Healthcare Industry Sustains Even in Downturns

Choksi says medical service providers focus on providing convenient healthcare facilities.

HOUSTON—With healthcare increasingly taking center stage during this election cycle and an aging population in need of services, companies are focusing on the topic and some are forming healthcare divisions. Stream, a national real estate services, development and investment firm, is one such firm that has launched that type of division. The platform will be led by vice president, Rob Choksi, tasked with leading the strategic direction and operation of the healthcare development, acquisition and management team. Stream’s platform will focus on a broad spectrum of products including medical office, specialized outpatient facilities, hospitals, teaching and research buildings, senior living care and build-to-suit opportunities, among others. Choksi tells GlobeSt.com: “At Stream, we see many opportunities in Houston’s growing suburban markets. With strong demographic indicators, these areas are the focus of health systems, physicians, and other medical service providers as they look to capture patient flow by focusing on providing convenient and comprehensive healthcare solutions closer to home.” Choksi joins Stream as vice president with a well-versed medical background, backed by six years of experience in real estate and healthcare operations. In his most recent position, Choksi executed approximately $450 million in healthcare real estate and related transactions. “As Houston is decorated with the world’s largest medical center, our decision to move into healthcare was a natural extension of Stream’s existing platform,” states Paul Coonrod, partner and managing director of Stream. “We have the infrastructure in place to easily transition into leasing and managing healthcare properties, and are thrilled to have Rob on our team to lead the efforts.” Choksi points to the overall strength of Houston’s healthcare market, and the opportunities in medical office and specialty medical development. “Healthcare is a strong industry that continues to sustain in downturn economics; 2015 was one of the best years for  medical office, a product type which continues to see strong demand from institutional and private investors nationwide,” Choksi says. “There is tremendous opportunity within the Houston area, certainly in and around the medical center but also in the many suburban markets, to provide real estate solutions to the public and private sectors of healthcare business, whether it be a not-for-profit health system or private physician entrepreneur.”