Dr. Najwa Beit Shawish
While most people shy away from subjects such as physics, biochemistry and science, Dr. Najwa Beit Shawish was drawn to them. In fact, her love of science is what made her pursue a career in the field of medicine.
“Science and chemistry were always interesting to me. I was intrigued by these subjects and that’s what put me on the path to become a physician. The medical field is the best place to apply the principles learned in these disciplines,” she said.
Born in Jordan, Dr. Shawish earned her medical degree from Jordan University, in Amman, Jordan and did an internship at Al-Bashir Hospital, from June, 1989 to June 1990. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Raymond Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She also received additional training through a Neonatology Fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
“My goal is to utilize my knowledge and experience to educate the caregivers of pediatric patients and to make my practice an accessible resource for questions and health related issues. I believe it is important to have a clear plan for every child to achieve his or her optimal health,” said Dr. Shawish.
Dr. Shawish came to the United States in 1995 and married her husband, who traveled to the States ten years prior to attend college. After receiving an engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he found employment here so, as Dr. Shawish puts it, “that’s how I landed here.”
Employed by Aurora Health Care for almost three years, Dr. Shawish treats pediatric patients, from newborns to 18 years of age.
“I enjoy taking care of the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) graduates and following up with premature babies after they are discharged from the NICU. I also enjoy helping new mothers with their first experience. The most rewarding aspect of my job is being able to make a difference in the lives of my patients from a health perspective. Making patients healthier and assisting them with making better choices, through doctor-patient interactions, helps me help them,” she said.
As one would expect, Dr. Shawish said that her job as a pediatrician becomes challenging and complicated when she is faced with societal and behavioral issues where she does not have the power to control or change the circumstances.
“I see psycho-social and behavior challenges, along with people and family dynamics where there’s not much or anything I can do. As a physician, it’s oftentimes out of my hand to alleviate many of these issues. While it’s troubling, I try to stay focused on those aspects where I am able to make a positive difference,” said Dr. Shawish.
Dr. Shawish acknowledges that patient care and medical practices in the United States are different from that in Jordan.
“In the U.S., the emphasis is on preventative medicine and screening for diseases. The approach here is more proactive. In my country, the focus is more on treating illnesses and diseases, though it’s getting better. In Jordan, less than 50 percent of the population have medical insurance, which limits access to healthcare. Patients tend to only seek medical care when illness is severe and symptoms are bad. Access to preventative care can be jeopardized for the same reason,” she said.
Bridging the cultural gap between doctor and patient is sometimes a challenge for Dr. Shawish as well.
“You have to adapt to various cultures and human behaviors. Sometimes when I see patients, I have to break stereotypes about my heritage so that I am able to function competently as a physician with my patients, but for the most part, it has not been a problem,” she acknowledged.
In her spare time, Dr. Shawish enjoys walking and volunteering at various community activities. She also enjoys cooking and traveling with her children.
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