As a boy growing up in India, Dr. Raj Mulyala had to make frequent doctor visits to be treated for a chronic heart condition. This experience not only led him to pursue a career as a cardiologist, but it also taught him the importance of explaining to patients what is happening and why.
“If you don’t explain something to a patient in a way they understand, it can lead to confusion, stress or — the worst case — avoiding the necessary next steps,” says Dr. Mulyala. “So, I really pride myself on slowing down and taking the time to talk through your questions and concerns, because I know what it’s like to be a patient who just wants to feel better.”
Dr. Mulyala recently joined Georgia Heart Institute as a general cardiologist serving patients in Gainesville. He has completed advanced training in diagnostic imaging, which he will use while conducting cardiac MRI and cardiac CT scans in the new Green Tower at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville.
“Diagnosis is like investigative work,” says Dr. Mulyala. “If you don’t know what’s happening with a patient, going through the imaging and the tests can help you find the answer. Just hearing a good diagnosis can bring relief to the patient — sometimes more than the treatment itself.”
Dr. Mulyala completed a Cardiology fellowship at the University of South Alabama and an Internal Medicine residency at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, now called Trinity Health Oakland Hospital, in Pontiac, Michigan. He earned his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in India and obtained a master’s degree in molecular biology from Eastern Michigan University.
Dr. Mulyala and his wife, an oncologist in Gwinnett County, found a home in Buford. He has taken up woodworking so he can tackle some home improvement projects, and he also enjoys reading about society and philosophy in his spare time. One recent read that he recommends is “The Art of Happiness,” which is based on psychiatrist Howard Cutler’s interviews with the Dalai Lama.
“It’s about managing expectations, being at peace with what you have and being at peace with realistic expectations,” says Dr. Mulyala. “A lot of the time, what brings you happiness is just the process of seeking happiness.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mulyala, go to georgiaheartinstitute.org/mulyala, or call 770-534-2020.
About Georgia Heart Institute
Georgia Heart Institute is the most forward-thinking heart and vascular program in the state and includes one of the largest cardiology practices in the region, including more than 120 clinicians seeing patients at more than a dozen locations. With a multi-disciplinary team of experts treating nearly every type of heart and vascular disease and participating in leading national research, we’re providing advanced care that ensures lasting heart health for generations. Request an appointment and learn more at georgiaheartinstitute.org.
The experts of Georgia Heart Institute also form the core of the cardiac care team at Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s five hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. It’s all part of Northeast Georgia Health System, a non-profit which serves more than 1 million people across the region. Learn more at nghs.com.