I am writing this testimonial to express my gratitude towards Dr. Muhammad Usman Khan, a well renowned cardiologist in Houston, for providing me with the opportunity to have the hands-on experience and electives rotation, on month of April, at HCA Houston Northwest Hospital and Epic Heart & Vascular Center. The experience was truly life-changing, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to learn from such an experienced and knowledgeable physician.
Dr. Khan’s dedication to patient care was evident from the moment I met him. He was always available to answer my questions and provide guidance, and he went above and beyond to ensure that I had a valuable and informative experience. His commitment to excellence and patient-centered care was truly inspiring, and I was fortunate to be able to observe his interactions with patients and witness his expertise in action.
Dr. Khan aimed to familiarize us with the healthcare system of the United States and equip us with the necessary skills and qualities to become a qualified resident. I gained knowledge about electronic medical records and US health insurance system. I was exposed to the diverse patients of different cultures and languages, presenting with various cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Joining him on hospital rounds was a source of great excitement for me. I attended various diagnostic tests like Echocardiography, Ultrasonography of vessels, Nuclear Cardiac Test, Exercise Stress Test and Mobile Cardiac Telemetry. Additionally, I was able to witness many outpatient procedures like Varithena, Venaseal and Venous ablations, as well as inpatient procedures like Cardiac Catheterization and Angiography, and Coronary Angioplasty with stent placement. Dr. Khan consistently made an effort to clarify the reasons for the procedure performed on each patient, share the observations made during the intervention, and inform us of the results obtained.
Apart from clinical skills, Dr. Khan focused on our academics. He regularly discussed EKGs, laboratory and diagnostic interpretations, and management with us. He encouraged us to read cardiac journals such as AHA, JACC; I also had the chance to present on “2018 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of Patients with Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delay”.
Dr. Khan never hesitated to give feedbacks and advised me to improve communication skills and language fluency citing the quote “Don’t Let the Weakness in You Affect the Greatness in You.” He even asked for the ways he can improve himself as well and this speaks about the nobility of the environment you will get to work in here. Overall, my observership experience at Dr. Khan’s practice was a fantastic opportunity. All the staffs were friendly, helpful and highly skilled. I highly recommend Dr. Khan to anyone looking for an exceptional physician who is dedicated to providing excellent patient care and supporting the education of future medical professionals.