A “Karing” attitude followed Dr. Kamesh Sivagnanam through residency and fellowship.

Pursuing the medical profession came natural for the East Tennessee State University graduate, and now Sycamore Shoals Hospital is about to reap the rewards.

Dr. Sivagnanam was hired at the hospital during the first week of August in a partnership between Sycamore Shoals Hospital and Karing Hearts Cardiology in Johnson City.

“The people at the hospital have been great,” the doctor told the Elizabethton Star Thursday about his time so far at Sycamore Shoals. “They’ve been very receptive to having a cardiologist there. That’s something they’ve never really had and now we’re able to offer this type of service.”

Johnson City proved to be a hub of activity when it came to heart procedures, according to Dr. Jeffrey Schoondyke with Karing Hearts. Increased traffic at Sycamore Shoals saw a need, and the doctor noted that “Dr. Siv” will be a key addition to Carter County.

“We always wanted to get someone into Sycamore Shoals as a cardiologist,” Dr. Schoondyke said. “The hospital has been great to work with and I think this will be a great partnership moving forward.”

Having a clinic on site, according to Dr. Siv, will help ease the burden on individuals from Carter and Johnson counties that typically had to go to Johnson City for procedures.

“We now have the ability to do those types of procedures at Sycamore Shoals,” he said. “Before ,even for something simple, we would have to take a patient from Sycamore to Johnson City, then come back. Now with the clinic in place, we’re able to service the people of the community, and those from the Mountain City area. Northeast Tennessee is area that has a high amount of heart disease and the more we can help combat the issue, the better.”

Being a cardiologist takes a bit of work, but it is all worth it in the long run, according to Dr. Siv.

“I wanted to do something that I felt made the most impact,” he said about choosing cardiology. “There are a lot risk factors in the community when it comes to heart disease. It’s a leading cause of death. I hope to do what I can to help the community maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

Dr. Sivagnanam is available in Elizabethton at 1503 W Elk Ave. throughout the week and accepting new patients. For more information, visit the office or call (423) 926-4468.

To learn more about the history of Karing Hearts Cardiology, visit their website.