FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Mark Cohen, VP/Communications & Public Relations

Joliet, January 26, 2005—Zafer Jawich, M.D., has been named a home care physician for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of Chicagoland South, providing and overseeing expert palliative care and symptom management for VITAS patients in the Joliet area. Dr. Jawich also consults with the patients’ attending physicians, provides guidance to VITAS staff and volunteers and educates practicing physicians and others regarding VITAS’ hospice benefits to patients and families.

Dr. Jawich recalls caring for a dying patient almost 20 years ago, visiting daily at the family’s request. Afterward Dr. Jawich was troubled by the conviction that there should be more support for a dying patient and his family. Five years ago, while practicing in Joliet, Dr. Jawich learned about hospice care and knew he wanted to be a part of it.

Because not all doctors make home visits, Dr. Jawich believes the work he does is especially important. “I enjoy every patient,” he says. “I would like to introduce hospice in Damascus, Syria, where people are still very reluctant to discuss death and dying.”

Dr. Jawich is on the active medical staff of Silver Cross Hospital and Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, both in Joliet. Prior to joining VITAS, Dr. Jawich practiced internal medicine at the Healthfirst group and at Doctor’s Hospital, both in Chicago. He continues his private practice in Joliet on a part-time basis.

A member of the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association and the Syrian Medical Association, Dr. Jawich is board certified in hospice and palliative care. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees at Aleppo University Medical School in Aleppo, Syria. He completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at Lutheran Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio

Dr. Zawich lives with his wife, Mai, in Naperville. He speaks English, Arabic and Spanish, skills he uses to better communicate with patients and families in the area’s multicultural environment.