Nayab Rifat, MD, wanted to become a doctor when she was 11 years old.
“When I came here as an immigrant from Pakistan, my family doctor in Washington state was so kind. He saw me and my whole family. He treated all of us with dignity and respect. Ever since then, I wanted to be like him,” Rifat said.
Today the staff physician at UT Physicians Multispecialty – Bellaire Station offers the same care and compassion to her patients.
“I make sure to treat everyone the way they would like to be treated, regardless of origin, orientation, and other things,” Rifat said.
Rifat grew up in the Seattle area. She then attended the University of California, Merced followed by Ross University School of Medicine. She came to Texas in 2015 to perform her residency with UTHealth Houston. After she completed her medical training, Rifat moved back to her home state to practice family medicine.
Now, the doctor returns to Houston with her husband, daughter, and son.
“A lot of my family is in Texas now, which is a big reason we decided to move to Houston. It’s also a multicultural city, and you don’t have to worry about harsh winters,” Rifat said. “It’s also home to the largest medical center in the world. It’s like its own city.”
Of all the medical practices in the area, she chose to join UT Physicians.
“I know the system, and the system works great,” Rifat said. “Plus, I really like the concept of the Bellaire Station facility. I have quick access to all the specialists. I can just go to them and ask my questions or refer my patients to them. It’s like I have the medical world at my fingertips.”
Rifat particularly appreciates the vast disparity of the practice plan.
“You don’t just see it in the city but in the clinics, with the patients and the doctors,” she said. “I like how you step into a room full of top doctors, and they’re of all different origins, ethnicities, and cultures. It’s nice.”
This primary care physician is happy to be back with UTHealth Houston caring for people.
“It feels like I never left. It feels like home,” she said. “I think our patients can also sense that feeling of family. We have a very patient-centric culture, and it’s a great fit for me.”
To schedule an appointment with Rifat, call UT Physicians Multispecialty – Bellaire Station at (713) 486-2900.
