M. Zubair Kareem, MD, MS
I am a neurologist in Massachusetts, USA, and have been practicing here for over 20 years. For those who might not be familiar, a neurologist is a physician—not a surgeon—who specializes in conditions related to the nervous system. Neurology is considered a complex specialty for many reasons. Unlike most medical specialties that focus on a single organ or system, such as cardiology with the heart, neurology deals with the entire nervous system, which extends throughout the body from head to toe. This complexity is reflected in the nearly 20 sub-specialties within neurology, some of which are further divided into sub-sub-specialties. This extensive knowledge base can be challenging to master for any one individual. Equally challenging is communicating this information to patients in a way that helps them understand their neurological conditions. On a small scale, I strive to do this every day, one patient at a time.
My journey began in Pakistan, where I grew up in Islamabad. I graduated from Punjab Medical College in Faisalabad, Pakistan, and moved to the USA in the mid-1990s. I hold a Master’s degree in Applied Immunology from the University of Southern Maine. My neurology residency was completed at Boston Medical Center, associated with Boston University, followed by a fellowship in Vascular Neurology at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center, associated with Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Over the years, I have taken numerous additional courses in various areas of neurology. I am board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. I have additional certification of Vascular Neurology. I have a busy neurology practice where I serve as a general neurologist. In addition, I direct the hospital’s stroke program.
South Hadley in Western Massachusetts is our home. I am blessed with a lovely wife and three intelligent children. Spending time with my family and engaging in discussions about various topics is always fun and inspiring. As my children are getting older, I see my role reversing from a teacher back to a student. This does’t bother our puppy Kish-Mish, who remains nearby, like a wise observer, only interested in listening.
Other than my professional activities, I enjoy many outdoor activities including hiking and kayaking. At home, I also spend time reading, writing, and gardening. My other areas of interest are philosophy and fundamental truths.
The motivation for this blog is partly selfish; I hope to learn more about neurology while educating others. I use this information to help my patients understand their conditions, but this task can often be tedious. I hope the information on this site will help streamline and ease that process, benefiting patients and their families.