Dr. Moataz Toban Joins Health First Physicians
By Maria Sonnenberg // March 20, 2012
PHYSICIAN PROFILE
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Specialists such as Dr. Moataz Toban have to juggle three very different, yet still related, aspects of medicine.
Toban, who practices pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine in Merritt Island, treats patients with pulmonary disorders such as emphysema, asthma or complicated chest infections.
He also provides care for patients in the critical care unit at Cape Canaveral Hospital, treating cases of respiratory failure, sepsis, shock and circulatory, kidney or liver failure or other metabolic disease.
Additionally, his practice extends to sleep medicine, a specialty that focuses on reversing disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome.
Toban’s medical journey began in his birthplace, Cairo, Egypt.
“I think I wanted to be a physician from the day I was born,” he said.
He doesn’t see where the itch for a medical career emerged, for he comes from a family of accountants, not doctors.
After medical school in Cairo, Toban spent two years in England for his internship before moving to Brooklyn Hospital in New York City to complete his internship and residency.
A pulmonary fellowship followed at St. Louis University, where Toban stayed on as professor of medicine. For 20 years before moving to Florida, Columbia, Tennessee, just south of Nashville, was the home base for his private practice.
“We had eight acres there, but for many years my family wanted to move to Florida,” said Toban.
A year ago, Toban made Florida dreaming a reality and moved his family to Merritt Island. He joined Health First Physicians in February of 2012.
“We’re semi-empty nesters now, and my wife and I decided it was the right time to make the move,” said Toban.
Three of the six Toban children are grown and gone, while two are in college.
“We only have one kid in high school now,” said Toban.
Loving the Space Coast Lifestyle
Brevard’s diversified waterways attracted the Tobans, who love nothing better than taking off in their personal watercraft. When not on the water or at his Merritt Island practice, Toban can be found working out at the gym or tinkering with wood at his home’s wood shop.
Toban, board certified in pulmonary, critical care and sleep disorders, is an active member of the American Thoracic Society, an international scientific society which focuses on respiratory and critical care medicine.
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The treatment of sleep disorders makes up a significant portion of Toban’s cases.
“Sleep disorders are being recognized as a national health problem,” he said.
Often a pulmonary disease, disorders such as sleep apnea – when individuals actually stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep – can be dangerous to the health of the patient if left untreated. Even snoring, which is estimated to affect 40% of the population, can lead to serious medical issues.
“Snoring is not just a part of life, as many people think,” said Toban.
Not only is the number of patients with sleep disorders on the rise, but also the age of patients is dropping.
“We see children as young as eight with sleep disorders that have been misdiagnosed as hyperactivity,” said Toban.
“Snorers have been shown to have higher incidences of hypertension, heart disease and high blood pressure,” said Toban.
“Primary care physicians are beginning to understand the need for treatment of these issues and specialists are seeing an increase in the number of patients,” said Toban.
The office of Dr. Moataz Toban is located at 220 S. Courtenay Parkway in Merritt Island. Contact his practice at 321-868-7656.
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