A Calling Rooted in Connection
According to Dr. Shahab Virani, his journey into medicine began with “a little bit of luck, a little bit of hard work, and a little bit of taking a chance on something.” His early academic strengths in science and math, combined with a passion for human connection, made the medical profession a natural fit.
Key influences included role models like his brother, who is a hospital-based family physician, and the firsthand experiences that gave him insight into patient care. “I was drawn into medicine when I was able to engage with patients as a hospital volunteer,” said Dr. Virani. “I saw the small, yet significant, interactions and nuances that help comprise quality care.”
He earned his medical degree from Florida State University and completed his internal medicine residency at the Rhode Island Hospital of Brown University. Dr. Virani then spent two years in an allergy and immunology fellowship at Boston University.
Connecting to a Specialty
His pivot from internal medicine to allergy and immunology was a decision informed by clinical experience and a personal moment of connection. “While I was in my allergy and immunology rotation, a pediatric patient came up to me and hugged me in the middle of our clinical encounter,” he recalled. “That deeply affected me and pushed me to think more broadly: how I can make a meaningful impact?”
The allergy and immunology specialty allows him to see a variety of patients from infancy to late adulthood. “I love the variability of who I see and the conditions I can treat each day in my community,” said Dr. Virani. “I get excited before I see each patient, knowing that I may encounter something that will provoke my curiosity and cause me to re-read or re-engage with something that I have not seen in a long time.”
Dr. Virani emphasizes that allergy care can take time and is not simply about avoiding allergens—it is about improving the quality of life for patients. Dr. Virani is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Allergy & Immunology (ABAI). He has particular interest and expertise in treating eosinophilic esophagitis and drug allergies.
Bringing Empathy to the Exam Room
Dr. Virani sees medicine as a collaborative process that requires more than medical expertise. “In medicine, we always talk about ‘teamwork’ and the ‘physician-led team,’ but we must not forget the vital role the patient plays in their care,” he said. “It’s really up to the patient and their family to implement the prescribed treatments, so we must make sure we engage, educate, and empathize with them.”
In his private practice, that can include spending extra time with a new patient, asking them (and then really listening) about their day or family situations, and providing them with frequent updates and follow-up treatment.
Dr. Virani is particularly mindful of how medical guidance intersects with daily life. “In medicine, there are a lot of gray areas—one treatment does not fit all,” he said. “You must ensure that each patient feels that you understand their unique situation and you must know that generic ‘stop doing this or stop doing that’ advice is not particularly helpful. We need to closely collaborate with patients to figure out what is possible and how we can remove obstacles to their treatments and improved health.”
Connecting with the ABMS Stakeholder Council
Dr. Virani’s clinical experience and system-level thinking led him to the ABAI’s Ambassadors Program, where he helped educate physicians, patients, specialty organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders about the value of ABAI Board certification.
“As an ABAI Ambassador, I was able to meet members of ABMS leadership, and when asked, I shared my viewpoints on board certification as an early-career private practice physician who sees patients of all ages and genders in my community,” he said. “I enjoyed these discussions, and my candid feedback was welcomed, so I successfully applied to serve on the ABMS Stakeholder Council.”
The Council is an advisory body that provides strategic recommendations to the ABMS Board of Directors. The Council represents a diverse range of voices, including practicing physicians, patients, and credentialing professionals. Its work ensures that board certification and continuing certification remain relevant, rigorous, and responsive to the needs of those delivering and receiving care.
Dr. Virani sees board certification as much more than a credential. “I think of board certification as a type of fluid learning,” he said. “It’s about colleagues across the nation in the same specialty following the same set of up-to-date, evidence-backed scientific guidelines. Board certification is about being consistent with our patients, making sure they’re safe, and that we are using appropriate treatments across the nation.”
Looking Ahead as Chair
Now stepping into the role of Chair of the ABMS Stakeholder Council, Dr. Virani is focused on maintaining meaningful dialogue and fulfilling the Council’s mission. He began by meeting with each member of the Council and directly asking them to share their candid opinions about board certification and the issues they wanted to work on to improve health care.
“When I work, I prefer to go back to basics, starting with making no assumptions about what people think and feel,” said Dr. Virani. “By design, the resulting feedback is not 100 percent positive, but it starts in an authentic place, which can help us understand other perspectives and positively impact our colleagues across specialties and the patients they serve.”
Dr. Virani would also like to ensure that there are clear avenues for people to share their feedback with the ABMS Community, especially those who may feel removed from the decision-making process. “The Stakeholder Council’s purpose is to inform the ABMS Board of Directors regarding the concerns, interests, and perspectives of stakeholders impacted by specialty certification, particularly patients, practicing physicians, and the public. The Council should consider this purpose and think creatively about how to communicate questions or concerns about board certification issues in a straightforward and meaningful way.”
An Invitation to Reconnect
Dr. Virani urges fellow physicians to look for ways, big or small, to connect with the wider community. “Volunteering is a way of re-engaging with the reasons you got into medicine and being part of a community,” he said. “If serving on a committee is not of interest to you or you do not have the bandwidth for that, many organizations—from hospitals to certification bodies to medical specialty societies—would like to have your help in other ways, including focus group participation and special events—just reach out!”
He encourages others to find the passion that first brought them into medicine. “I hope we all can re-engage that early passion and find vehicles to bring it back,” he recommends. “Even on a local or global level, just figure out a way where you can reconnect with your community.”
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