Shaline D. Rao, MD

I decided to specialize in cardiology because heart disease is a leading cause of death around the world, and there are a growing number of medical advances in the field. I also found it remarkable that the heart can be diseased but recover well.

As the director of heart failure services at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, I care for patients who have a variety of cardiac conditions. These include heart failure, in which the heart does not pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. I also manage cardiac amyloidosis, which occurs when a protein builds up in the heart, interfering with its ability to pump blood. Additionally, I treat people who have cardiac sarcoidosis, which is when there is inflammation in the heart, and complex heart valve disease.

I also care for patients who are hospitalized with heart failure and cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the heart suddenly cannot pump enough blood to the body. This condition requires intensive care or advanced cardiac interventions to help a patient recover. After these patients are discharged, I provide follow-up care.

I prescribe medication and provide comprehensive care for patients who have had a heart transplant. At the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, people who need a heart transplant spend less time on the waitlist than at any other hospital in the Northeast. We do not have age cutoffs for transplants; we consider each person’s health status. In addition, our team offers unparalleled access to dual organ transplantation—heart–lung, heart–liver, and heart–kidney transplants—as well as care that is close to home.

I evaluate patients to determine if they are good candidates for NYU Langone’s LVAD Program, in which a left ventricular assist device is implanted in the heart to help it pump blood to the rest of the body. LVADs are placed at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, allowing patients to remain close to home and their support system. I also offer patients access to clinical trials focused on new devices and medications.

If a patient who has heart failure cannot come to my office for frequent appointments, I can monitor them remotely. I use a sensor that monitors changes in pulmonary artery pressure, which can be a sign of worsening heart failure. I can partner with a person’s local care team on their heart failure care, increasing the chance that the patient will remain well and stable at home.

When people learn they have heart failure, they are usually afraid. But with the right care and attention, they can have a good quality of life. I take the time to explain the condition and offer guidance about treatment options. I want patients to feel supported, and I encourage them to ask questions. Their opinions and values are an important part of creating a treatment plan.

My goal is to help patients achieve the best possible heart health and live well. I enjoy getting to know them and their families. It is rewarding to help people get through a difficult time in their lives and see them achieve their goals.

As the program director of the heart failure fellowship at NYU Langone, I train the next generation of cardiologists. It is rewarding to teach these doctors how to provide high-quality care for people who have heart failure.