Deepak Gaba, MD

About Dr. Gaba
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure… and a pound of cure is better than a lifetime of medications." This is Dr. Deepak Gaba’s philosophy when it comes to his patients, and it permeates every aspect of his cardiology practice. “Patients have taught me that if you listen to them carefully, they will lead you to the correct diagnosis. It is up to the doctor to figure out the context in which they are speaking.”
Dr. Gaba decided on a career in Cardiology/Electrophysiology when he took a course in college entitled, Mathematics in Medicine and Biology. “This fascinated me because of the mathematical organization of all biological systems,” he explains. “I like doing the detective work to figure out if a person has an electrical problem with their heart. If they do, then I fix those electrical problems so that they can enjoy a healthier life.”
When asked why he chose to practice at Beacon, he says: “The physicians were genuinely interested in the best outcomes for their patients, and they were genuinely interested in me as a provider because good patient outcomes and patient satisfaction are my priority.” Dr. Gaba also believes that Beacon is well positioned to handle the challenges of the changes in healthcare. “I found this to be a supportive environment to grow my practice in this phase of the new healthcare dynamics.”
That support is key to teaching his patients one vital component of their care: Hope. “I want to educate my patients on what they can do to improve their health – I believe, working as a team with them, we can help them feel better.” He has faith in their ability to do the things they find challenging and adds, “It is hope that can propel them forward to be strong participants in their healthcare goals.”
In his own words…
Who is or was the most influential person/role model in your life? John Willis Hurst, M.D. ­– my mentor at Emory University – and cardiologist to President Lyndon B. Johnson – was the most influential career role model in my life.
Do you come from a long line of physicians? No, I don’t. My father is an engineer, and my mother was an elementary school teacher.
What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? I worked in the Behavioral Neurology Lab at Queens College, New York. It made me enjoy science and it was like detective work.
What is your favorite food? Movie? I love anything that is homecooked by my Mother or Wife. My favorite movie is Where Eagles Dare.
What were your best/worst subjects in school growing up? My favorite subject in school was Mathematics. My worst was Language Arts.
If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? My favorite meal companions will always be my wife and children. I would be fascinated to hear Albert Einstein’s reaction to the news that much of what he theorized has been proven true.
In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? What are your hobbies, interests? I feel strongly that all people should be treated equally and with kindness. My favorite hobbies are tennis, archery, kayaking, reading and travel.
What question are you asked most often by those outside of medicine? Most often, my friends outside of medicine ask: Why is medicine so expensive, and what can we do to lower costs?
What is something most people don’t know about you? Most people do not know that I enjoy archery and the history of archery.