Welcome to the DocScopy session with MedBound Times (Parul Soni) and Dr. Zubair Mirza, it’s a great opportunity to learn about his life, and professional journey. It’s an honor to have Dr. Zubair Mirza with us who is an orthopedic surgeon. He is also an educator on YouTube and Instagram.
He did his MBBS at Khyber Medical College Peshawar, Pakistan. He stayed in the UK after getting a higher degree in Orthopedic Surgery FRCS (Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons) at London. He also worked at Cornell University, Ithaca USA for a few months.
Dr. Zubair Mirza is living in his home country Pakistan and also spreading amazing tips and knowledge of health and science on his YouTube channel. Let’s begin the conversation between MedBound Times (Parul Soni) and Dr. Zubair Mirza to know about his experience, personal life, and journey of professional life.
Parul: Tell us about your life and professional journey.
Dr. Zubair Mirza: I graduated from Pakistan and later earned my FRCS in London. I also worked in the United States (New York) at Cornell University for a few months then return to England and worked for a few years. Eventually, I decided to return to my own country Pakistan to practice as an Orthopedic surgeon.
Here's a fascinating story about how I became an educator and started my YouTube channel. So the story goes back to 2013, a friend of mine and also a family member is the father-in-law of famed Pakistani Captain Cricketer Bowler Waseem Akram. Waseem Akram was diabetic. Waseem Akram had gone to Dubai for treatment with an American Doctor (sir does not want to disclose the name) in Dubai. He returned and told his father-in-law about the doctor.
My friend asked me to see that doctor, so I traveled to Dubai to meet him. He was practicing anti-aging medicine and they were running a wellness clinic in Dubai. I met him a few times and somehow he got me interested in anti-aging medicine. He told me it had scope in the future. I attended several anti-aging medicine conferences in Dubai. I used to go there 2-3 times a year, I met many American, European, Indian doctors. That’s how I got interested in anti-aging medicine.
The very significant and important part of anti-aging medicine I found out in Pakistan and in India was weight loss. So for patients who have osteoarthritis of the knee it’s very important to lose weight. One day the same American doctor was visiting Pakistan on a tour and we had a party in the evening with a famous cricketer who is a childhood friend of mine, Zaheer Abbas. A lady in her mid-30s came and told us that she wanted to lose weight for the wedding function and the American doctor said it’ll be done and said Dr.Zubair Mirza will explain to you, that’s how it all started.
Many TV anchors have invited me on their morning shows to discuss about weight loss. At the same time I started writing health articles for English daily magazine in Pakistan. I started writing monthly articles related to female health problems and anti-aging. For 5 years I wrote more than 100 articles on different female health issues, weight loss and anti-aging practice.
Parul Soni: Sir, why Anti-ageing, what interested you to pursue this?
Dr. Zubair Mirza: In medical school, we learn about the ill care model, in which we go to the doctor when we have pain, stomach ache, or a skin condition. but anti-aging is proactive. When you reach the age of 40, you can delay aging it by altering your lifestyle and adopting a correct healthy lifestyle.
Heart disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer are the leading causes of death in the United States and Europe. I didn't know it previously, but all six of them are readily avoidable with a healthy lifestyle and nutrition.
There is a scientist who wrote a book called "Life Span- why we age and why we don't". It discusses the biological clock of the body. The biological age is how our body functions and the level of cellular health can be reversed. A 50- year-old person's biological clock will act like a much younger person in terms of mental and physical health capability when they followed a healthy lifestyle. I thoroughly enjoyed this topic. I helped many people around the world including Pakistan, India, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Argentina.
Parul Soni: What were the common challenges you faced in the profession switching from orthopedic to anti-aging medicine practices?
Dr. Zubair Mirza: The hurdles in orthopedics are dealing with trauma, which occurs unexpectedly in the form of a car accident, a gunshot wound, or a brawl. Doing these surgeries with trauma was extremely difficult.
When I switched to anti-aging and weight loss practice, I faced many impatient people. The overweight and obese females request a weight loss procedure, but they are impatient and anxious. They ask many questions regarding this. I tell them that the process will take time, and weight may fluctuate or become stuck during menstruation.
The obstacle I face with skin-related patients is that skin examinations cannot be done online, nor can any advice be offered. As skin problems must be seen before a remedy can be given. Another challenge is that people expect speedy results. I usually believe that the beauty of your skin is within you; surface cells are constantly shed and new cells develop beneath the skin. I suggest everyone to take a collagen-rich diet to improve your skin's appearance and quality.
Stay tuned for the next part where we get to know Dr. Zubair Mirza a little more.