Shaista Qureshi, MD, MBBS, FAAFP, is a board-certified family medicine physician and nationally recognized educator with more than two decades of experience in full-scope family medicine, women’s health, obstetrics and graduate medical education. She is dedicated to training the next generation of physicians while providing high-quality, compassionate care to patients and families. Continue reading to meet our April Member of the Month!
We asked Dr. Qureshi to talk about her path to becoming a Family Medicine educator. She states, “As an Afghan/Pashtun woman, life has been a constant struggle for me and did not come easy in any way especially achieving leadership. It was almost impossible. God blessed me with perseverance, dedication, great mentors and, my family’s, friends’ and patients’ prayers and well wishes. I finished medical school and training in Ob/GYN in Pakistan and came to the US where I had to start my life from scratch. After residency training from NY Medical College in Psychiatry, residency training in Family Medicine from Columbia University and Fellowship training in advanced women’s health and surgical Ob/GYN from University of Texas (UTMB), academics was the line chosen for me by God! Since finishing my fellowship, I have been core teaching faculty in Family Medicine and in Ob/GYN at Boston University, University of Connecticut and University of North Carolina. I progressed to both the Associate Program Director and Program Director roles. I also founded a brand-new family medicine residency program in Alabama as well as co-founding the IM program there as well. I moved to Louisiana in 2025. I am currently the founding Program Director of the Family Medicine and Transitional Year residency programs at Saint Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA.
Dr. Qureshi describes how her personal experiences influence her work as faculty as well as a family physician. She states, “My personal experiences have taught me to stay humble, take every day as if it’s my last day on earth and enjoy it to the maximum. I feel teaching and training the doctors of tomorrow is like lighting the torch of knowledge and placing it in someone’s hands. I am lighting up some one’s torch, they will light up the torches of other people and with time, the light of knowledge will spread, and the world will be a lighted and enlightened place.”
Dr. Qureshi has been actively involved in the AAFP and state chapters for over 20 years. She continues, “I have been a member of the AAFP since 2002 and am a Fellow of the Academy since 2005. I have been on various committees over the last 20 years and have a passion about teaching Ethical dilemmas and solutions to my students and residents.
I never forget where I came from and that always keeps me humble. My day is not a good day if I don’t learn or do any good. Those are the two things that I want to do daily!”
We asked Dr. Qureshi to talk about what brings her joy every day. She answers, “My students, residents, patients and my team members are my inspiration and make my day joyful and fulfilled. Every day is a learning experience for me. I am so grateful to all my mentors, residents, students, and co-workers who have taught me what I know today. I am so thankful and privileged for the opportunity to be a teacher, a provider, a team member, a friend and a mentor. Teaching is my passion and it gives me joy to learn and teach. The old proverb, “To teach is to learn twice”. This is my motto I ascribe to daily.” She continues, “ If I wasn’t a physician, I would be a teacher. I have always looked up to my teachers, and I have the utmost respect for all teachers.”
Dr. Qureshi is also a mother of two daughters and 2 cats. Away from the office, she loves spending time with her kids and reading spiritually uplifting books. She practices mindfulness and meditation. Spirituality is very important to her.
Please help us congratulate Shaista Qureshi, MD, our April Member of the Month!
LAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Louisiana family physicians in the Weekly Family Medicine Update and on the LAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different LAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting Lee Ann Albert at