Waqas Nawaz, MD

About Me

As a gastroenterologist, I’m particularly interested in celiac disease and large polyp removal, and I regularly perform endoscopies and colonoscopies to diagnose problems and diseases of the digestive system. I love my profession because I’m an advocate of preventive medicine, and screening colonoscopies are a type of secondary prevention with great potential to prevent colon cancer and thus save lives. Similarly, diagnosing celiac disease has been a challenge because, on average, its diagnosis is delayed by 7 – 8 years due to overlap with other conditions, but finding it early can improve the quality of life of many patients.

I’m responsive to patients’ messages on MyChart, even when not at the medical center, because effective communication is vital in developing patient-physician rapport that’s key in patient management. I believe in early diagnosis and evidence-based management with focus on medication reconciliation at every visit so that my patients’ needs are met in the most efficient way. In recent years, I’ve noticed that patients on multiple medications may have unnecessary prescriptions according to medical guidelines. Polypharmacy, the simultaneous use of five or more medications to treat one condition, can have negative consequences so I try to ensure patients a better solution.

The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is a place where I can progress with every passing day. I always wanted to join an institution where my academic growth continues even after my residency and fellowship. I can learn from a group of very experienced and senior colleagues who specialize in different areas of gastroenterology. Moreover, teaching has always been my passion because teaching others is the best way of learning. Here, I find ample opportunities to teach and mentor medical students, residents and fellows.

Throughout my career, I’ve been a social media activist spreading awareness about health-related issues through articles and videos that use everyday language. I’ve been a part of many awareness campaigns regarding colon cancer screening, polio vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, as well as depression and mental health. Because of such activities, patients can clearly see my passion when we discuss prevention and screening for general medical conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has opened doors to even more opportunities for me to share my medical knowledge and collaborate with peers and the general public alike. I have hosted live shows to inform a broader audience about recent COVID-19 developments. I arranged virtual workshops for a group of pulmonary and critical care physicians to mentor general physicians on treating COVID-19 patients with limited resources. I participated in fundraising on a large scale using social media where we raised $50,000 to get oxygen cylinders, convalescent plasma, oximeters and anti-viral drugs for COVID-19 patients and also helped people overcome economic demise due to lockdowns.

In addition to activism online, I’m also a career counselor and administrator on a social media forum named “King Edward USMLE Forum,” where I guide and mentor more than 12,000 medical students and potential United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) aspirants to prepare for USMLE exams and residency in U.S. This forum has helped hundreds of medical students obtain clinical rotations in U.S. hospitals. In addition, I’ve been an advocate for medical students while communicating with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) in regards to new changes in the USMLE system.

My current research interests include gastric intestinal metaplasia and types of sedation affecting adenoma detection rates (ADR). I’ve also been part of a retrospective study analyzing the role of different fluids in management of acute pancreatitis.

In my free time, I love to write articles about social issues, social injustice, politics and health. I’ve written more than 510 such articles so far. Moreover, I love to travel and read books as well as eat at a new restaurant every weekend.

Highlights

• Recipient, Presidential Award by the President of Pakistan for excellent performance in academics
• Career counselor for 12,000+ medical students preparing for residency
• Creative writer and have used social media for constructive work such as medical awareness and vaccine campaigns

Additional Languages I Speak

• Urdu

Procedures and Conditions I Treat

• Gastrointestinal Diseases
• Digestive System Diseases
• Gastroparesis
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis
• Gastroesophageal Reflux
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Gastroenterology
• Celiac Disease