Dr. Sheila Abdallah went to medical school a little later than most people, when she was 36 years old. “I was interested in healing the whole person, and when I graduated from college in the 1990s medicine seemed very fragmented to me, she explains. “So, I did hospice work and then human rights work overseas for a number of years. After that, I felt I wanted to do something that helped physically heal people…and I realized I was ready to make medicine my career.”

As a family practice physician, Dr. Abdallah enjoys taking care of whole families. “I have always been interested in focusing on the patient all the way from birth to the end of life,” she explains. “I love it when I get to take care of everyone, not just the parents and kids but the grandparents too. That’s why family medicine is ideal for me.” In her practice, Dr. Abdallah also has a strong interest in women’s health, caring for people of different cultures, and preventative care.

Dr. Abdallah says the most common problems she treats are diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. “In many ways these challenging problems are all closely linked,” she explains. “Fortunately, we are gaining a better understanding of how to treat these chronic diseases now.” Dr. Abdallah enjoys being welcomed into a patient’s life and helping them whether its coping with an illness or assisting someone who wants to achieve optimal health. “I think the most important thing I can do is listen and work in partnership with the patient and their values and goals and help them with whatever they are facing.”

In her practice at Reliant, Dr. Abdallah enjoys making use of the latest technology. “All this technology is here to stay, so we have to make best use of it,” she explains. “My goal with technology is to use it in a way that helps enhance patient care. For instance, at Reliant we have teledermatology software where you can take a picture of a skin lesion and a dermatologist will review it within 48 hours. I think technology like that can really make a difference for patients.”

When she is not busy helping patients, Dr. Abdallah enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She also enjoys gardening, singing and practicing meditation.