Every year, we ask a few of Seattle’s Top Doctors to share what inspires them to practice medicine, the advice they give most often, and what they think the future holds for healthcare. These interviews are part of Seattle magazine’s annual Top Doctors feature, created in partnership with Castle Connolly. None of the doctors paid to be included — all are nominated by their peers.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

I grew up in a multigenerational family in India, with aunts and uncles who were physicians. It was amazing to watch them take care of people when they needed it most. When I was a child, my grandfather had gastric cancer, and that was my inspiration to pursue gastroenterology, or “become a tummy doctor,” as I said at the time. I knew from an early age I wanted to be a doctor, and my experiences through life have only affirmed that decision.

What’s one thing about being a doctor that most people misunderstand?

Sometimes patients think that if we can’t pinpoint a physical cause of an issue, we are saying that there’s nothing wrong. People often underestimate the relationship between mental health and physical health. Emotional stress and trauma can affect any organ system including the gut — our nerves are keeping our body and our mind in sync.

What’s something in medicine you believe will be totally different in 10 years?

Artificial intelligence will change how we practice medicine, how healthcare systems operate and how patients interface with health care. It has potential for a lot of positive changes. When AI makes parts of the healthcare system more efficient, doctors can have more time to spend with their patients.

Have you ever had a patient diagnose themselves correctly?

In general, the longer I’ve been in practice, I’ve seen that people are more in tune with their bodies than they realize. They can lead us down the right path and help facilitate the correct diagnosis, truly partnering with us to uncover what’s going on.

What’s one myth about health or medicine that you wish would go away?

The notion that there is one thing — a medication or a supplement or a test — that is the holy grail of health. Good health really comes down to what might sound old and boring, but is true: Eat more veggies, stay well hydrated, and get consistent high-quality sleep and regular exercise. Avoid alcohol and tobacco, and find ways to manage stress.

What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever encountered?

We see a lot of fascinating things in GI. One time I had a patient come in with abdominal symptoms and low B12. We decided to do a colonoscopy to investigate, and saw what looked like a long string of spaghetti going all the way into the small intestine. I took it out with a small lasso and sent it to pathology and it turned out to be a fish tapeworm from eating seafood.

What’s one piece of advice you wish every patient followed?

If you want to improve your health, eat more vegetables, even if you just eat one more serving a day than you do now. Any increase in vegetable intake is beneficial. And pay attention to hydration. Most of us are chronically dehydrated and need to make a conscious effort to hydrate. Sometimes people think they are hungry or craving something salty when actually their body wants water.

If you could change one thing about the health care system, what would it be?

We want to make the most of the time we have with our patients. More testing or more medication doesn’t always equate to better care. We want our patients to feel seen and heard, so that we can build a trusting relationship.