Dr. Chandani Patel of Hackensack Meridian Health shares how she prioritizes preventative care with her patients in Waretown, New Jersey.
In college, Chandani Patel, M.D., volunteered on a health care mission in rural Nicaragua. Watching children wait all day for appointments at a pediatric clinic forever changed her perspective.
“The kids who couldn’t get in to see the doctor had to come back the next day - with the hope that the doctor would still be there,” says Dr. Patel, who grew up in Manchester, New Jersey.
“Being able to make even a small difference is something I’ll never forget.” And something that inspired her future path: She now works as a family medicine physician with Hackensack Meridian Medical Group in Waretown.
After graduating from The College of New Jersey, Dr. Patel attended medical school at Spartan Health Sciences University in St. Lucia. For residency, she was determined to return to her New Jersey roots and, happily, ended up at Ocean University Medical Center in Brick.
She now treats a wide range of patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism. “Patients may come in for an acute concern, but we’re also discussing preventive care,” she says. “I’m a big advocate for prevention.”
Educating patients on the importance of screening tests is a top priority. “I’m always telling them, ‘You’re 40, so you should have a mammogram,’ or ‘You’re 45, so you should have a colonoscopy.’ I try to explain each test and why it’s important,” she says. “I tell patients that unfortunately there aren’t screenings for every disease, but for the ones we can screen for, let’s do it.”
Ultimately, Dr. Patel says her goal is to be as approachable with her patients as possible. “That’s. so important, developing a strong rapport,” she says. “I always want to make sure patients are comfortable opening up to me.”
When she’s not working, Dr. Patel loves to travel. “Ever since we started dating, my husband and I have tried to go to at least one country each year,” she says. They’ve visited the Maldives, the UAE, Turkey and Greece. “Japan is on our list,” she notes.
“We’d love to see Mount Fuji and the cherry blossoms.” Dr. Patel reminds her patients that, whether they’re at home or away, staying active doesn’t mean they have to hit the gym. “Just going for a swim, a walk or a light jog is a great way to start your day off strong.”
She keeps active herself thanks to another passion: She’s a classically trained Bharatanatyam dancer. “I had to stop doing it as intensively when I went to college, but I love to dance,” she says. “I still choreograph all the dances for family weddings!”
“Eating healthy enhances your mood and energy. Start the day with a protein-rich breakfast like eggs, avocado toast or cottage cheese. Then reach for snacks like nuts, fruits, chia seed pudding or yogurt.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source: Chandani Patel, M.D.
- Make an appointment online with Dr. Patel or an internal medicine doctor near you, or call 800-822-8905
- Learn more about primary care services at Hackensack Meridian Health.
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