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A Conversation with Samin K. Sharma, MD, FSCAI, FACC
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In this issue, Dr. Bhatt speaks with Samin K. Sharma, MD, FSCAI, FACC, director of clinical and interventional cardiology and dean of international clinical affiliations at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Sharma currently performs the most interventional cases of anyone in the United States — more than 1,500 per year. Despite the complexity of many of the cases, Sharma had the highest angioplasty success rate (lowest mortality <0.2%) of any interventional cardiologist in New York State from 1994 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009. He has also authored more than 125 articles and 300 abstracts along with 12 book chapters, and has been the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, including the 2011 Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the 2011 American Heart Association Achievement in Cardiovascular Science & Medicine Award.
What was the defining moment that led you to your field?
Deepak L. Bhatt
Samin K. Sharma
Dr. Sharma: I always wanted to become a cardiologist ever since I was 4 or 5 years old. When I came to the United States in 1983, I did my cardiology fellowship at Elmhurst Hospital in New York. Immediately when I stepped into the cath lab, I had an interest in interventional cardiology. I did not know much about it at that time, but within a month of completing my fellowship, I knew interventional cardiology was for me. Then around ‘88 or ‘89 I met with Valentin Fuster, MD, at Mount Sinai and told him I wanted to work in the interventional cardiology program. There was one position available and Dr. Fuster said he had to give it to one of his six graduates. I said to him that I’m very good and ready to compete with them. I agreed to work for free but said the only thing is I need to be certain that if I’m better than everybody, I get the position. He gave me his word and the rest is history.
What does a typical work day for you entail?
Dr. Sharma: I wake up every day at 4:30 in the morning and around 5 I exercise for about 10 minutes. At 5:30 I leave for the hospital and arrive between 6 and 6:15 a.m. We start our cases in the morning, at 7:30 or 8 a.m. except on Tuesdays we start at 9 a.m. (due to weekly meetings and conferences), and work until close to midnight at least 3 days a week. Many times on Tuesday I won’t leave Mount Sinai until 1 or 1:30 a.m.; but I’m still back by 6 or 6:15 a.m. the next morning. On Wednesday I see patients in my office and on Thursday I have administrative and business meetings and just a few cases. I also do cases on Sunday as well. Saturday is my off day.
On the 3 days of high-volume cases, I perform about eight to 10 interventions and 10 to 12 cardiac catheterizations. So, in a year, I do about 3,500 to 4,000 total procedures, 1,600 of which are interventions.
How are you able to accomplish performing this high volume of procedures?
Dr. Sharma: Two reasons: the first is confidence. I have always been very confident and positive and believe that yes I can do it. This mindset has helped me become focused so I can train myself for that particular purpose. The second reason is memory. I can remember a patient’s angioplasty I did 10 years ago. In between I’ve done around 60,000 cases, but people can ask me and with a little thinking I can tell them what I did and what complication occurred.
What advice would you offer a student in medical school today?
Dr. Sharma: My son is actually in medical school right now. One of the things I tell him is in order for you to reach the top and become an expert in your field, you have to be dedicated to your studies. The other important advice I give is that you need discipline. Regardless of whether it’s a holiday, you need to study and wake up and go to sleep at the same time. Dedication and discipline are required to excel beyond the ordinary.
What do you enjoy doing to relax?
Dr. Sharma: I always tell people that, although it is important to work hard, one day a week you need to take off to charge your batteries; otherwise, in the long run, you will not be able to sustain yourself. For me, that day is Saturday. I do more exercise on that day and have an outing with my family, like going to the movies or the mall. My wife is building a hospital in India right now, so she is more there than here, but my two kids are home, so on Saturday I spend time with them and just relax.