Farzana Rashid Hossain, MD
Since starting at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) in 2010, gastroenterologist Farzana Rashid Hossain, MD, has been committed to building a healthier Philadelphia community through science and social empowerment.
Rashid was recently appointed director of the newly launched Women’s Gastrointestinal (GI) Health Program. This program offers opportunities to unite service lines and support women with GI disorders, which often manifest differently in women and men. As part of this transition, she has relocated from PPMC to “the historic flagship hospital known for their women’s health services”: Pennsylvania Hospital. Rashid earned her medical degree at the University of Sheffield in the U.K., has been named on Philadelphia magazine’s “Top Docs” list for three consecutive years, and also works with patients at Penn Medicine Radnor.
Q: Tell me about your journey to medicine and Gastroenterology.
A: I was actually offered a scholarship to MIT to pursue engineering like my father, but in observing my mother’s impact on others as a physician, I realized my true calling was medicine. Medicine is the work of humanity built upon science, and I wanted to be involved. I always loved Gastroenterology because it offered a continuity of care and the privilege to advocate for patients throughout their lives. Witnessing the improvement of a patient’s condition and quality of life care has fueled my clinical practice.
I feel a professional and personal responsibility to each individual, and this sense of duty added another dimension when I started at PPMC as the only female gastroenterologist at the time. I found a trend emerging wherein female patients often sought out female physicians, and while I had started with a niche in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and helping patients transition from pediatric to adult care, I couldn’t ignore the responsibility I had to ensure accessible care for women with acute and chronic GI needs.
Q: What are you hoping to bring to PAH through this transition?
A: I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to care for a diverse group of patients. Having lived in many countries and worked in England as a young physician, I gained a broader perspective of universal health care as it relates to access and demographics. When I moved home, I had a deeper understanding of what environment would allow me to meaningfully impact the health care evolution and serve the broader community. I see enormous possibilities to deliver cost-effective, quality care, and as the director of the Women’s GI Health Program — which is such an honor — I’m excited to work on an interdisciplinary, collaborative program at PAH to improve the well-being of women at every stage of life.
Q: You advocate for the health needs of women and girls outside of the hospital, too. Can you talk about your involvement with the Philadelphia Commission for Women and your other interests?
A: I’m honored to have been appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney to Philadelphia’s first Commission for Women. This role gives me the chance to use my global background and institutional health care knowledge to address inequities and impact public policy for the betterment of our community; for example, I developed and published a report pertaining to corporate governance, leadership, and the local economy. I hope to serve as a role model for women who want to be leaders in the community and the workplace. Another passion of mine is managing patients with IBD, and I’m on the medical advisory committee and board of the regional chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. I’m also invested in utilizing technology to increase patient engagement and awareness of medical conditions — so follow me on Twitter at @fr_hossain!