A patient advocate with a lifelong commitment to learning.
Dr. Michael Lenhart knows the key to cardiology is simple: “It’s about caring for your patients and doing great work.” While cardiology is an ever-changing field blending procedures, preventative care and education, and noninvasive medicine, it is ultimately the focus on the patients that resonates with Dr. Lenhart.
“First and foremost, I am the advocate for my patients,” he says, “and I want them to feel confident I am doing the best job I can for them.”
At the Pauley Heart Center at Tappahannock, Dr. Lenhart provides care for patients with a range of cardiovascular conditions, including atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and high blood pressure. “Cardiology is one of the most dynamic areas in medicine, and staying abreast of changes in the field is crucial,” he says. “I was drawn to VCU Health because of the world class academic medical center, the commitment to research, and the interest and ability of the teams here to perform state-of-the-art cardiovascular procedures.”
Part of Dr. Lenhart’s role at VCU Health is his involvement in outreach clinics, which serve as a bridge between VCU’s research center and smaller, community-focused hospitals. “By bringing our work at VCU Health into these smaller settings, it not only improves the overall health within the community, but it allows patients within that community to see the real world value of health science research, without having to travel to a larger city,” he says.
As a cardiologist, Dr. Lenhart embraces the demands of an ever-changing area of medicine: “The depth of knowledge required is always growing,” he notes . “As is true in almost every profession, you must care about what you’re doing. You must be committed to learning. I want my patients to know that their care is my number one priority.”
Advice to Patients
“Preventative care is the most important step to wellness, and both exercise and diet are crucial to that care. The personal responsibility we take for our own health is the most effective means of preventing problems later in life, and this is especially true when it comes to our hearts. A healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen is the key in preventing a number of cardiovascular diseases.”
