Ric Saguil, MD, FAAFP
Family Medicine
Sports Medicine
Integrative Medicine

    Ric Saguil, MD, FAAFP, will head First Health’s Department of Family and Internal Medicine. He brings to our clinic a 20 year career as a distinguished practitioner, team physician and lecturer.

    Because of his personal interest in armature athletics Dr Ric entered the St Joseph Hospital’s Sport Medicine fellowship program after completely his family medicine residency. Shortly thereafter he became team physician at the University of Central Florida. In addition to practicing family medicine in Florida he was offered the distinguished position of house physician for Cirque Du Soleil, La Nouba at Disney World in Orlando, Florida a position he held until his return to the Midwest.

    Dr Ric believes prevention should be at the forefront of modern medicine. In addition to routine patient care he encourages his patients to make small lifestyle changes in their diet and exercise habits. He also advises his patients to be proactive with annual physicals and age specific screening tests. “The biggest void in modern medicine is physicians not taking the time to educate their patients in preventive health. Simple changes can vastly improve the quality of life and add to longevity” says Dr Ric. Because of this commitment Dr Ric is beginning a two year fellowship program at the University of Arizona Medical College where he will study integrative medicine under the tutelage of Dr Andrew Weil. “Dr Weil is the modern day leader in the scientific integration of conventional medicines with time tested, less invasive forms of alternative care. His program at the University of Arizona is world renowned and will be included in medical school curriculum in the future.”

   Dr Ric joins First Health because of the opportunity to offer his patients the best of conventional medicine combined with the less-invasive, time-tested care offered through alternative medicine. “I’m excited about the direction medicine is heading,” says Dr Ric. “Medicine is failing the chronically ill and at times creating self inflicted issues due to the side effects of many medicines. We are finally starting to embrace alternative procedures and recognize that they can be of equal, if not often better options in the care of our patients.”

    Dr Ric is currently a member of the Illinois Medical Society, a diplomat of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.