Super Doctor

Exercise every day and the heart doctor may stay away. However, for those who need a cardiac specialist, Odessa has one who's been named a Super Doctor.

Fellow physicians nominated Dr. Suresh Gadasalli, of The Healthy Heart Center, as a "Super Doctor" in the December issue of Texas Monthly magazine. This is the second year he's received the honor.

"It feels great. I am humbled and honored," he said. Gadasalli specializes in Diagnostic Cardiology, Coronary Angioplasty and Intervention.

Gadasalli opened his practice here 15 years ago, but he does not just limit himself to Odessa. He has an outreach program in other West Texas areas including Monahans, Kermit, Pecos, Fort Stockton, Andrews and Alpine. He performs consultations, and if a patient needs further treatment or a procedure, he brings them back to the Odessa facility.

"We are very caring and compassionate. I want them to feel like they are members of my own family, and they are genuinely being taken care of. We take an interest in their well-being," he said.

Gadasalli stressed the importance of prevention. That is why he said daily exercise is the best form of prevention and a way to ensure a healthier heart. "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure."

Gadasalli said West Texas has been a welcoming place to practice. After moving from Wisconsin, he said he found the community warm, welcoming and friendly.

He's tried to give back through various charities in the area including the United Way, the Children's Miracle Network and the Salvation Army. During Christmastime, he has what he calls the Gadasalli Challenge. He challenges other area physicians to contribute to the Empty Stocking Fund and to reach or exceed the donation goal of the Odessa American and the Salvation Army for the fund. He said he had every intention of helping the Empty Stocking exceed this year's goal of $75,000. Gadasalli also donates to the ECISD Education Foundation and donated the building near Permian High School that houses the Gadasalli Fine Arts Center.

Key Professional Media asked medical professionals, "If you needed medical care, which doctor would you choose?" These physicians are told to nominate doctors, aside from themselves, whom they believe offer superb care to their patients and would entrust their own health to.

Bill White is the publisher of Law & Politics magazine, a Key Professional Media publication, and he said, the goal is to invite every physician in the state to participate in the nomination process. He said 38,000 invitations to Texas doctors were sent out.

After interviews and discipline record checks, Key Professional Media then reports the results to various publications, including Texas Monthly.

>> Being a physician means being a lifelong learner. Dr. Suresh Gadasalli attends national level conferences and keeps up with current periodicals and medical journals. In addition, he is a member of the Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

 Odessa's "Super Doctors"

>> Cardiology: Dr. Sudhir Amaram, M.D.

>> Endocrinology: Dr. Craig Spellman, DO, PhD.

>> Colon, rectal and general surgery: Dr. Shai Y. Liu, M.D.

Gadasalli Challenge

>> Dr. Suresh Gadasalli is challenging area doctors to help the Salvation Army's Empty Stocking Fund reach or exceed the donations of the Odessa American. The OA contributes $4,000 annually to match the first $4,000 raised for the fund. The fund goes to help families with a Christmas meal and small gifts for children.

>> Donations may be mailed or delivered to the Salvation Army Community Center, 810 E. 11th St., or the Odessa American, 222 E. Fourth St. ZIP codes for both are 79761.

>> For information, call the Odessa American at 333-7714, or the Salvation Army at 332-0738.