TOP DOCTORS 2024: Cardiology Q&A

Dr. Dena K. Krishnan, cardiologist, Bon Secours – Cardiovascular Specialists; director of Women’s Cardiovascular Disease and Prevention Center and director of cardiac rehab, Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center, Portsmouth

Other medical specialties: Internal medicine and a special interest in cardio-oncology

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Xavier University; master’s in biology and neuroscience, Bowling Green State University; medical degree, Lincoln Memorial University; internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship, Genesys Regional Medical Center

Family: I’m married to an orthopedic hand surgeon, Dr. Shawn Wilson. We have two children, Jay and Jolie, and our bernadoodle, Yogi.

Career mentors: I was lucky enough to train with Dr. Patch Adams on a medical mission trip in Costa Rica. He taught me how to truly care or people. Also, my master’s thesis adviser, Dr. Lee Meserve, is the one who pushed me out of academics and into the clinical world.

First job: I worked at the concession stand in a movie theater starting at 15 years old! Later, I also waited tables at my parents’ restaurant.

Hobbies: I am crazy about gardening and love to cook what I grow!

There have been a lot of efforts to make women aware of their risk for heart disease in recent years. From your standpoint, is it working?
Yes, absolutely! Women are much more aware of their unique risk factors and symptoms.

What innovations in cardio treatment are you most excited about? Technology is rapidly advancing and evolving in our imaging techniques (besides ultrasound, we also have CT, MRI and PET scans). We have so many more noninvasive or minimally invasive ways to evaluate and treat cardiac problems than ever before.

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Read the 2024 Cardiology Top Doctors list.