Doctors play an important role in keeping people healthy. They provide expert care, guidance, and compassion to patients every day. In honor of National Doctors’ Day, Fidelis Care thanks doctors everywhere who make a difference in our communities. We visited with doctors from provider partners Compassionate Family Medicine in Syracuse, Polaris Healthcare Visiting Docs in Spring Valley, and WNY Medical in Buffalo to get their thoughts in observance of National Doctors’ Day.
Fidelis Care: What inspired you to become a doctor?
Dr. Riffat Sadiq, WNY Medical: From a young age, I enjoyed helping people to take care of themselves. I had my own first aid kit, and suggested health tips to whoever got sick in my family. I was known as the “little doctor” of the household. My mother nurtured this imagination, and my father supported this ambition.
Dr. Childebert St. Louis, Visiting Docs: As the youngest of nine children, I was given the nickname "Bistoury" by my father. A bistoury is a type of long-bladed surgical knife. This nickname deeply influenced my aspiration to become a doctor and dedicate my life to helping and healing those in need.
Dr. Ted J. Triana, Compassionate Family Medicine: From an early age, I was inspired by the opportunity to make a direct and meaningful impact in people’s lives. Growing up in a community where access to healthcare was limited, I witnessed firsthand the struggles of those who couldn’t easily get the medical attention they needed. This drove me to pursue a career in medicine with the intention of providing compassionate care to those who often feel neglected or underserved.
Fidelis Care: What is your message for National Doctors’ Day?
Dr. St. Louis: Cultivating a passion for your work ensures that you will never feel like you are working a single day in your life.
Dr. Triana: For me, it’s not just about the work we do in the office or the hospital, but also about the lasting relationships we form with our communities. To my fellow healthcare providers: Thank you for your unwavering dedication, your compassion, and your relentless pursuit of excellence in care. To our patients: Thank you for trusting us with your health. We are here to serve, and your well-being is always our top priority.
Dr. Sadiq: A doctor should guide their patients to become stakeholders in their own well-being. They can do this through sincerely interpreting and sharing medical knowledge. To improve even further as a doctor, and qualify as a healer, one must also be humble.
Fidelis Care: How do you and your organization work with Fidelis Care to help the people you serve?
Dr. Triana: Our partnership with Fidelis Care has been invaluable in making healthcare accessible. Through our collaboration, we can provide high-quality, patient-centered care to Fidelis Care members, especially those who are underserved or in need of specialized care. Fidelis Care's comprehensive coverage options allow us to address a wide variety of healthcare needs, from preventive care to chronic disease management, ensuring that our patients receive the support they need to live healthier lives.
Dr. Sadiq: WNY Medical's core values of Competence, Compassion, and Collaboration resonate with Fidelis Care’s philosophy of patient care. Transparent communication empowers us to be one team providing quality care for our patients and members.
Dr. St. Louis: Both Visiting Docs and Fidelis Care are committed to family and community-centered care, which is essential to improving health outcomes and enhancing the patient experience.
Dr. Riffat Sadiq has served as President & CEO of WNY Medical, PC since 2002. Dr. Sadiq leads a team of 35 physicians and midlevel providers serving in 14 offices throughout Western New York, as well as providing inpatient services at several area hospitals and nursing homes. Dr. Sadiq is also President of Geriatric Associates, LLP, serving as the Medical Director of Acute Geriatric Service at Erie County Medical Center.
Visiting Docs Medical Director Dr. Childebert St. Louis is a family medicine specialist and offers complete healthcare for individuals and families. He has over 22 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. St. Louis speaks English, French, Creole, and Spanish.
Dr. Ted J. Triana is a seasoned family medicine physician based in Syracuse, New York, with over 27 years of experience in the medical field. He is the founder of Compassionate Family Medicine, established in 2004 with the goal of providing high-quality medical services to the underserved communities in the Syracuse area. Dr. Triana is passionate about offering patient-centered care and addressing healthcare disparities in his community.