Leaders of Today: Dr. Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, FRCP?

Dr. Farzana Hoque is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Acting Internship Co-Director at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She is additionally the Inaugural medical Director of the Bordley Tower at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital and the President of the Society of Hospital Medicine in the St. Louis Chapter. Dr. Hoque has many awards and accomplishments, to include her recent recognition as a ’40 under 40’ Honoree by the St. Louis Businesss Journal.?

You can find her professional website at www.farzanahoquemd.com

1. At what age did you decide you wanted to become a physician?Becoming a doctor has been the greatest decision I've ever made. I view the title “Dr.” not only as my prefix but also as symbolizing my lifelong passion for making a difference in the lives of others. Both of my parents are lawyers, and my beloved mother always believed that medicine is one of the most fascinating, intriguing, and rewarding careers one could ever have. Her values motivated me to become the first physician in my family.?
2. Was the plan always to specialize in Internal Medicine?I have always had a profound passion for internal medicine. The intriguing clinical reasoning and the diverse array of pathologies have solidified internal medicine as my vocation. As a hospitalist at an academic, tertiary hospital, I provide a wide variety of complex, acute patient care and medicine consultation services to our surgical specialties. Additionally, I am an educator and mentor, guiding the next generation of physicians and advanced practice providers. As the medical director, I lead 4 inpatient units of Bordley Tower of the SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital to provide safe, exceptional patient care. My greatest satisfaction arises from the opportunity to provide evidence-based patient care to the underserved population in St. Louis County.
3. The year of 2023 has been very successful for you. The most notable of your many successes include being recognized as a ‘40 under 40’ Honoree by the St. Louis Business Journal and being inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. Reflecting on your career and accomplishments that led to winning these awards, could you share a specific experience or challenge that significantly shaped your professional journey??As a woman of color from a working-class family in Bangladesh, I achieved the milestone of becoming the first physician in my extended family by overcoming significant financial hardships. Medicine is not just a profession for me; it is my calling. Securing a residency position in internal medicine in the USA was a challenging journey, considering the lack of financial resources, network, and U.S. citizenship. I vividly recall the time when I was the only immigrant female in a South Chicago neighborhood while volunteering in a hospital. Despite the awareness of the neighborhood's safety concerns, I walked alone at 5 am to go to that hospital. My sacrifices serve as constant reminders of my purpose and core values, driving my journey toward clinical excellence in service to my patients.
4. Being raised in Bangladesh and completing your medical studies at the prestigious University of Dhaka, what factors motivated you to move abroad and practice within the United States??The joy of providing evidence-based patient care with cutting-edge technologies led me to travel over 8,000 miles for advanced medical training in the U.S., fulfilling my calling in medicine.
5. Are there any aspects of the Bangladeshi healthcare system that you believe the United States of America can benefit from?While the overall cost of medicine in Bangladesh is significantly more affordable, medication prices in the U.S. are notably higher. The government-funded hospitals in Bangladesh provide essential medications free of cost, offering fundamental support to many underserved populations.
6. Are there any aspects of the American healthcare system that you believe Bangladesh can benefit from?The physician-to-patient ratio in Bangladesh is notably higher. During my internship, I routinely treated over 60 patients in outpatient settings. Managing such a high patient load consistently could increase the risk of burnout for physicians. The hands-on clinical experience in Bangladesh honed my clinical reasoning and bedside diagnosis skills, which I continue to use in serving patients and communities.
7. I was interested in how well-respected you are on YouTube with over 2,000 subscribers to your channel. In your videos, you not only provide tips and advice for medical students, residents, and early-career physicians, but you also provide information that is beneficial to anyone, such as your discourse on the importance of self-talk and your discussion on how to sound confident while avoiding uptalk. What motivates you to discuss these character-building topics of self-talk and confidence?My primary goal of creating my YouTube channel is to educate and empower medical students, residents, and physicians globally, making a meaningful impact beyond borders. Beyond medical education, I share videos on interview skills, presentation skills, and emotional intelligence, essential for unlocking our full growth potential.For reference, you can find Dr. Farzana Hoque's YouTube Channel here.
8. You have been a lifelong medical educator, both on and off the job. What strategies and values have you found to be the most important when teaching complex concepts in simple terms to another individual?My motto is to treat medical students and residents as I wish to be treated by my attending physician. Prior to teaching sessions, I sit down with them, inquire about their goals and aspirations, recognizing them as unique individuals. I prepare interactive lectures to ensure they not only gain knowledge but can apply it in patient care.
9. The advancement of technology has been influential in many fields, especially in healthcare with services such as telemedicine and language interpreter services. What tips do you have for physicians and other clinical providers who are having difficulties adapting to these changes with new technology?Technologies are present, and their continuous advancement is inevitable. Leveraging these technologies allows us all to enhance efficiency and provide a high quality of care to our patients and communities.
10. You are in an influential position as a leader in the healthcare industry while working the frontlines as a part of patients’ clinical care teams. What policies do you wish that other leaders, especially those from pure business backgrounds, were aware of that are negatively impacting the patient treatment process from the perspective of clinical providers?The prior authorization process is a significant obstacle to proper patient care. It is a tedious task that consumes clinicians’ valuable time. By creating transparent guidelines and streamlining the prior authorization process, we can allocate more time at the bedside, improving patient care and satisfaction.
11. As the healthcare industry continues to develop, what are some of the key areas that all decision-makers should focus on in the next 5-10 years?Access to healthcare is a fundamental right for everyone, and it is our collective responsibility to work towards ensuring equitable healthcare. The often overlooked impact of social determinants of health, particularly on marginalized communities, is crucial. I am optimistic that we will achieve equitable healthcare for everyone, irrespective of race, age, education, economic status, or social background.

This Q&A session was led by Syed Siddiqi, Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of Healthcare Strategy.