Saroj Neupane, MD, is a board-certified interventional cardiologist who is highly-skilled in performing the most complex coronary interventions. Let’s get to know more about Dr. Neupane, his unique skillset and what he loves to do most in the fall.

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in the fall?

I enjoy spending time with my Australian cattle dog, Milo, and taking him for hikes in the parks around Raleigh. Fall travel is great, too. I recently visited Banff National Park in Canada. I also enjoy going out to eat and experiencing all the cuisines that Raleigh has to offer, especially during Restaurant Week and at the N.C. State Fair in October.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised on a farm in a small village in Nepal. I moved to the United States in 2009 after finishing medical school. I completed my internal medicine and general and interventional cardiology training in Detroit, where I lived for 10 years before moving to North Carolina to join the WakeMed team in 2019. After medical school, I worked for a year as a travel physician in the mountains of Nepal, taking care of climbers and hikers. I traveled with groups of hikers and provided emergency first aid and medical assistance for things, such as altitude sickness and food- and water-borne illnesses.

Q: Why did you choose to work in cardiology?

I learned during my residency training that I really loved interacting with patients, and cardiology gives me the opportunity to do that, while also being part of a field that is constantly changing and evolving. I feel challenged every day to learn more so that we’re always doing what is best for our patients with the most up-to-date information that’s available. My favorite aspect of interventional cardiology is the immediate impact we have on patient outcomes and quality of life – whether it’s opening an acute blockage during a heart attack or helping relieve symptoms related to heart disease (such as chest pain, fatigue, etc.) that are hindering a patient’s daily life.

Q: You have a highly-technical area of expertise – tell us a little bit about that.

I was fortunate enough to have complex and high-risk interventional training at Henry Ford Heart & Vascular Institute in Detroit following my interventional cardiology fellowship. This year-long fellowship was entirely focused on treating patients with complex coronary artery disease, such as chronic total occlusions (when an artery is 100 percent blocked), or those patients who aren’t a candidate for bypass surgery but are experiencing significant symptoms. Because of my specialty training, I can offer specialized interventional procedures to many patients who are often told there are no other treatment options for their blockages.

Q: What’s new/on the horizon in interventional cardiology, and how is WakeMed Heart & Vascular evolving with the field?

WakeMed Heart & Vascular is embracing the newest technologies and tools available that are used to treat patients with cardiovascular disease. We were the first center in North Carolina to treat patients with heavily calcified blockages in coronary arteries with a new technique called intravascular lithotripsy. We are also involved in some of the latest clinical trials for upcoming treatment options, such as drug-coated coronary balloons or newer temporary solutions that can be used instead of stents (bioresorbable scaffolds). It’s exciting to be on the leading edge of these new technologies.

To learn more about our Chronic Total Occlusion program, visit wakemed.org/hearts.