Hires

Stormont Vail Health announced that Hisham Hakeem, M.D., has joined its medical team and will practice as a cardiologist at 929 S.W. Mulvane St., Topeka. Hakeem will work as a non-invasive cardiologist who specializes in cardiac imaging, including cardiac CT and MRI. He started his medical career in internal medicine during his residency before specializing in cardiology. He said he likes to think he’s affable and compassionate, but really loves solving puzzles. “In internal medicine, you could have a patient with 20 different presentations come through the door and it’s up to you to figure out how to help them,” said Hakeem. “That’s what I love and in cardiology, I felt like imaging provided me that avenue in which I can look at a patient, see their imaging, and treat them. I just want to solve the puzzle and take care of the patient. I have a passion for the specialty and I feel like that carries you forward.” Hakeem earned his medical degree in India before attending Seton Hall University-Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine for his residency in internal medicine at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. He then completed his cardiovascular fellowship at Rutgers Health and went on to the University of Utah for an advanced fellowship in cardiac imaging.

Expansion

Husch Blackwell Strategies announced the firm is opening its eighth state capital office with a presence in Topeka. Matt Hickam, a leading advocate, will lead the new office as he joins the firm as a principal. HBS already has state offices in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin and a federal practice group in Washington, D.C. Hickam's nearly 20-year tenure in Midwest politics and policy has included work on issues ranging from national household brand names to nonprofit causes at the state and local level. In 2010, Hickam launched the public affairs firm that bore his name where he provided clients government relations, grassroots advocacy and strategic communications. His work has been recognized by Campaigns and Elections Magazine when it named him a Top 500 Influencer in the nation and one of the top 10 influencers in Kansas. He was also recently voted the American Legislative Exchange Council's National Board of Directors 2021 Private Sector Chair of the Year.

Topeka-area hirings, promotions, retirements and other announcements can be emailed to iyb@cjonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: It's Your Business includes Stormont Vail Health and Husch Blackwell