India Post News Service

CHICAGO: An old adage says that affluence breeds obeisance and all physical ailments follow. Interestingly, affluence also sparks concern among affluent people to address to these health concerns and then comes the modern medical, scientific and technology community with many cures for these ailments.

There is not only a surge in medical practitioners but a mushroomed growth of physical fitness centers, Yoga dens and alternative health resorts. And there are well meaning groups in the medical community that seek to bring qualified professionals offering a broad range of techniques and latest advancements in Health science fields to your door step.

Women's Doc, a brain child of a leading OB/Gyn practitioner Sheri Merchant MD, is one of them. Sheri, who also happened to lead powerful Indian American Medical Association in Illinois, came out with a novel plan - opening a series of convenient medical clinics in different parts of Chicagoland -providing medical diagnosis and helps under one roof. In fact, the credit in no small measure also should go to her business-minded husband Hasan Merchant, who looks after the administration part of the medical clinics project.

Women's doc commenced functioning in Hoffman Estate, a north side suburb of Chicago, in 2005 and soon burgeoned to six other centers in the Chicagoland. It has now clinics in Elgin, Melrose Park, Bloomingdale and Chicago besides Hoffman Estates.

According to Hasan Merchant, Women Doc's has 14 plus physicians in almost al important specialties like Obstetric, Gynecology, Infertility, Alternative medicine and Aesthetic Laser skin treatments. Women Doc's motto is that it knows women's health and treats diseases.

The facility also lays emphasis on prevention as it is considered better than the cure. The five leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease and diabetes all of which can be prevented with wise life style choices. "Unfortunately, too few of us practice the behaviors that can protect our health.

Annual physicals with screening for cholesterol and diabetes can reveal life threatening conditions. For women pap smear, and mammography are important preventive measures, "Hasan said. As a Board Certified physician, Dr. Sheri Merchant has met the highest standard for experience and education in OB/GYN, nutrition's, hormonal changes and treatment of cosmetics, laser and skin care needs. She however, insists on preventive measures first.

The aim of Women's Doc is prevention of risk factors such as smoking, alcohol, or drug abuse, poor diet choices and physical inactivity. The physicians are specially trained to create awareness over these factors. Hasan Merchant added that Women's Doc accepts most major insurances with convenient evening and weekend appointments.

He also mentioned that they would welcome the entry of qualified doctors from the Indian Diaspora to be partners for expansion of the business and building better community health and relationship.