Rishi Bajaj Is a Top Doctor in The Hudson Valley

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

Newburgh-Interventional Cardiologist and Endovascular Specialist Dr. Rishi Bajaj still see patients at Garnett in Middletown and Montefiore St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh even though he has had his own practice, Epic Heart and Vascular Care, since last year. He opened it because there was a need.

“There was a lack of proper cardiovascular care in this area. A lot of people need it… It is very difficult to find an Endovascular Specialist. If you look for an Endovascular Physician around here the wait time is close to 6 to 8 months. A lot of people are suffering from ulcers or veins and we do treat them,” said Dr. Rishi Bajaj who was recognized as a Top Interventional Cardiologist in 2023.

Dr. Bajaj has always found cardiac physiology fascinating. It’s the number one silent killer in America.

“I think a lot of people need to be educated, made aware, and they need help so that we can prevent the progression of the disease at an early stage…[Cardiac disease is] very deceptive because people think they are fine, they don’t have any chest pain. But the reality is that only 4 out of 10 people will feel chest pain. People could have some nonspecific symptoms like fatigue, tiredness, sometimes short of breath. They think sometimes it’s their own body or their age. Sometimes people develop jaw pain, belly pain, arm pain and they think it’s heartburn or something… So, these are the signs of a heart attack or coronary artery disease. We see a lot of these folks and vascular is connected to it.” said Dr. Bajaj who recommends reducing stress, meditating 5 to 10 minutes daily, moderately exercising about 30 minutes a day, eating healthy food, and not smoking to increase heart health.

Dr. Bajaj works with patients to create personalized plans suited to their needs. He is known for his compassion and patient care. Kiandra Lamarre is a Medical Assistant who has been working with him ever since he opened the practice.

“I’ve been here from the ground up and it’s amazing. I love it! He’s a good person… Sometimes people come to the doctor’s office and they are scared, and then they meet the doctor, and then that’s amazing… Patient care is more important than anything, because you could do a bunch of things, but the love and care that you put into a patient’s health that makes them come back every single time… The reason they’re here is because of how they’re being treated. You come in and you do all this, but they care about what you do and how you do it,” said Lamarre who also loves working with patients. “You never know what a smile and a conversation can do to somebody. It can help somebody.”

Alex Seward was referred to Dr. Bajaj by friends. They had a similar patient care experience.

“This was a great experience…. just so jovial and so inviting. People talking to you, eye contact, asking you [questions], and you’re talking about what you’re feeling, what happened to you, [and they’re] actually paying attention. [They’re] not just checking the box. It was interactive and you just felt warm and they gave me a chance to relax… You go to the doctor’s office because something’s wrong, So, here you are now in a place of comfortability feeling that it’s gonna be alright… How many times can you go to the doctor’s office and have a great experience because you’re so tensed up, especially with your heart,” said Alex Seward who went to get a Holter Monitor from Dr. Bajaj to monitor his heart’s electrical activity.

You can visit Dr. Bajaj at any of his six Epic Heart and Vascular Care locations in Newburgh, Middletown, Monticello, Sullivan County, Port Jervis, and Monroe. Visit rbhealthcare.org.

Journalist Ms. Jones