Samir Kailani, MD, Endocrinologist

Dr. Kailani says the most rewarding part of being a physician is being able to teach patients as well as learn from them. He frequently treats diabetes, thyroid conditions, osteoporosis, unexplained weight loss or gain and a variety of other hormonal conditions. As a practicing endocrinologist for more than 18 years, Dr. Kailani joined Dr. Samir Malkani at Tri-County Endocrinology located on the third floor of Milford Regional’s Hill Health Center at 14 Prospect Street in Milford.

An Endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in the management of hormonal-related diseases and conditions.

We recently caught up with Dr. Kailani to find out why he chose to study endocrinology and what he enjoys most about helping patients at Milford Regional. Following are his responses.

Q: Why did you choose to study endocrinology?

A: As a medical student, I was always fascinated by this field because it relates to the secretions of various hormones and the effects of these hormones on multiple bodily functions and on metabolism. Also, one of my favorite professors in medical school was an endocrinologist. He was my role model.

Q: How many hormones are in the body?

A: Over fifty different hormones have already been identified in the human body and more are still being discovered.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing endocrinologists today?

A: The biggest challenge is that there simply aren’t enough endocrinologists in practice nationwide to handle the patient demand. The most recent statistics I’ve seen indicate there are approximately 4,000 endocrinologists in the United States. Of these, half are involved in research. This means only 2,000 endocrinologists actually work in the clinical practice setting. As the rate of diabetes increases, endocrinologists in clinical practices really feel the strain.

Q: Had you always wanted to become a physician?

A: I was always inspired by my dad. When I was a boy, my dad used to talk about how he wanted to be a physician, but he didn’t have the finances to go to college. However, he worked hard so that all of his children could go to college. My dad was true to his word—we all went to college, and I became a doctor.

Q: Why did you choose to work at Milford Regional?

A: My wife and I always wanted to live and raise our family in New England. When I interviewed at Milford Regional, I was really impressed with the administrative and clinical leadership here. Milford Regional is not a large hospital, but it is very high-tech in terms of the services it provides.

Q: Do you like living in Massachusetts?

A: I love it. I love the change of seasons. I also love all of the culture amenities. New England, in general, and Massachusetts, in particular, boasts some of the best schools in the nation. That is appealing to me because I have four school-age daughters.

Q: Is there anything you do to make patients feel more comfortable?

A: I always greet them with a smile even if I’m having a bad day. I also try to make each patient feel special and be attentive. I look for ways to connect with patients. For example, I look at their charts and registration information to see whether they recently had a birthday or whether their birthday is in the same month as mine. I try to get to know my patients—including their feelings and concerns. I listen carefully to them so I understand their history, expectation and goals.

Q: Aside from medicine, what are some of your hobbies or interests?

A: I love coaching soccer and playing soccer with my children whose ages range from 3 to 12. Nothing gives me more joy than spending time with my children. I also enjoy reading—specifically current world affairs.

Dr. Kailani is currently accepting new patients. Call 508-473-6320 to schedule an appointment.