Primary care doctors are the first stop for most patients. That’s why, shortly after graduating from high school, Andrew S. Habib, M.D., knew he wanted to be that person.
“My dad was diagnosed with cancer, and that sparked the idea, as well as the fact that I have asthma,” says Dr. Habib, now a family medicine doctor atHackensack Meridian Medical Group Primary Care—East Brunswick. “Instead of going right to the emergency room for a non-emergency, or even to urgent care or waiting to see a specialist, I hope patients will call their primary care doctor first.”
Married in November 2020 to a speech pathologist, Dr. Habib is also the proud father of a 10-month-old daughter. He came to the United States from Egypt as a teenager, and he remembers thinking that New York City was “huge.” Now he enjoys all the benefits of living in a major metropolitan area.
What do you consider your patient philosophy in primary care?
I believe prevention is key. I always stress that patients should come for their annual physical for bloodwork and screenings—like a colonoscopy if appropriate—so they stay on top of their health care. It’s like taking care of a car to keep everything running properly. People think, “I can skip this because I’m not sick.” But I remind them that prevention can go a long way to keep them from being sick.
When you aren’t working, what do you do for fun?
I watch Gordon Ramsay on “Hell’s Kitchen,” because I like the drama and the cooking. I’d love to be in the studio audience for that show. When I’m at home, I cook a good steak and a traditional Egyptian dish called goulash—not like Hungarian goulash, which is a crispy, layered, phyllo meat pie. The Egyptian version is more like lasagna. When I’m not working, I like to spend quality time with my wife and daughter, so I work out in my home gym as much as I can instead of going to the gym. I have weights and a treadmill, and I walk my dog.
Where do you most like to spend time?
At the beach! I love swimming, snorkeling and traveling, and I’ve been to five Caribbean islands. I’d like to go to Greece and, closer by, to California.
Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our source: Andrew S. Habib, M.D.
- To make an appointment with Dr. Habib or a primary care doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
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