Heart Disease Prevention & Hypercholesterolemia Treatments in Boca Raton, FL
In 1991, I moved from New York to Boca Raton Florida after completing training in internal medicine, clinical cardiology, interventional cardiology, and electrophysiology. I spent the remainder of that decade in a predominantly hospital-based practice performing thousands of invasive cardiovascular procedures. During that time I had the opportunity to not only direct the cardiac catheterization laboratories at two prominent hospitals but also establish and direct an electrophysiology program at one of the hospitals. By the end of the 1990s I recognized the pitfalls in solely treating, yet not preventing cardiovascular disease. Consequently I entered the next phase of my clinical practice.
Since 2000, I have made every effort to learn and utilize scientifically-sound approaches in order to prevent cardiovascular events, the leading cause of death in the Western world. This process has exposed me to the gamut of medical disciplines. From training long-distance at the premier naturopathic Institute, Bastyr University, to achieving board certification in clinical lipidology and cardiac CT, I have learned the ancient as well as the most current and cutting edge scientific approaches to achieve health and wellness. During this period I directed the John W. Henry Center for Integrative Medicine as well as the Boca Raton division of the Harvard-based Mind Body Medical Institute. I also co-initiated and co-directed the cardiac CT program at the South Florida Medical Imaging Center. Through that program my colleagues and I not only published studies on coronary CT angiography, but also established an internationally acclaimed course teaching physicians from around the world how to perform and interpret cardiac CTs.
I currently focus on both primary and secondary cardiac prevention. To do this I spend a great deal of time with my patients discussing optimal approaches to diet and exercise and finding ways for them to incorporate healthful lifestyle choices into their diverse lives.
Over the past decade my practice has clearly undergone a significant transformation. I currently focus on both primary and secondary cardiac prevention. To do this I spend a great deal of time with my patients discussing optimal approaches to diet and exercise and finding ways for them to incorporate healthful lifestyle choices into their diverse lives. I utilize a series of biomarkers (blood and urine tests that correlate with vascular disease and events such as heart attacks and strokes) as well as advanced cholesterol and lipoprotein testing. Often these biomarkers and advanced lipid tests serve as superb motivators for my patients. I also incorporate testing for subclinical vascular disease. By diagnosing carotid artery disease and coronary artery disease in their early stages I have found that with proper therapy, life-altering events such as heart attacks and strokes can often be avoided. As one of a few cardiologists in the nation to become a fellow of the National Lipid Association, I frequently consult on complex lipid disorders. My practice is also one of a handful in the country to perform LDL-Apheresis on high risk patients suffering from Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). FH is a genetic disorder occurring in one out of 500 Americans but having a much higher prevalence in populations such as French Canadians, South African Ashkenazi Jews, and Christian Lebanese. This disorder is often undiagnosed and as a consequence many people experience heart attacks and strokes in their 40s and 50s. When recognized and treated effectively, these patients can often avoid such serious complications.
In addition to caring for patients I also spend a good deal of time writing medical books and articles, having leadership roles in medical and scientific organizations, and educating other physicians about biomarkers, lipids, lipoproteins, the proper use of nutritional supplements, and cardiovascular prevention in general. There is a huge need across the world for improved cardiovascular prevention. It is my passion and mission to find ways to “spread the word”.