PERSONALIZED DIGESTIVE HEALTH CARE

People often ask Dr. Manoj Mehta, a gastroenterologist with a deep passion for his work, how he chose this profession.

“Maybe they’re joking—why would anyone choose this? But I enjoy it enough to explain,” Dr. Mehta says. “For me, a lot of it had to do with excellent mentorship. Everybody’s style is a little bit different in medicine. A lot of people in medical school were hardcore traditionalists. I would say I was not one of those people.”

Dr. Mehta explains that he responded a little better to the teaching style of the gastroenterologists at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center. Instead of asking him facts that he had memorized, they challenged him to really listen to the patient, look at the clues, understand things, and come up with a plan.

Having an unconventional background relative to most doctors, Dr. Mehta has previous training in auto mechanics, has worked in medical illustration, has a pilot’s license, and has worked in television.

“I like working with my hands, with video, and have great hand-eye skills—all the things that you need in GI,” Dr. Mehta says. “But my main philosophy is to recognize that the treatment of patients is not a one-way street. Communication is the key to having successful and healthy outcomes.”

Dr. Mehta says he’s very much patient-focused and tries to treat each patient as a human being, as an individual.

“I’ve been on all sides of this. I’m a doctor, a parent, and I’ve been a patient,” he says. “I’ve been in situations where no one is hearing me when I have a problem. I know that happens in medicine and I’m very much against it.”

The approachable teaching style that motivated him in medical school is the style he brings to his patient interactions.

“Sometimes that means getting people relaxed enough to open up—not everyone is comfortable talking about the things I am used to hearing about,” Dr. Mehta says. “Sometimes it means being a better listener. I’ve learned to appreciate that people’s experiences and observations are the most valuable information I can get. The whole process is collaborative.”

The Endoscopy Center of the North Shore was created as an alternative to the hospital setting, where Dr. Mehta can deliver high-quality health care based on these one-on-one values.

“Having my own space has allowed me to achieve my goal of treating each person as an individual and meeting all of their needs, no matter how long it takes,” he says. “I focus on one patient at a time.”

The Endoscopy Center has full accreditation, full-time anesthesia, and safety and quality standards based on the hospital settings. Dr. Mehta sees patients for consultative meetings and procedures in his current office in Wilmette, and this spring will be moving to nearby Evanston.

“People have responded very favorably to my practice style, and I’ve had great reviews and feedback,” Dr. Mehta says. “Many have called my facility ‘boutique-like,’ and I’m excited to move to a bigger and even nicer location soon.”

Dr. Manoj Mehta is a board-certified gastroenterologist and the founder of the Endoscopy Center of the North Shore, 1100 Central Ave., Suite H in Wilmette, moving this spring to 1732 Central Street, Evanston, 847-256-1855, ginorthshore.com.