The several doctors who work at Sebo’s Nursing and Rehabilitation facility do so for the passion they have toward medicine and the residents of the center.
Dr. Ifeanyi B. Anigbo, MD, is the Medical Director for the center and Dr. Havishakrishna Sarma, DO, is one of the physicians who makes his way to the center every week to care for the residents.
Dr. Anigbo was born and raised in Nigeria and came to the U.S. for medical school. He attended Howard University in Washington D.C. then was brought to Northwest Indiana by his older brother, who was working in a hospital in the area as a neurosurgeon.
Dr. Anigbo is a doctor in family medicine, an occupation he chose as a child, thanks to growing up in a family of doctors.
“It runs in the family,” he said. “There was always somebody in herbs, herbal type of medicine in the family. My brother is a doctor, there are three doctors in our family.”
Dr. Anigbo knew he was always going to be a doctor and has enjoyed his career ever since, due to the basic act of treating sickness.
“I love having success with treatment,” he said. “People come in when they are very sick and then they get well.”
Dr. Anigbo came to Sebo’s in 1997 when he joined the practice of another doctor working at the center. He makes his way to the facility to see the residents once a week and sometimes more so when needed. He also works at St. Mary Medical Center.
At Sebo’s, he is able to walk in and just concentrate on the residents’ care and health. For him, the best thing about Sebo’s is the organized and clean facility and dedication toward the health of the patients. When he makes an order for a patient, they are followed directly and quickly, so that he does not need to worry.
Dr. Sarma agrees: When it comes to patient care, the Sebo’s staff place nothing in front nor take any chances.
Dr. Sarma also makes weekly routine visits to the center, and is called there when needed.
“There are lots of very appreciate patients in Northwest Indiana, and hardworking staff,” Dr. Sarma said. “Everyone appreciates the hard work and the commitment the people have and those at Sebo’s, they are always striving to maintain a high quality of care. They are always pushing to improve how they are doing and always keeping up with their high standards.”
Dr. Sarma has been with Sebo’s since 2012, being introduced to the facility by another doctor who had worked there as the medical director in previous years.
He was always on route to be a doctor throughout school, attending Crown Point High School, but it wasn’t until medical school at Loyola University when he knew he wanted to go into internal medicine.
He is in general medicine, where he sees patients from ages 15 to end of life. At nursing centers, internists work with the complicated medical issues that occur at that elderly stage of life.
Dr. Sarma works with families all over Northwest Indiana. He has his own medical practice office in Portage and another in Gary and also balances his time at St. Mary Medical Center and Methodist Hospitals. When needed, he visits other offices in the area as well.
“It is a lot of time management,” he said, referring to the weekly back and forth among several different city offices. “The staff in each office help out a lot.”
What also helps maintain balance and organization are the familiar faces.
There are many people he sees at the hospital that he has seen at the office or somewhere else before, he said.
“Most patients become familiar faces, so that when I can learn and get to know somebody, get to know a patient, it becomes a lot easier to keep everything organized,” he said. “It is time consuming, but you learn how to manage it all.”
These two doctors have busy work schedules, but when they get home it is just as busy and fun.
Dr. Anigbo has watched his three adult children grow up, apply, and graduate college, and are now headed into their chosen career paths. His oldest son just finished in the IT program at Indiana University, his oldest daughter just finished a Masters in neuroscience and is headed to become the family’s next doctor, and another daughter finished her first degree and is now headed to dental school. Many years later, Dr. Anigbo and his wife had another little boy, who is now in grade school and keeps his parents on their toes. They currently live in Schererville.
“I like to play with my son when I get the time,” he said. “He likes to play soccer, so I try to play with him as much as I can.”
Dr. Sauma and his wife have a newborn baby, and live in Chicago. In their free time, which has decreased with the new family member, he and his wife like to walk downtown and eat out at restaurants throughout the city.
When it comes to living and working in Northwest Indiana and at Sebo’s they both agreed on another thing: the people – patients, fellow doctors and nurses, and the Northwest Indiana residents overall – are all friendly, making their job that much easier and enjoyable.
To learn more about the Sebo’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Home, click here.