We spoke with Dr Bowarshi from his Florida TMS Clinic. Dr Bowarshi is board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Psychiatry.
Each issue of Magstim Insights, we will ask a practicing TMS provider key questions about their work. If you would like to be featured in this section please reach out to us.
You have established patient trust and earned attention in your market and nationally. What is your approach to care?
“Mental health patients have already been through a lot in their life. The Stigma we face today towards mental health is also not helping. Coming from a combined medicine and psychiatry background, I found that mental health care providers are often adding to the stigma of “watered down” mental health care. To build trust with our community, we tell the truth. TMS is an excellent solution, but it is not the only one; it is not for everyone, and when needed, it is essential.
Our patients are our best advocates for TMS therapy. They tell their family, friends, and they leave reviews. The impact you have saving someone’s life from depression goes beyond just this one patient or family.”
How are you able to manage multiple patients simultaneously?
“The TMS psychiatrist is the most important single person for the success of delivering successful TMS. The psychiatrist should always be readily available. As our practice expanded to three systems quickly, we found ourselves going back to the best technology to provide the best quality of care in supervising TMS. I can monitor StimGuide screens and video. Such high level and scalable supervision of treatment can’t be achieved anywhere else. At least not that I am aware of.”
What inspired you to research TMS and then launch your Florida TMS Clinic?
“Practicing internal medicine for a few years, then practicing inpatient psychiatry, I concluded that we need something beyond medications. Please make no mistake; medications are required and are useful for a lot of patients. But I can’t see a future without neuromodulation taking over the vast majority of therapeutic (and perhaps the diagnostic) aspects of neuropsychiatric disorders. The visionaries who know this fact are already investing and researching in this space (look at Neuralink, Elon Musk). Obviously, we are not there yet, but will be in the next 10-20 years. Psychiatrists have to keep an open mind about the possibilities. For me, I would rather be in the front rather than in the back. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation has given me this glimpse of the future. I have higher career satisfaction today than I ever did in my previous work. Maybe it’s because of the higher success rate I see with interventional psychiatry.”
“I have higher career satisfaction today than I ever did in my previous work. Maybe it’s because of the higher success rate I see with interventional psychiatry.“
StimGuide – Helping Social Distancing during COVID
“Florida TMS Clinic is using the best technology in the TMS field, assuring patients’ socially distant monitoring during treatments.
Using the StimGuide navigation system allows the TMS therapist to observe and monitor the patient and optimal coil positioning during every single pulse while keeping their distance. In conjunction with visual monitoring (glass door and or video camera). The TMS technologist and the patient can stay separate for most of the TMS duration.
“Such a technology came in handy at a critical time when safe TMS services are more needed than ever.”
“Such a technology came in handy at a critical time when safe TMS services are more needed than ever.”
Dr. Khaled Bowarshi M.D.
Florida TMS Clinic
