in college, some family friends had been in a horrific car accident on the highway, and they were airlifted to the hospital. The father escaped mostly unscathed and was brought to the hospital in a police car. I went to the hospital to provide comfort and to help with translation as he spoke no English. Seeing the doctors provide expert care in a calm and collected manner was very impressive, despite some of the kids being in fairly critical condition. Once I saw that, I knew I wanted to become a physician.

Q: What are the conditions/treatments of your primary focus?

A: I focus on vascular disease of the legs, inclusive of both the arteries and veins. This can range from varicose veins to big ulcers that won’t heal due to poor circulation. Making someone who is self-conscious about their appearance feel better about themselves is very gratifying. Or helping someone who was not able to walk independently take their first free steps in a long time is truly rewarding.

Q: What most excites you about your job and your contributions?

A: In some situations, amputation is absolutely the correct solution to problems caused by poor circulation. Unfortunately, patients are sometimes recommended amputation prematurely and the patient is the one who has to suffer the consequences. Helping patients avoid amputation when possible is immensely gratifying and helps keep the drive alive.

Q: What is it about StrideCare that makes you and your team different?

A: Many vascular providers tend to focus on either arteries or veins, but not both. Depending on their ability or interest level, they may just dabble in their less familiar area. At StrideCare you can be assured that our team regularly takes care patients with arterial and venous disease. This allows for a bigger picture approach rather than focusing on a single facet. This helps ensures you receive the appropriate therapy best suited to your individual needs.

Q: What are you most proud of regarding the practice’s success and/or impact on patients?

A: StrideCare is the first outpatient interventional radiology group in the D/FW metroplex. Since its founding, the group has expanded to ten area offices. Our goal is to continue growing in communities with a demand for advanced vascular treatments. Helping people live healthier lives is why we are all in the medical business, and vascular disease often plays a big role in that.

Q: Please describe your approach for providing excellent patient care. 

A: The patient experience does not start when the doctor and patient meet. It starts with the phone call to make the appointment, carries over to checking in at reception, the nurse checking vitals and current medications, and often ends with the physician interview. When all the units are working together like a well-oiled machine, patients take notice, and will feel more comfortable and trust in the team. The physician is like the closer in baseball. Everyone else did their part, now you take over and finish strong. Honestly, it’s not very difficult. The patients come to your office to seek your expert opinion on their ailment. Often, by the time they make it through your doors they have been through significant difficulties from their condition, possibly for an extended period, or even felt dismissed by other providers. They want somebody to spend the time to actually listen to them, empathize with them, create a treatment plan, and carry it out to conclusion successfully. Once they realize that you genuinely care because you have done the above, they will be forever grateful, and you will be reminded why you do what you do. It feels great.

Q: What words of wisdom do you share with patients?

A: Medical professionals often talk in jargon that is unfamiliar to patients. We get so used to it that we often don’t realize we are doing it. But patients deserve to know what is going on with their body. It allows for better informed decision making. My advice to patients is if you don’t understand what is being said to you, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask. Take an active role in your journey to heal. Don’t worry that you will offend, anger or take too much time with the doctor by asking for clarification. If a doctor gets angry because he or she doesn’t want to explain things in an easy-to-understand manner, find a new doctor.

Q: What’s your favorite patient success story?

A: While in training, we consulted on a middle-aged man with debilitating pain his legs due to fresh and old blood clots in both legs. Adding to the situation, I recognized him as an assistant coach at a big college football program. I knew that if I didn’t perform the treatment well, this man could lose a promising coaching career. Under the watchful eye of my mentor, I cleaned out the deep veins in his legs from the blood clots. By the end of the procedure, he already felt the difference in his legs. Even though I haven’t seen him in person since, I occasionally catch a glimpse of him on TV. I’m grateful that he can fulfill his passion because I did a good job during his procedure. While he may have been higher profile than my typical patient, I believe that everyone deserves to be able to do what they love. No matter the patient, everyone deserves my best shot, so that is always what I give.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges in healthcare today?

A: Healthcare is a complex maze, one that has unfortunately become so difficult to navigate. Some patients would rather avoid care than suffer the mental, financial, and emotional stress of dealing with the medical establishment. Getting patients to take that first step in improving their body and health is often the biggest obstacle. Once we get past that and they see that we are doing our best to help them get through to the finish line. Together we and can take a big step forward in that journey.

Q: What hobbies and outside interests do you have?

A: I grew up in a tightly knit family and that has influenced my relationship with my wife and kids. My wife and I love to play with our kids outdoors: riding bikes, hiking, swimming, teaching them how to play sports. Just acting silly with them is something I look forward to when I come home every day. I also enjoy trying new restaurants with my wife, game nights with friends, and watching movies.

Q: Anything else you can share to help patients connect to you?

A: Patients put themselves in a vulnerable position, placing their trust in me, their physician, to do them no harm and help them get better. It’s not something that crosses my mind every moment while caring for a patient, but I do like to reflect on it periodically. The significance of the gesture is not lost on me. The patient has trusted me, chosen me, amongst a vast sea of options, to assist on their journey of living a better life, and I take that responsibility very seriously and it is my honor and pleasure to do so.

Q: In conclusion, please share a summary of your professional and personal philosophy.

A: Do the right thing, do the best you can, don’t lose sight of what’s important, never stop caring.