There’s a reason people drive three hours or more to see Dr. Adil Arabbo, M.D., a family medicine physician at DMC Advanced Family Care of Commerce.
It’s a matter of commitment; his patients feel just how devoted he is to them and they reciprocate, building the kind of doctor-patient relationship that experts say is key to good health.
“I’m sure there are plenty of great physicians at hospitals along the way but it’s really the commitment you make to your patients and vice versa,” Dr. Arabbo explains. “It’s believing in your patients, understanding that relationship and how it evolves and how you communicate with each other as it’s evolving.”
His long-distance patients are in addition to the many local families he sees in Commerce and surrounding area, where he’s been practicing with DMC Medical Group for about 18 years. It also helps that Dr. Arabbo is fluent in Chaldean and Arabic, plus he makes himself available for patients any time of day.
“My job doesn’t end at 5 p.m. when I see my patients. I take their calls even after hours or on weekends when the issue arises,” he says.
Despite all that he teaches his patients, Dr. Arabbo points out that they also teach him.
“It’s mutually beneficial where I learn from them and then they learn from me,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot from my patients and I can’t thank them enough.”
One of the things Dr. Arabbo emphasizes is the need for people to take control of their health – and not just with medications.
“Less is more,” he says. “I empower my patients to do more for themselves; to live a healthier lifestyle and get rid of medications when appropriate and empower yourself to being able to see that through. That’s my mission.”
And don’t be so hard on yourself, he tells his patients.
“Be a little more forgiving to yourself,” he encourages. “You’re not going to get it right the first or second time. It’s your journey to keep improving along the way. It’s really honestly about empowering and understanding yourself and your journey and your path to becoming what you want for yourself – not me, you have to want that.”
Working in family medicine is a unique opportunity to treat people of all ages and get to know everyone in the family. That’s something Dr. Arabbo says first led him to the specialty.
“What attracted me to family medicine is the fact that I could treat the entire family. It allows me to see the youngest child all the way up to their grandparents,” he says. “Not only that but it allows me to practice the continuity of care that is much-needed right now in terms of health care.”
Being a doctor – especially in family medicine – also means being an advocate.
“It allows me to connect with the entire family,” he says. “You become the entire family advocate in respect to their health care. It’s quite rewarding for me.”
Dr. Arabbo and his wife have been married for more than 23 years and have two sons ages 19 and 20. They enjoy spending time together, traveling and doing outdoor activities.
“As a family we love to travel and try to see different countries and expose ourselves to different cultures. That’s exciting for us,” he says. “We love doing that. Traveling in general as a family is wonderful.”
Dr. Arrabo also enjoys playing sports, working out and running. In the summer, he looks forward to being outside as much as possible.
“I love fishing with my kids,” he says. “That’s my favorite thing to do in the summer.”
The many lakes in the area make Commerce and the entire southeast Michigan region a great place to live and work, he says.
“I love the people here. They are like part of one big community,” he says. “What I love most about the area is my patients. They are really kind of an extension of my own family. That’s what I really enjoy. That’s why I wake up and go to work the next day.”
To learn more about Dr. Arabbo or to make an appointment, visit dmcmedicalgroup.com.
