Why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare:

My father had a heart attack at age 39. I was 8 years old then. I was interested in biology and wanted to be a veterinarian, but after his heart attack I began to get interested in human medicine, and especially cardiology. I majored in biology while in college, and to fully understand the heart at a molecular level, I then pursued a PhD dissertation studying the underlying pathophysiology of heart failure and electrical signaling in the heart while in graduate school in Dallas. I followed that with my medical degree, and went on to complete internal medicine training in New York City. Finally, I completed a fellowship in cardiology in Vermont.

What I want my patients to know about me:

When it comes to the heart, prevention is the single best "medicine" that can help us fulfill a long and happy life. That includes smart decisions about the food we eat, the amount of exercise we get, and the deleterious habits we try to stay clear of. I want my patients to know that I will work hard with them to accomplish these goals, because I believe in the old adage: prevention is better than cure!

What I do when I'm not seeing patients:

I like to spend time with my family, and mostly relax at home! I like sports, including tennis, swimming and Formula 1 racing. I also like to travel the world, and have volunteered in some developing countries, including Rwanda with Team Heart, where heart disease takes on a different "appearance" than what we see frequently here. This has added immensely to my overall education and appreciation of how this wonderful organ functions and behaves!