As a child, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. My paternal grandfather was diagnosed with cancer when I was about 10, and I remember writing letters to his oncologist and going with him to his doctor appointments. Years later, when I was in medical school, my maternal grandfather developed cancer, and I would study in his hospital room. As a consequence of his intense chemotherapy regimen, he died from heart failure.
In my heart failure practice, I treat patients across a wide spectrum of disease, from mild to severe. Some patients who have severe heart failure require advanced therapies such as left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) or heart transplant. I have been fortunate to see many of my patients for years beyond their expected survival because of advances in medical therapies and technologies for heart failure.
I have spent more than a decade managing the heart health of thousands of patients on Long Island who have cardiac complications from cancer, and I am now the director of NYU Langone’s Cardio-Oncology Program. This specialty hardly existed when I first started treating people. My colleagues and I were pioneers in the field, publishing in peer-reviewed journals on how to best provide cardio-oncology care.
I help people manage their heart health while they receive cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy. These treatments can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, high blood pressure, heart attack, valve disease, arrhythmia—an irregular heartbeat, or pericardial effusion, a buildup of fluid around the heart.
For my cardio-oncology patients, I monitor their conditions with ongoing blood work and imaging and treat any cardiovascular problems that may arise by prescribing medications and lifestyle changes. My goal is to help people receive and complete optimal cancer treatment while protecting their heart. Preventive care and risk modification are also integral to my work. Someone who has cancer along with uncontrolled high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes has a higher risk of developing a cardiovascular condition.
Another important part of cardio-oncology is survivorship: I also provide care to people who are adult survivors of childhood cancer and are at risk of developing a cardiovascular condition later in life.
At NYU Langone, I enjoy working with a variety of providers at Perlmutter Cancer Center, partnering with oncologists, nutritionists, and physical therapists to work toward the best outcomes for patients. I also value the long-term relationships I develop with my patients. I take care of people for years beyond their cancer treatment and cherish these relationships, loving my patients like they are my own family.
