Dr. Samantha Boustani of Hackensack Meridian Health shares how she prioritizes movement, and encourages her patients to stay active to support their health and mobility.
Before Bergen County native Samantha Boustani, M.D., was a doctor, she was an EMT in Little Ferry. Every time she dropped off a patient at Hackensack University Medical Center, she dreamed of working there one day.
After years of study and training, she’s made that dream come true. Today she’s an internal medicine physician with Hackensack Meridian Medical Group. She’s also building out a sports medicine practice. Dr. Boustani's approach to health prioritizes movement. “Motion is lotion for your joints,” she says.
She encourages her patients to stay active to support their health and mobility — now and into the future. And she follows her own advice. An avid runner, she’s completed the New York City Marathon, the L.A. Marathon and the New York Triathlon.
“But you don’t have to run marathons,” she emphasizes. Just look for ways to keep moving. Dr. Boustani says she also enjoys bowling and recently took up salsa dancing.
“It's more about getting some sort of movement every day: Walk your dog, walk with your kids or grandkids; walk around the mall,” she says. “Any little something is better than nothing."
The payoff is feeling better, preventing future problems and continuing to live well even when chronic conditions arise. "I have patients with bone-on-bone arthritis who have zero pain and never need surgery,” she says. “They’re usually doing Pilates or yoga and staying very active."
When treatment is necessary, Dr. Boustani initially offers patients non-surgical options like injections and physical therapy. "I will exhaust all the other options first," she says. "When I get to the point where I'm telling you that you need surgery, it probably is pretty severe."
Across all different types of conditions and patients, Dr. Boustani is dedicated to her work. “I’m really excited to serve the community that raised me,” she says. “I want my patients to
reach whatever goals they may have. One of my favorite things about getting to know them is learning where they’re coming from and what they want their lives to look like. Then I can talk with them about what’s going on and the different options we have for care. We can piece together the parts that work for them.”
Her most rewarding role, Dr. Boustani notes, is at the resident clinic where she sees patients with health literacy and language barriers. "These patients don’t have the resources to navigate the health care system, and everyone at the clinic goes out of their way to help,” she says. “It’s fulfilling to help those who need it the most."
“I recommend my patients aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly, along with two days of weight training. Figure out what activity you love and do it more often.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source: Samantha Boustani, M.D.
- Make an appointment online with Dr. Boustani or an internal medicine doctor near you, or call 800-822-8905
- Learn more about primary care services at Hackensack Meridian Health.
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