Empathy for patients in need inspires Samir Abdelshaheed, MD, to provide them with access to a wide range of affordable, high-quality healthcare options through Family Medicine Healthcare- his Portsmouth-based medical practice.

His spirit of compassion and his desire to improve access to healthcare are rooted in a very personal experience. While he was a student in medical school, his parents succumbed to cancer because they did not have access to proper preventive care. Now, this Egyptian-born physician is driven to make sure that others do not have to endure the same tragedy as his parents. As the primary physician of Family Medicine Healthcare since 2004, Dr. Abdelshaheed leads a team of healthcare professionals who share this very personal commitment.

"We offer a broad array of services not typically found in many primary care practices," Dr. Abdelshaheed points out. "We're family physicians and we want to spare our patients the anxiety of entrusting their medical care to someone else. That's why we perform our own in-house electroencephalogram (EEG) tests, ultrasound exams, and sleep studies. The latest in state-of-the-art medical practices and equipment make Family Medicine Healthcare a comprehensive family practice with high-quality medical treatments."

 "We know and understand our patients on a personal level, and this is one of our greatest strengths,"  Dr. Abdelshaheed smiles. "That's what allows us to provide the best possible care to each of our patients and their families."

This philosophy has resulted in an ever increasing family practice and the need for a much bigger office. Therefore plans are underway to build a new 9,400 square foot facility. A spacious reception area with plenty of natural light and comfortable chairs will make an ill patient's trip to the doctor a little better. More parking and a sheltered entrance will improve convenience. Green spaces are also being added outdoors for the staff to take a few moments to relax and return to caring for patients with a smile.

The new facility will be constructed on the property formerly occupied by McDonald's Garden Center on Portsmouth Boulevard in the Chesapeake Square area. Ground breaking for the new facility will take place in August 2018, and construction is expected to be completed in July 2019.

"We wanted to respond to our patients' calls for a larger space," Dr. Abdelshaheed  says. "We've simply outgrown our current space. Once a convenience store, and later a shop that sold sewing supplies and vacuum cleaners, expansion options at our present location were limited."

Exam and procedure rooms are being expanded as well. The new state-of-the-art design of the rooms will allow groups of medical staff to care for patients at the same time, thus gathering all the right skills for the best possible care. "At any point during a patient's visit we will be able to answer any questions and address any concerns that may arise," Dr. Abdelshaheed assures with great pride.

The new facility will also allow the practice to provide patients with another type of care they have requested - cosmetic services.

"Many of our patients told us that they desire cosmetic treatments, but they could not afford them until now," the doctor explains. "We responded to our patients' needs by offering them affordable choices so they can not only feel their best, but also look their best."

The practice installed new nonsurgical cosmetological equipment, and members of the nursing staff have completed extensive training, certifying them to administer cosmetic treatments as licensed aestheticians. "We wanted to make sure that we dedicated all the preparation time necessary before offering these wonderful new services to our patients," Dr. Abdelshaheed emphasizes.

 Among the treatments now available is a rejuvenation and resurfacing technique called Fractora. This treatment improves one's complexion by reducing irregularities in the skin and restoring it to a more youthful appearance. Fractora can also be used to treat neck and facial acne.

Another option is Forma, a non-invasive procedure that uses radio frequency on the skin layers deep below the surface to improve its elasticity and build collagen, often called the skin's building blocks. Commonly treated areas on the face include the forehead, around the eyes, upper and lower eyelids, around the nose, on jowls, smile lines and the neck. Because Forma is completely comfortable, with no downtime, it is an effective "lunch-time" procedure that can make anyone look years younger.

Another treatment being offered is Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)- which is ideal for addressing facial pigmentation issues caused by sun damage, superficial blood vessels, skin texture, vascular lesions (such as spider veins and port wine stains), rosacea and freckles.

The Diolaze advanced laser depilatory procedure is a hair removal treatment which safely, painlessly and gently eliminates unwanted hair.  Because the device can treat a large area at once, sessions are fast and convenient.

Patients are also excited about body-contouring methods that use radio frequency energy to reduce the appearance of cellulite and restore lost elasticity to the abdominal area. These treatments can reduce dimpled skin and pockets of fat around the waist, hips and the thighs- areas that often require more invasive contouring procedures.

"Our patients deserve nothing but the best, and these new cosmetic procedures dramatically reduce the pain and expense associated with surgical options," Dr. Abdelshaheed explains.