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HEARTLAND CARDIOLOGY, A LEADER IN INNOVATIVE AND COMPASSIONATE HEART CARE, HAS EXPANDED ITS GROUP, ADDING INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST MAZEN SHAHEEN, MD. Welcomes New Interventional Cardiologist Mazen Shaheen, MD By Jeanie Erwin D R . S H A H E E N J O I N E D Heartland Cardiolog y on June 1. A native of Lebanon, he earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut. Dr. Shaheen performed his cardiovascular fellow- ship at the University of Tennessee and gained his interventional car- diology training at the University of Oklahoma. "I came to Heartland Cardiology because of their outstanding reputation and a desire to join a group where quality care and taking care of patients always come first," Dr. Shaheen shares. "Heartland Cardiology is a well-respected group of cardiologists in Wichita where patient care and well-being always come first." Family History Guided Career Decisions Medicine has always held a deep interest for Dr. Shaheen, whose own family experience further affirmed his desire to pursue cardiology. "My interest in medicine grew early on, when I was a teenager and had many family members with severe cardiac diseases," he reflects. "This solidified my determination to be devoted to providing medical care, especially cardiac care, to sick patients. At that time, little was communicated to us as a family of what was going on and what doctors were doing to our family member, which convinced me of the need for family meetings and explaining all details to the patient and family." Improving Patient Survival Entering medicine, and more specifically, interventional cardiology, is a decision he has never regretted. "Interventional cardiology is very rewarding in that you make the patients feel better instantly, and in many cases, you are saving lives when patients are having heart attacks. It is very rewarding treating patients' symptoms and improving their survival rates," Dr. Shaheen explains. As an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Shaheen specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular conditions, including coronary interventions for acute and chronic coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular angiography and intervention, non-coronary cardiac interventions for structural heart disease, and noninvasive cardiology. "I am trained in peripheral artery disease and chronic vein insufficiency, and have a special interest in vein ablation, inferior vena cava filters, endovascular aneurysm repair, cardiac devices, Impella, limb salvage and thrombectomy for deep vein thrombosis," he adds. Every Patient Deserves Compassionate Care Dr. Shaheen understands the elderly population has many additional concerns when it comes to their care and the care of their loved ones, and he recognizes that they may find these concerns worrisome and need additional support. "I have special interest in taking care of the elderly patient," he says. "I think there's a lot to be done. For example, I am also trained in peripheral artery disease and chronic vein insufficiency, and I am a strong believer in preventing medical conditions rather than treating whenever applicable." Dr. Shaheen does all he can to improve a patient's quality of life. He does his very best to put caregivers at ease when they are making decisions related to their loved ones. Communication Is a Key Element in Patient Care Having had his own experience in how patients and family members can feel helpless without communication from the physician, Dr. Shaheen has made communication a cornerstone of his care. "I do have extreme enthusiasm, energy and eagerness to com- municate with my patients, explaining thoroughly their conditions and how to treat them medically. I take pride in communicating with referring physicians in a very timely, comprehensive manner, so that everyone is fully aware of the treatment plan." He also stresses the importance of availability. "I make it well-known I am always available to take care of patients 24/7. I don't differentiate whether the phone call is at 3 a.m. or 3 p.m.," he concludes. Dr. Shaheen is looking forward to serving patients in Wichita and the surrounding area, and to making a difference in the health and well-being of the community. For more information about Mazen Shaheen, MD, contact Heartland Cardiology at 316-686-5300 or visit heartlandcardiology.com. ■ Heartland Cardiology SPECI A L FE AT UR E 1 4 | Greater Kansas MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M