Meet the Doctor: Dr. Poohah Shah, MD
Dual Board Certified in Integrative Medicine + Family Medicine
Assistant Professor at Columbia University
Licensed in Medical Acupuncture
1. What inspired you to get into this work?
I have found, usually it’s personal, and my path is no different! I have suffered from a host of challenging and chronic health issues in my life including life-long anxiety due to childhood trauma, chronic pain, weight issues, an autoimmune condition, and metabolic issues. Western medicine did little to help me navigate these issues successfully. I found my way to health and true wellness through an integrative and holistic approach. It is my joy and purpose in this lifetime to share all I have learned and continue to learn with as many others as possible.
2. It’s so easy for patients to get overwhelmed. If you could only choose 2 things for patients to focus on for healing, what would they be?
The mind-body connection and the tenets of foundational health (nutrition, sleep, movement, connection/community.)
3. What do you wish all doctors knew about treating chronic illness?
4. Do you have something (words of encouragement or otherwise) you tell your patients that my community could benefit from?
Definitely! Change is the only constant in life, and though it may not sound like it, this is a very good thing! It means there is always space for healing and transformation.
5. Finally, what are you reading and/or watching right now?
I am always in the middle of several books – currently, The Varieties of Spiritual Experience: 21st Century Research and Perspectives by David Yaden and Andrew Newberg; Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem. I am also reading sections of the book I am writing!
6. Are you taking new patients and if yes, how do you work with them?
I am an integrative and functional medicine physician based in NYC who expertly weaves Eastern and Western medicine together to create a truly holistic approach for my patients. Every patient visit is interwoven with mind-body medicine, because I find it to be so foundational for healing. AlI in-person visits also include acupuncture, which sets the body’s healing in motion. You can find me here: www.drpoojaamyshah.com. Thanks for reading and be well!
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