Ozarks Healthcare Welcomes Dr. Phool Iqbal as New Hospitalist

Ozarks Healthcare is pleased to welcome Phool Iqbal, MD, to its team of hospitalists.

Iqbal joins Ozarks Healthcare from New York Medical College/Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City, where he trained in internal medicine and served as a resident representative, research committee member, and wellness committee organizer. He brings more than a decade of clinical experience spanning multiple countries and healthcare systems, including five years as an internal medicine resident and one year as a medical intensive care unit fellow at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar, affiliated with the Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar program.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Iqbal to our hospitalist team,” Jacob Petrus, Vice President of Physician Services and Operations at Ozarks Healthcare, said. “His extensive international experience, dedication to patient care, and passion for lifelong learning will strengthen the high-quality, compassionate care we provide to our patients every day.”

His medical education began at the University of Health Sciences Lahore, where he earned his MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree on scholarship, followed by additional professional certifications including MRCP Parts 1 and 2 (UK) and a research course at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where he graduated with highest-grade achiever recognition. Iqbal is also has authored more than 70 research publications.

Having a passion for serving others, Iqbal was motivated to choose medicine as a career.

“The diversity of cases as a hospitalist allows me to keep learning and improving every day,” he said. “I enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and helping them through some of their most challenging moments.”

Iqbal was drawn to Ozarks Healthcare after reconnecting with a longtime friend in the area.

“The people are humble, welcoming, and genuinely care about each other,” he shared. “After visiting here, I didn’t look at any other hospitals. This was my first and last choice.”

Outside of work, Iqbal enjoys traveling, hiking, calisthenics, and coin collecting, a hobby he’s maintained since childhood. He looks forward to caring for patients during their hospital stay and supporting their health long after they leave the hospital.

Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

Phool Iqbal, MD, Ozarks Healthcare Hospitalist