Meet the Doctor: Nazanin Moghbeli, MD
Nazanin Moghbeli, MD, is a cardiologist at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia. She is the director of the Cardiac Care Unit at the hospital. She sees patients at Einstein Cardiology offices on Tabor Road in Philadelphia and on Mall Boulevard in King of Prussia.
Dr. Moghbeli is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and advanced heart failure and transplant. She is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
We recently spoke with Dr. Moghbeli about her career, her interests, and cardiology at Einstein Healthcare Network.
Q: Why did you decide to become a doctor?
A: I loved learning about the human body, physiology in particular, and wanted to go deeper in understanding this area of medicine. Also, I am a people person, so knew I wanted to work with people in my career.
Q: Who was a role model growing up?
A: I left Iran in 1983, at the age of 9, and moved to the United States. My father’s medical practice and my mother’s work as an artist and calligrapher inspired me to pursue dual careers in medicine and art.
I came to see the blood that flowed through the body as the symbolic equivalent of the ink that flowed through the tip of a pen and gave life to the paper I filled. As a cardiologist, I study lines – the readings of the EKGs, the very measure of vitality – and as an artist, I draw them. My medical practice informs my art, and my art provides a unique perspective which I bring to the care of my patients.
Q: Tell us about your education background.
A: I received a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and then went on to receive my Doctor of Medicine degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
I completed an internal medicine residency at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. I then did my fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Q: Why did you choose your specialty?
A: It’s the coolest. No, seriously, I love the different parts of my job: some office work, some intensive care, some imaging, some procedures. It is a great mix, and the heart is an aesthetically gorgeous organ!
Q: What are your clinical interests?
A: My clinical interests are critical-care cardiology and women’s cardiovascular health. I am director of Einstein’s Cardiac Care Unit, and I do a lot of clinical time there, including teaching and quality improvement.
In addition, I helped start the women’s cardiovascular program, aimed at integrating cardiovascular and OBGYN care, to help women through pregnancy and beyond.
Q: What drew you to Einstein?
A: Einstein is a mission-driven hospital with great colleagues.
Q: Why should patients come to Einstein for their specialty care?
A: Einstein offers cutting-edge technology for cardiac care. We have caring providers that want to offer the best options for our patients.
Q: What are some new developments in cardiology that Einstein is involved with?
A: Einstein has been a longtime leader in cardiovascular medicine and has been designated as a HeartCARE Center by the American College of Cardiology.
We offer the most advanced treatment for heart and vascular emergencies as well as abnormal heart rhythms and cardiovascular diseases that develop over time, such as coronary heart disease and heart failure. Einstein has a cardio-oncology program, women’s heart health program, and a cardio-metabolic program.
We offer complex coronary interventions for patients ineligible for open heart surgery, robotic coronary interventions, and a minimally invasive valve disease program. I also started a women’s cardiovascular program with my obstetrics colleagues, in particular Dr. Adeeb Khalifeh.
Q: What are your interests outside of work?
A: I am a professional artist. My work consists of Persian calligraphy and oil paintings based on sites in Iran and imagery from the hospital I work in.
I also have a nonprofit organization called Art of Engagement, whose mission is to get doctors reconnected to the mission of healthcare. Here is a short video produced by WHYY on my organization.
Health care professionals can easily get burned out from their work, with rising rates of depression and suicide. The pandemic has further highlighted the need to provide tools for re-engaging and recharging. There is growing evidence that engagement with the arts can decrease provider burnout, which leads to better patient outcomes. I offer art classes and art education workshops for health care professionals. For me, having art as an outlet has been lifesaving.
Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Camping in the Adirondack woods.
Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
A: I have three awesome children.
