As one of only a handful of UTHSCSA’s full-time female cardiologists, Dr. Rama Nandyala is breaking ground on a day-to-day basis. Soft-spoken with a witty edge, she remarks on adapting to South Texas after finishing her residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
“I love it here,” she says, “because the [hot] weather is very close to where I’m from.” Her native country–India, to be exact—is no doubt proud to boast of its expatriate.
Of the 3,000-plus students taking the Internal Medicine Boards in 2003, Nandyala scored in the top 10 percent—an extremely admirable feat.
After completing medical school in India and a residency in New York, San Antonio’s growing medical scene enticed Nandyala to do her fellowship in San Antonio. Infamous for burgeoning rates of heart disease and diabetes as a result of obesity, the Alamo City was a prime locale for Nandyala’s talent.
“There is a greater prevalence of diabetes, obesity and hypertension in San Antonio, which are the major risk factors for heart disease,” Nandyala says. Working primarily through the art of prevention, Nandyala teaches aggressive lifestyle modifications to her patients, beginning with exercise and a proper diet, implemented by an in-office dietitian.
“We try to stay on top of our patients,” she says. “Since most are diabetic already, we especially try to prevent them from heart attacks.” Treating blood pressure, cholesterol and blocked arteries, Nandyala also performs cardiac stress exams and treats valve problems.
As part of a trio of cardiologists in her office, Nandyala and her associates, Drs. William Craig and Charles Roeth, bring the perfect blend of youth and expertise. While the doctors avail themselves to each other for consults, they each see their own individual patients. Nandyala cites this one-on-one care as the most unique factor of their practice.
Attending conferences also builds on her level of expertise, keeping her current on medical advances and the best cardiovascular options available. “We keep up to date with recent advances in cardiovascular medicine that greatly improve the quality of life for our patients,” she says.
Besides her physician counterparts, Nandyala comments on the staff in general. “We have an amazing group in the office,” she says. “We’re like one big family, and our patients love that.”
Though starting with a new physician is always a challenge, Nandyala’s patients find comfort in her one-on-one care. “There have been, not just one, but many times where I made a difference in a patient’s life,” she says. “They were thankful that I was able to treat them, and that makes me very happy.”
“Dr. Nandyala is approachable to her staff, and takes the time to talk over any necessary business matters with me, and sometimes just for fun, even personal matters,” says Bernadette Newman, Nandyala’s accounts payable manager/human resources coordinator. “She also genuinely cares for the well-being of people and seems to have entered into this field for that very reason: helping people.”
Being one of only a few female cardiologists in the Medical Center area helps bring unity between Nandyala and those she cares for. “Many females come to me as patients,” she says. “They see me as a friend or family, so they open up more about their symptoms, many of which are previously undiagnosed. Then they love to follow-up with me because they feel comforted.”
“I first met Dr. Nandyala in September of 2009,” says patient Delores Lydle. “She was extra attentive to my needs. She even called me one Sunday to see how I was feeling. She is very caring about her patients.
“I’ve been to the hospital three times over just a few months, and she would come by to visit with me. I can’t help but feel that she’s that way with all her patients. I wouldn’t be seeing her if I didn’t have a lot of faith in her.“
Balancing work and a young family is challenging, says Nandyala. She and her husband have two young daughters who are 2 and 7 years old. “It’s difficult,” she says. “But I manage. I have good family support, so even though I do work long hours, when I see them it’s all about quality time.”
For the future, Nandyala wants to stay in San Antonio and continue to give patients the best care she possibly can. In particular, she wants to spread awareness of heart disease in women, which is currently the single leading cause of death for females in the United States.
She enjoys giving talks to the community emphasizing lifestyle modifications and the impact that they can make one one’s health.
Don’t assume Nandyala is all about work and no play, however. Not only is she a committed traveler, but Nandyala also has experience both skydiving and bungee jumping. “We had extensive training in Dallas before they let us jump. Though it’s a great adrenaline rush, I don’t know if I’ll do it again,” she says with a laugh.
“In talking to her, I have found she has quite an adventurous spirit,” Newman says. “If I had to pick one favorite thing about her, it would have to be that she makes me comfortable with her down-to-earth attitude. This lady is amazing, and I feel richer for having known her this past year.”
“I would say that [cardiology] is a great field,” Nandyala says. One of the most rewarding aspects of her job is when patients come back and feel much better. “To me,” Nandyala says, “the best feeling about the work I’m doing is the knowledge that I made a difference in my patient’s life.”
And for her, that seems to be the very heart of the matter.
For more information, please call Bernadette Newman at 210-615-1366, or visit Cardiology of San Antonio at 4330 Medical Drive, Ste. 140, San Antonio, Texas 78229.
