Our Founder
Dr. Jawad Shah
Dr. Jawad Shah studied at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Manitoba prior to completing medical school at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, where he was also raised.
He began Ph.D. work in psychoneuroimmunology prior to embarking on specialty training in neurosurgery. He completed subspecialty fellowship training in skull base neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas. His areas of specialty include brain stem surgery, vascular neurosurgery, brain tumors, complex spine, and neuromodulation. He currently practices at McLaren, Hurley, and Genesys Hospitals.
He is involved in extensive research projects including clinical, patent work, biological/mechanical, and electrical product development, industry-sponsored studies, and theoretical philosophy, among other areas. He is a faculty member at the Michigan State University Medical School. He also is Co-Director of the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics, jointly administered by the University of Michigan and Insight.
Dr. Shah has lived in Flint, Michigan, with his wife and children since the fall of 2003. When he is not working, he is constantly thinking of ways to better the community. He also enjoys snowboarding, fishing, scuba diving, traveling, and reading.
Dr. Shah’s many philanthropic efforts stem from his sincere desire to help others, and his mentality is the reason why Insight has consistently grown over the years. His vision is to selflessly give back by immersing himself in the community, and his philosophy and purpose sets the tone for Insight’s character and mission.
In fact, the inspiration for Insight’s Healing Center came as a result of Dr. Shah’s generosity and vision. The first patient came in seeking help, and was given it free of charge. The Healing Center was developed soon afterward.
One of the organizations he has supported and assisted is the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village in Flint, where he currently serves on the Board of Directors. The Broome center’s goal is to invest in youths in order to empower them to become leaders. Its programs and services include a summer day camp, a SKY after-school academic program, and a School of Champions athletic program, as well as youth journalism, music, and adult literacy programs. With his guidance, the location became one of the first water distribution sites after the Flint water crisis.
Another project special to him is the Chelsea Project, a medical research project involving manipulating the spinal cord in order to enable patients to move, which other hospitals refused to take on due to the associated costs.
His personal mission is to be an agent for social and economic growth in Flint through various research and education programs and nonprofit involvement.
According to Dr. Shah, Insight does not allow the dollar deter them from their initiatives for social good, medical research, and medical advancements. The overarching goal and concept behind Insight is to help patients regardless of the economic scenario. No matter where a patient is in his or her life, Insight will be there.