TOP YOUNG PHYSICIANS CHOOSE TO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
St. Clair offered Dr. Bhandarkar the best opportunity for his career interests and goals. “I was looking for a primary care opportunity with a hospital that had a lot of modern technology and medical innovation,” he says. “St. Clair is all that and much more. I fell in the right place at the right time and it was a great fit for me. The position also encompassed everything I was looking for in primary care and internal medicine. When I first saw St. Clair, I thought of a hospital deeply rooted in the community with the latest advancements, innovations, and technology in modern health care, like utilization of radial (through the wrist) heart catheterizations and the da Vinci Si robotic surgical system.” Moreover, Dr. Bhandarkar found that everyone on staff, from the administrators to the physicians, nurses, and technicians were courteous. As a resident, Dr. Bhandarkar taught medical students to never take a patient presentation for granted, no matter how mild a patient’s case might appear — a philosophy he still abides by. “I have been surprised before by simplicity of presentation in contrast to severity of disease,” he says. “That’s what I try to live by when I see
DR. NITHIN BHANDARKAR, Internal Medicine, Fatigati/Nalin Associates
patients. You have to pay attention and listen to your patients.” A Robinson Township resident, Dr. Bhandarkar’s passion outside of health care is sports. He follows baseball, soccer, football, and
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more recently, hockey.
environment at that young age proved nurturing for him and
that was great to be part of,” he says.
uring his four years of high school in the San Francisco suburbs of San Ramon, Dr. Bhandarkar spent 500 hours
volunteering at a local hospital. Being exposed to the health care triggered his love for the medical profession. “It helped me get started in the field and sparked an interest,” he says. “I was constantly immersed in that environment, which was
nice. I also found it to be an intricate, interesting profession that was always changing and advancing, which keeps you on your toes.” Dr. Bhandarkar earned his bachelor’s degree in molecular/cell developmental biology at UCLA and later attended Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the
“When I came to Pittsburgh in 2009, the Steelers had won the Super Bowl and the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, so as a sports fan, Dr. Bhandarkar’s goal is to have a flourishing and successful practice. “I want to take care of patients and build the practice,” he says. “More importantly, I also want to have a very personable practice where I can interact with my patients.”
NITHIN V. BHANDARKAR, D.O. earned his medical degree at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, Calif., and specializes in internal medicine. He completed his training in internal medicine at UPMC Mercy Hospital. Dr. Bhandarkar practices with Fatigati/Nalin Associates.
Pacific in Pomona, Calif. He finished his internal medicine residency in June at UPMC Mercy and joined Fatigati/Nalin Associates (FNA),
To contact Dr. Bhandarkar, please call 724.731.0090.
part of St. Clair Medical Services. While Dr. Bhandarkar, who is based out of FNA’s new Peters Township office, could have stayed on the West Coast, he was eager
are the keys to a happy and healthy lifestyle,”
to see what other opportunities were available. He ended up finding
says Dr. Bhandarkar. “It’s easy to come to a
some good matches for his residency in the Pittsburgh region and
doctor’s office when you are sick. It takes that
it was also a central location to family members living in Chicago,
extra step to schedule a well-visit physical
New York, and West Virginia. “I also heard great things about Pittsburgh and saw that it was
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HEALTH TIP: “Screening and prevention
where we go over your health maintenance and screen for things like diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure,
rated as one of the most livable cities by several publications,” he says.
women's health, and prostate health, among many other medical
“After meeting some really good people during residency and
conditions. These maintenance visits are underrated. I like to put an
making some great friends, it only further motivated me to stay.”
extra emphasis and focus on maintenance and prevention.”