Ever thought you’d want to send a Facebook friend request to your gastroenterologist? If not, you probably haven’t met Dr. Rafid Hussein of Highpoint Health in Gallatin. “I still get Facebook friend requests from my patients in Missouri,” says Dr. Hussein, his hazel eyes twinkling as he smiles.

Nearly a year ago, this personable GI specialist traded the hustle of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for the “down home” charm of Middle Tennessee. Dr. Hussein is a Gallatin-based gastroenterologist currently accepting new patients.

“There, they just wanted more and more volume,” he recalls. “You lose sight of why you’re doing this when that’s the objective.”

Having completed his fellowship at Cook County in Chicago, Dr. Hussein knew that his approach to patient care didn’t fit within the rigid expectations of high-volume practices.

“We need to take care of human beings—not just check boxes,” he explains. “I take care of people. I don’t do boxes.”

His support staff backs him up on that. When Dr. Hussein meets with a patient, there’s no ticking clock. “My secret, if you want to call it that,” he says, “is getting to know the person first. Then, they’ll often share things about their health that even their primary doctors may not know.”

Patients feel seen and heard in his presence. When he speaks with you, he leans in—focused, present, never interrupting. He listens. And because he listens, he understands. By reading between the lines, he connects the dots and offers relief that truly makes a difference.

Dr. Hussein’s passion for GI care was ignited by personal tragedy. During his first year of medical school, his aunt passed away from metastatic colon cancer at just 46 years old. A hip fracture had led to an X-ray, which then revealed the cancer. “She had never had a colonoscopy,” he says. “That incident had a profound effect on me.”

A sixth-generation physician, Dr. Hussein grew up believing that serving others is a God-given duty. “My mother’s family crest says, ‘Help others so you will help God,’” he shares.

During his third year of residency, an attending physician told him, “You’d be good with your hands.” At first, Hussein took offense. “To me, it meant I wasn’t smart enough to rely on my head,” he says. But the physician clarified: he saw in Hussein the rare combination of strong intellect and skilled hands—an ideal match for Gastroenterology.

Encouraged, Hussein observed a procedure—only to get motion sick and walk out. He laughs at the memory. “But when the scope was in my hands, it felt like second nature.”

Now, 25 years later, he’s never looked back. “I really enjoy what I do,” he says. “I’m glad to be here at Highpoint Health. We have all the right resources—and the people are top-notch.”

His family feels right at home, too. Dr. Hussein’s son was so impressed when he learned about Highpoint Health’s Neurology department that he’s considering switching his field of study to neurosurgery. Their oldest daughter, currently graduating from Marquette, is headed to UT Memphis for dental school. “She wants to be a Tennessean,” he adds proudly.

With quality time as his trademark and intentionality as his calling card, Dr. Rafid Hussein is making an indelible mark on GI care for Sumner County residents. 

To learn more about the GI Services Dr. Hussein provides, visit here  or call 615.328.3720.