Why Mayo?

People keep asking me why I have to travel to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. to have this surgery when there are plenty of capable doctors right here in Los Angeles. Well, here is the reason....I am going to the place where they have the most experience with this surgery.

There is a dedicated Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy clinic at Mayo which treats people from around the world. My surgeon, Joe Dearani, has done more of these operations than almost anyone else in the U.S. There are 4 doctors in the country who have done the lion's share of this surgery, Dr. Dearani being among them.

I happened to have the opportunity to meet Dr. Dearani and Dr. Steve Ommen, my Mayo cardiologist, last year at the annual HCMA meeting. I was so impressed with them I decided that when and if this time came, Mayo was where I was headed. So, after much trial and error with different medications, and working closely with my local doctors, we have all come to the conclusion that this is the best way to go.

My local doctors, Dr. Robert Siegel and Dr. David Cannom, are the best that L.A. has to offer, so I will have excellent post-operative care right here at home.