Name: Article with Strip Ad
4 x 9.8"
Customer Name: FREEMAN HEALTH SYSTEM
Ad Number: 122522NWR9361
www.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.
SponSor Content
Meet the Doc:
Muhammad Shaukat
8 • JaNuaRY 2023 • www.officialkidsMag.com
