www.montereycountyweekly.com JANUARY 5-11, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 PAID ADVERTISEMENT Montage Medical Group welcomes new heart doctor specializing in the medical science and art of electrophysiology Dr. Edinrin Obasare has been fascinated by the study of living organisms ever since he took a biology class in high school. Born in England and raised in Jamaica, Dr. Obasare graduated from the University of the West Indies Medical School, and completed a fellowship in cardiology at Albert Einstein Medical Center, followed by a second fellowship in electrophysiology at Yale University School of Medicine. Yet through it all, apart from his interest in the science of medicine, he became even more attracted to the art of medicine. “Part of my attraction to biology lay in the drawing of cell diagrams, the art of science,” he says. “Yet during medical school, I realized that the truly artistic part lies in how we approach patients in clinical care. It’s about communication and empathy and relationship building or should be.” Sometimes, he says, those things help a patient more than the medical knowledge and expertise. “In cardiology,” he says, “when I went into the electrophysiology rotation, I loved the diversity of experience and appreciated the intellectual challenge of this procedural skill, balanced with patient engagement.” Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical patterns of the heart, used to diagnose abnormal heartbeats known as arrhythmias. Tests are performed by inserting a catheter and electrodes into the heart, which measure electrical activity. An electrophysiologist is a cardiologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating issues that arise in the heart’s electrical system. Through diagnostic procedures, Dr. Obasare can determine the areas of the heart causing an abnormal heartbeat and then prescribe lifestyle modifications, medication, or opt to surgically resolve the issue with a procedure call “ablation.” Dr. Obasare, who joined Montage Medical Group in September, was living in Connecticut and working at Western Massachusetts Hospital. There, he was investing long hours in a generalized cardiology practice. Interested in establishing a more focused career and balanced lifestyle, he accepted the opportunity to come to California. A frequent cause of concern, he says, is a racing heart, which may be benign, but it can warrant a referral from a primary care physician or a cardiologist for evaluation. “Even if it is a benign condition,” says Dr. Obasare, “it can make a patient anxious. Typically, we monitor the heart for 24 hours up to two weeks, mostly to reassure the patient that the heart is okay and often normal.” Sometimes, he says, the heart skips a beat, which is usually nonthreatening, but makes the patient anxious, even though it’s typically not dangerous. “On rare occasions, when there is a problem with the heart, we go in and resolve it, says Dr. Obasare, “Sometimes it’s simply a matter of recommending lifestyle changes, better hydration and nutrition, or resolving sleep apnea to improve the quality of rest. When it is more complex, we can intervene with more therapeutic or surgical options.” The goal, says Dr. Obasare, is twofold. It is important to reassure the patient and allay any anxiety, and to properly diagnose the symptoms to determine the correct course of action to resolve the issue. Patient care, he says, is always an alchemy of art and science. Dr. Edinrin Obasare practices what he preaches to his patients. Committed to staying in shape, he eats a healthy diet, typically fasting between 8 p.m. and noon to balance his metabolism. He works out in the gym several times a week, and he gets his rest. He also subscribes to a balance of work and recreation, something he is finding easier to manage in Monterey. “My main focus in my medical practice,” he says, “is patient care. I studied at really good institutions, which taught me the science of cardiology and electrophysiology. My emphasis is to use this expertise to take care of patients and help them feel better. It can be scary to experience electrical issues. Because it’s the heart, it’s unnerving. So I try to have a discussion with patients in a collaborative way, to work together to come up with a plan.” “I have medical knowledge,” says Dr. Obasare, “but patients know their body the best, so it’s essential that we work together.” For more information about Montage Medical Group visit montagemedicalgroup.org or scan QR code Photo: Edinrin Obasare, MD Cardiac Electrophysiology Montage Medical Group – Cardiology
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==