Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Monica Patel. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Dr. Monica Patel is a quadruple board-certified cardiologist who has spent her entire career serving the Houston community. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in 1999 at Houston Baptist University as an Endowed Academic Scholar. Dr. Patel attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 2003. She completed her Internal Medicine residency and Cardiology Fellowship at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Echocardiography, and Nuclear Cardiology.
Dr. Patel is an associate professor and the co-program director of the cardiology fellowship at the McGovern medical school at UTHealth affiliated with Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. Her primary focus is the prevention of cardiovascular disease and advanced cardiovascular imaging, including echocardiography, vascular imaging, nuclear imaging, and cardiac PET scans.
Dr. Patel is heavily invested in the training process of future cardiologists. She has received the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award six times in the past seven years. Working in one of the largest cardiology fellowship programs in the world’s largest medical center with currently 33 general cardiology fellows, she has helped to make the fellowship program, undoubtedly, the best in Texas and one of the best in the nation. Her kindness, compassion, and soft-hearted personality are complemented by a needed “gentle toughness” to lead effectively such a large group of trainees. She has been very successful in doing so!
In June 2012, she joined the PET center as a co-investigator of the CENTURY Health study (over 1000 participants) at the Weatherhead PET (positron emission tomography) center, which is aimed at the prevention and reversal of coronary heart disease by intense combined pharmacologic and lifestyle treatment. The study involves multiple cardiac PET scans and advanced imaging of the heart which shows coronary artery blood flow to the heart in each participant (at 0, 2, 5, and 10 years), and Dr. Patel evaluates how their lifestyle changes and medical treatment are impacting blood flow in their heart.
Dr. Patel has been focused on superb clinical and technical knowledge of nuclear cardiology and cardiac PET imaging. The Weatherhead PET center is also sought out by cardiologists for a second opinion on patients with complex coronary anatomy through the comprehensive utilization and interpretation of coronary blood flow on cardiac PET scans.
Dr. Patel was invited for her first international lecture in Taiwan on cardiac PET scans “Role of coronary flow reserve and PET imaging in revascularization decision-making” in December 2019. She was also invited to speak on cardiac PET imaging via Zoom at the Nigerian Cardiovascular Symposium in 2020. In 2021, she became the assistant director of the P.E.T. imaging and training.
As a first-generation Indian American and native Houstonian, Dr. Patel is very involved in local and national philanthropic organizations and events such as the Asian Pacific American Heritage Association, Operation Smile, Children At Risk, Arts of Healing, and Homemade Hope. She has volunteered in medical mission trips in Guatemala where she provided basic care for underserved communities.
Dr. Patel remains committed to lifelong learning and strives to use her platform to promote health and well-being for all by self-care for the mind, body, and soul. Her top self-care activities include meditation, good sleep hygiene, a plant-based diet, aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, connecting with nature, walking her dog, and spending time with loved ones.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Cardiology is still dominated by men. Only 14% of women cardiologists. 22% of women in cardiology fellowship. Cardiology is viewed by junior doctors as having a poor work-life balance. need women role models. I believe in empowering women and am actively promoting more women to join cardiology. As a women’s doctor, delaying having children and then dealing with fertility issues.
What matters most to you? Why?
Connection and love. Between family, friends, patients, and all beings. We are here to make this Universe a better place and be the best version of ourselves. By promoting the prevention of cardiovascular disease, we will live a healthier lifestyle and be able to fulfill our life’s purpose.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @dr.monica_patel
