Louai Razzouk, MD, MPH

As both a cardiologist and an interventional cardiologist, I use catheter-based techniques to open blocked arteries in people who have coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, valvular heart disease, and other cardiac conditions. I have performed more than 5,000 coronary and peripheral catheter procedures, using balloons and stents to restore blood flow to the heart and other parts of the body.

At NYU Langone’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, I serve as the quality officer. I am particularly proud of our short “door to balloon” time. When a patient is having a heart attack, we can open the blocked artery in 60 minutes or less. This is significantly less than the national target of less than 90 minutes. The faster we can open an artery, the less damage there is to the heart and the lower the risk of heart failure and arrhythmias.

Heart disease is a chronic condition, and over time I get to know my patients well. This relationship helps me tailor medical treatments to meet each person’s specific medical and lifestyle needs. When they realize that they have a doctor and a medical team who will advocate for their best interests, it helps put them at ease.

The way that doctors talk to patients matters, and I aim to be reassuring while also educating patients about their health. I speak French, Arabic, and Spanish and have found that being able to reassure someone in their native tongue can make a difference. The more educated people are about their health, the better the choices they can make.

I love what I do, and every day brings new opportunities to make someone’s life healthier and better. One of the highlights of my job is receiving cards from patients and their families telling us that they were able to attend a wedding or take a trip, for instance, because of the care that we provided. It’s rewarding to know we can make a significant difference in people’s lives.