Dr. Bhursi is one of those rare individuals you find when you least expect to experience the magical amalgamation of unwavering loyalty, bona fide compassion, empathic prowess and scientific intelligence that is shared with humility but never without moral or empirical evidence integrity. My medical insurance does not afford me the privilege of having to choose from a plethora of specialists. However, I do have that possibility (if not gargantuan responsibility) when I embark on my multifaceted research explorations for family members and friends who are part of the more vulnerable populations most susceptible to the perils of unrestrained capitalism or a one-stop medical management shopping model that does not promote excellence via competition. Enter Dr. Sanjit Bhursi, cardiologist extraordinaire. In my past life, I was a voracious reader who gravitated towards authors including Dean Ornish, Caldwell Esselstyn, the American Heart Association, Bill Clinton, T. Colin Campbell and his China Study, Jon Kabat-Zin, Michael Greger, Gary Null, medical journal articles on Japanese cholesterol and hypertension rates as well as recipe books covering plant based, Mediterranean, pescatarian or DASH diets. I finally found a cardiologist that has taken the time to acknowledge all these relevant perspectives as he understands a democratic premise that we seem to forget in these times characterized by absolutist thinking: you will never fully comprehend your own treatment philosophy if you are not aware of contrarian opinions. However, Dr. Bhursi is seemingly able to allow some findings to peacefully coexist as he looks at the individual patient as much as the undeniable statistics. He knows how to respectfully listen. When I totally mispronounced homocysteine, he simply pronounced it correctly with an answer that magically inspired my subconscious to associate massive pleasure with the consumption of healthy foods the next day. He then explained the importance of protein and the exact serving size when I asked about the relevance of Vitamin B12 intake. All this important information was imparted without any vestige of condescension or patronizing erudition. And he is truly an expert of the first order. Given Dr. Bhusri's own triumph over adversity that he has made public, you are allowed to finally let go, similar to what happens on a plane when you know the pilot values collective safety as he or she wants to go back to embrace his family waiting at home. Even though I was not the patient, but rather a very close family member, I actually found myself being more aware of my adherence to the proverbial "healthy lifestyle" after leaving his office imbued by expansive healing energy. Dr. Bhursi's warmth and charisma is such that you want him to be proud of you. And he clearly understands what an important role family or extended family plays in the decision-making process which is never rushed, or imposed. read more