Stormont Vail Health Welcomes Several New Physicians
Stormont Vail Health is proud to welcome the following physicians to our team:
Dr. Mahmoud Abdallah
Dr. Mahmoud Abdallah, is the newest hematology-oncology specialist. A board-certified internal medicine physician and medical oncologist, Dr. Abdallah will practice at the Cotton O’Neil Cancer Center, 1414 S.W. 8th Ave., Topeka, 66606.
Driven by curiosity and compassion, Dr. Abdallah approaches every challenge as an opportunity to grow as a physician and partner in his patients’ care.
“My biggest job is to replace fear and uncertainty regarding a cancer diagnosis with knowledge and hope,” Dr. Abdallah said.
He completed his internal medicine residency and hematology-oncology fellowship at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Known for his thoughtful, collaborative approach, Dr. Abdallah is passionate about helping patients navigate the uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis with clarity and compassion.
“Medicine is a field that constantly challenges you to grow,” said Dr. Abdallah. “I love that every patient is different. My goal is to make sure they leave each visit feeling informed, supported, and never alone in their journey.”
Dr. Abdallah is accepting new patients. Call (785) 354-5300 to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Alaa Azzouqa
Dr. Alaa Azzouqa, M.D., is a board-certified internal medicine physician specializing in hospitalist medicine. As a nocturnist, he will care for a wide range of concerns for nighttime patients at Stormont Vail Hospital, 1500 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka.
Dr. Azzouqa earned his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Jordan, Faculty of Medicine in Amman, Jordan. He later moved to the United States to complete his internal medicine residency at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Azzouqa highlights the importance of listening to his patients and treating everyone with respect.
“Being down to earth is important. We learn from our patients by being attentive," Dr. Azzouqa said. "It’s not just about being knowledgeable; it’s about being nice to people too.
It’s most rewarding when I hear I made a difference from the patient and my colleagues who are on the care team."
Dr. Manuela Garcia
Dr. Manuela Garcia, is a board-certified family medicine physician joining the Hospitalist team. As a hospitalist, Dr. Garcia will play an important part in supporting both patients and their loved ones with answers, education, and support during their time at Stormont Vail Hospital, 1500 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka 66604.
“I realized that, as a physician, I could also be a teacher,” Dr. Garcia said. “That was the main thing: teaching people how to care for themselves or their loved ones in a vulnerable time.”
As a family medicine physician with training in integrative medicine, Dr. Garcia takes a holistic approach that starts with listening to the patient as a person to find the best solution for their needs, goals, and lifestyle. This approach is particularly beneficial when educating patients from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
“Having that kind of cultural sensitivity and realizing it’s not easy to say, ‘Oh, just stop eating this food or that food.’ You have to come up with alternatives that taste good and prolong life and allow you to live a healthy life. Lifestyle changes and teaching are things I tend to focus on.”
Dr. Garcia earned her medical degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She completed the Family Medicine Residency Program at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in El Paso and an Advanced Hospital Medicine and Public Health fellowship at Texas Tech in Lubbock.
