Dr Sabia
Get to Know Me
Experienced. Certified. Supportive.
Expert-led approach
Award winning academic
I’m a dedicated GP with over 20 years of experience as an NHS doctor. As a medical student, I gained a scholarship for further studies so took a gap year to study biomedical science. I came out with a first-class honours degree that was award-winning for my research project (Pfizer prize 1998) and performance in final year examinations (Jackson prize 1998).
Recognising that I liked making new discoveries, I decided to head to the University of Cambridge for a master’s degree in Reproductive Medicine research. It reaffirmed my passion for relating the latest research insights to patient care.
Women’s health and patient centred care
I started my medical journey working in hospitals but soon enough, I found my true calling in General Practice. It offered me the unique chance to get to know my patients personally, to listen and to develop a curiosity for the cause of their symptoms. A particular area that I grew deeply passionate about was Women's Health, influenced by my earlier Masters degree. I felt it was vital to offer the best, so I went the extra mile, earning specialist qualifications in 2009 (DRCOG) and 2011 (DFSRH).
Over the years, my goal has been simple: combining my love for science, my dedication to healthcare, and my passion for making a difference to my patients' lives.
Passion for education
Following my passion for knowledge and seeing the broader potential of medicine, I ventured into the world of academia as a Clinical Lecturer. During this chapter of my career, I felt a profound need to break free from the confines of traditional rote learning in medicine. There's so much more to medicine than just memorising facts! Teaching became a love of mine – I cherished the opportunity to break down complex ideas, making them easy to grasp, relatable, and memorable. This became my mission: to impart knowledge in a way that gives deeper understanding and thinking.
Personal experience
The aftermath of contracting COVID-19 in 2020 brought unexpected health challenges my way. This experience forced me into a difficult, yet transformative journey of self-awareness and change. Just like many of you, my path wasn't a straight line towards recovery and wellness. There were moments I felt I'd taken ten steps back after one forward. But I've come to understand that this zig-zag pattern is simply part of being human. Progress isn't always linear, and sometimes our setbacks teach us more than our successes. Through it all, I've learned the importance of patience, self-compassion, and recognising that the journey, no matter how tough and long, is a valuable part of our growth.
Why Lifestyle Medicine?
In my time as a doctor, increasing numbers of patients have developed several chronic conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity at an alarming rate. While medication helped, I realized that lifestyle changes could be the game-changer many were overlooking. Troubled by the thought of future generations falling into a similar pattern, I immersed myself in lifestyle medicine, becoming board certified from the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM).
Now, armed with this expertise and my own transformative journey, I'm on a new mission: guiding women through their transition into perimenopause and menopause.
