Modernity and Communication Pay Off for Spinal Surgeon

If you walk into Dr. Shuriz Hishmeh’s office you will see a whole wall full of diplomas. There were a few career choice changes and many years of schooling that led him to become a spinal surgeon and the recipient of the 2011 Patients’ Choice Award.

Hishmeh first attended SUNY Farmingdale with the hope of becoming a pilot. While he was at Farmingdale, some rules and regulations were changed and Hishmeh started worrying about a future in flight.

After some research, Hishmeh felt physical therapy was a good career choice and it could financially support his piloting. After graduating from New York University as a physical therapist, he realized his enjoyment of the medical field.

Hishmeh continued to medical school at the University of Vermont and then SUNY Stonybrook for orthopedics. While at Stonybrook, Hishmeh found his niche with spinal surgery.

“It’s very complex, it’s very demanding, it’s very stressful and it kind of fits my type-A personality," he said.

“Honestly, I think people kind of gravitate towards their profession,” recalls Hishmeh. “It's their personality that picks it.”

His personality isn’t the only thing that makes him a popular spinal surgeon. His bedside manager is highly regarded by his patients, contributing largely to his winning the Patients' Choice Award.

Hishmeh is the kind of doctor who gives out his email and cell phone to patients so they can always get a hold of him. He also has an interactive facebook page where patients can go on and see pictures of his surgeries and ask Hishmeh questions.

“I love my patients. I give them all the attention I can,” he said. “It’s a shame that I get paid to do it.”

Even though Hishmeh loves his patients and his job, he still has to look ahead to the future of the medical field.

“I’m always thinking about the future and with Obamacare there’s potential to put peope like me out of business in 2013,” said Hishmeh.

As Hishmeh sees it, if “Obamacare” is passed, he will have three options: work for a hospital, work for the government or find a way to change things.

So what is Hishmeh going to do? Come up with a Plan B.

“Plan B is kind of innate to me, being a spine surgeon. You always need Plan B in case in the operating room x, y or z happens,” he said.

Hishmeh's Plan B may come as a surprise to some people. There haven’t been any applications in his name at Harvard Law yet but Hishmeh has taken the LSATs. That’s right, Hishmeh’s Plan B is to go to law school, but he doesn’t want to become a lawyer. He sees law school as a way to get into politics, particularly medical politics.

“Do I want to go to law school? No, zero desire but it’s kind of difficult to write the laws if you don’t have an understanding of the laws,” he says. Hishmeh wants to stay in the medical field but help realign the medical legal system.

But until he is forced, Hishmeh isn’t leaving spinal surgery. He’ll continue working with his patients and continue his now renowned bedside manor.

“I try to the best of my ability for my patients and they know it."