Dr. Milind Dhond, Cardiologist

I grew up in England where medical education starts right after high school. At 16, I decided to become a doctor, rather than an engineer like my dad. At the time, a family friend told me that medicine would always be changing and never boring. And it’s very true — my work has always been quite interesting.

As medical director of cardiology at NorthBay Medical Center, I see adult patients with chest pain, heart palpitations and shortness of breath. I also see patients who’ve had a heart attack, coronary disease, abnormal heart rhythm or heart failure. With my subspecialty in vascular disease, I also treat peripheral arterial disease and varicose veins. In addition to seeing patients, I’m a professor with the U.C. Davis School of Medicine and lead a heart and vascular continuing education conference.

My practice involves counseling my patients on medication and lifestyle changes. I perform advanced cardiac and vascular procedures such as coronary angiography, stent, pacemaker and defibrillator implantation.

My patients feel at ease with me. I’m easy going. I like chatting with them about their family life and their kids. When a person comes to me with a problem and I’m able to find out what it is, fix it and hear, “I feel so much better”  — that’s quite gratifying.

Outside work, I spend lots of time with my three kids, often driving them to their activities. I’m a black belt in Jujitsu and run a martial arts school where I teach both Jujitsu and Kundalini Yoga, a type of meditation.