Name: Article with Strip ad
4 x 10.25"
Customer Name: FREEMAN HEALTH SYSTEM
Ad Number: 022722NWR0631
https://www.freemanhealth.com/specialty/pediatrics
FROM
THE
FIRST
DAY
TO
HIGH
SCHOOL
GRADUATION
YOU HAVE A HOME
FOR YOUR
CHILD'S HEALTHCARE!
freemanhealth.com/peds
By Lisa Olliges
Dr. Muhammad Shaukat, Freeman
pediatric gastroenterologist, knows
parental anxiety is a big factor when
caring for children. He has felt it
himself. His son was born with a
congenital heart problem and was a
patient in a neonatal intensive care
unit (NICU) and pediatric intensive
care unit (PICU). Dr. Shaukat said
his personal experience opened a new
side of him that continues to evolve.
"Parents think something is wrong
with their child, and it's my duty to
ascertain if there is an anatomic defect
or abnormality or it's a physiological
phenomenon," said Dr. Shaukat. "No
concern is a small concern. A lot of
my empathy and love for the patients
and respect for parental concerns
comes from when I had my own kids.
Whenever I'm making a decision, I
ask, 'Would I do this if this was my
own child?'"
Dr. Shaukat specializes in treating
children for issues with the digestive
system including celiac, irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation,
abdominal pain and many others,
including failure to thrive which can
require finding other ways to give a
child nutrition such as a gastrostomy
tube or g-tube.
"When comparing adults to children,
each organ has diseases that are more
specific to the pediatric patient," said
Dr. Shaukat. "Reflux in newborns and
in early childhood is different than the
regular adult population."
Dr. Shaukat received his medical
degree from King Edward Medical
University in Punjab, Pakistan. He
completed his residency at New
York Medical College in New York
City and completed the Pediatric
Gastroenterology Fellowship Program
at University of Oklahoma Health
Sciences in Oklahoma City. He is
board certified by the American Board
of Pediatrics and board eligible with
the American Board of Pediatric
Gastroenterology, Hepatology and
Nutrition. He chose pediatrics as his
specialty in medical school.
"It touched me how caring for small
ones makes a huge difference in their
lives, their parents' lives and the
nation overall because they're going
to be growing up to be our future
leaders," said Dr. Shaukat. "If I can
make a positive change in their life, I
would feel proud of that."
His move to Joplin reunites Dr.
Shaukat with his wife, Ayesha, a
psychiatry resident at Ozark Center,
an entity of Freeman Health System.
The Shaukats have three children:
seven-year-old Aaminah, three-year-
old Ali and two-month-old Duha.
Referrals are required. For more
information about Dr. Shaukat,
contact Freeman Children's Clinic at
417.347.8750.
Meet the Doc:
Dr. Muhammad Shaukat
SponSor Content
"If I can make a
positive change in
their life, I would
feel proud of that."
~ Dr. Muhammad Shaukat
8 • MaRcH 2022 • www.OfficialKidsMag.com
