Who: Sam H. Awada, MD, Chief of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb Hospital

Specialties: Family practice, including geriatrics and sports medicine

Where You Can Find Him: At Midwest Family Medicine in Warren and at St. John Macomb Hospital

What Makes Him ‘Real’ : Returned to his roots to build a successful practice and become Chief of Family Medicine at his hometown hospital. The son of first-generation Americans and a graduate of Warren Lincoln High School, Dr. Awada attended medical school out of state. Now he’s back helping treat multiple generations of patients and making a positive impact on the well being of the community.

Why Medicine? Witnessing his own father successfully overcome a life-threatening battle with lung cancer gave Dr. Awada his initial inspiration. As a physician, he now provides people with the gift of restored health that his father’s physician was able to give.  “The possibility of enabling health and happiness under the most challenging medical circumstances is what drew me to family practice,” he explains.  “I have a love for medicine in general, but the diverse specialties and range of patients in family practice provides an ever-changing and challenging career.” 

On the Patient-Physician Relationship:  “It is extremely important to be sensitive and trustworthy because patients are sharing very private and confidential information regarding not only their medical condition, but also their social or family difficulties,” he explains. “I get great pleasure being an active listener and, as an extension, an active participant in patients’ overall health and wellness. Good health care comes from knowing patients, and it is not enough to only see them from the viewpoint of their illness. You’ve got to see the whole person.”

On His Own Personal Style:  A life-long interest in athletics – an interest that started in high school where he was a state wrestling champion – has led to an enthusiasm for healthy living. By focusing on diet, exercise and overall well being, Dr. Awada inspires patients to achieve better health and wellness while maintaining balance in life. “My style includes a blend of patient education and an understanding of treatment plans that can make the difference in achieving restored health,” he says.

The Important of a Good Support Staff:  The entire staff at Midwest Family Medicine follows an “our family treating your family” philosophy. Patients are welcomed the moment they pass the threshold.  “We are sensitive to our patients, and our staff members treat everyone like a member of their own family,” Dr. Awada boasts.

Why St. John Health?:  “St. John offers their patients accessibility to patient screenings and health care information through community clinics and outreach programs that promote public awareness and hands-on prevention,“ he says. “St. John’s support staff is second to none when it comes to patient follow-up and correspondence. And their many other resources, such as the web site and call center, provide excellent medical resource for patients to perform research and facilitate questions for their doctor.  Overall, patients and physicians alike receive well-rounded support, which is extremely important in health care.”