Provider Profile: Dr. Tarek Sabagh

Premier Pulse September 2020 Sep 30, 2020

What is your clinical specialty?

Medical hematology-oncology

Where did you go to school?

Zagazig University, Egypt

What brought you to Premier Health?

I did my residency at Miami Valley Hospital in 1990 and my fellowship at Ohio State University. I have been affiliated with Miami Valley Hospital since then.

Why did you choose medicine as a career?

Growing up in my small town in Egypt, doctors did home visits. I saw the difference a doctor visit makes - making sure the house is tidy, running to the pharmacy to fill a prescription, and actually seeing your loved ones getting better. It made me realize how special a provider can be to a patient. Subconsciously, I wanted to be that person.

Who are the people who influenced and/or mentored you?

My father instilled in me resiliency by example. Dr. Fouad Theodrus, the family physician in my town, saw patients regardless of their ability to pay and continued to see patients for free at his house after he closed his practice. Dr. Michael Craig at Miami Valley Hospital is also a mentor for his superb humanistic gentle demeanor, as well as Dr. Earl Metz at OSU.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I climbed mountains in four continents.

Where is your hometown?

Dayton, Ohio where I have lived and raised my family since 1990.

Born and raised in Kaluib, outside of Cairo, Egypt.

What, if any, sports team(s) do you cheer for?

Ohio State University Buckeyes and University of Dayton Flyers

What is the last book you read?

Miami Valley Hospital bylaws, rules and regulations

What is your favorite song in your playlist?

“Father and Daughter” by Paul Simon

What is your favorite food?

Feta cheese and olive oil. I can eat that all day long.

What is your favorite hobby?

Long distance running, mountaineering

What is your favorite animal, and why?

Dogs, very interactive, loyal, and friendly

Where is your favorite vacation spot, and why?

Glaciers. It’s tranquil; you’re part of nature with minimal materials. All you need, including food and shelter for days, is carried on your back.

Describe something (a thing, person, place, experience, etc.) for which you are especially thankful:

Visiting and climbing in Bolivia. I got to experience both the culture and the nature of such a beautiful country. I summited Huayna Potosi at 19,974 feet. Biked down Bolivia’s Death Road, a 43-mile road dropping from 15,260 feet to 3,900. It’s no wider than 10 feet and passes through the Amazon rainforest. Thanks to my friend Jorge Crespo.