Kashif N. Ather, MD

Kashif Ather, MD, is a non-invasive cardiologist. He received his medical degree from The University of Connecticut School of Medicine and went on to complete his training in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease at Brown University. As a non-invasive cardiologist, he focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various heart conditions. His specific interests include heart failure, valvular heart disease and cardiac imaging, specifically echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound).

Why should someone choose you to care for their health?
I believe that the patient-doctor relationship is an important aspect of choosing a physician. I have placed a large emphasis on strong communication between my patients and myself. While heart issues can be scary, I want my patients to have a say in the decisions being made about their healthcare, which requires a large amount of trust as well as an understanding between patient and doctor.

What is the most important thing your patients should expect from their professional relationship with you? What do you expect from them?
My patients should expect to leave the office with a clear understanding of both the problem and treatment strategy. I strive to make even more complex issues more understandable for my patients so that they can be active participants in their health.

How do you spend your valuable personal time when you’re not caring for patients?
When I am not actively caring for patients, I like to spend my free time catching up with my friends and family. I enjoy playing and watching soccer. My favorite team is Arsenal. I also enjoy reading, trying new foods and travel.

Why did you choose your specialty and what is its greatest reward?
I chose cardiology because there are so many different aspects to the heart, and it keeps me interested as no two days in cardiology are the same. I think the best part about cardiology is all the treatments that have been developed over the years – we see very sick patients in the hospital that we are able to treat and then follow for many years in the community.