Encore: How to pick a cardiologist

Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of both women and men in the United States. Most of us will need to see a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon at some point in our lives. But, how do you find the best doctor who is right for you? In this episode, three experts representing different subspecialties within cardiovascular health offer advice to patients asking: How do I pick a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon? Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, is executive director and senior vice president of cardiology at Northwell Health. He is also co-executive director of the Northwell Cardiovascular Institute. Alan Hartman, MD, is senior vice president and executive director of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Northwell Health. He is also chair of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Varinder Singh, MD, is senior vice president of cardiology for Northwell’s Metro Market and the Guenther Chair for the Department of Cardiology at Lenox Hill Hospital. Chapters: 00:01 - Intro 01:09 - Who should see a cardiologist? 02:19 - Start with your primary care doctor 03:01 - Is the doctor Able? Affable? Available? 03:29 - Connecting with your doctor 05:38 - Finding the right cardiac surgeon 07:18 - Quality ratings 09:45 - The importance of trust 12:!7 - General vs interventional cardiology 14:14 - What is your vascular age? 15:44 - Why volume matters 17:00 - Does gender play a factor Further references: Learn more about quality ratings for cardiac surgery NYS Department of Health (DOH) 2026 report on adult cardiac surgery US News & World Report rankings Society of Thoracic Surgeons reports Northwell Cardiovascular Institute 2025 Annual Report Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.