Mark Leslie Villalon, MD

Interventional cardiology is a unique field that allows us the privilege of intimately caring for those at their sickest moments in the hospital, such as in the throes of a major heart attack, as well as in the outpatient setting for routine follow-up evaluations.

I was inspired to study medicine and my specialty because I was fortunate enough to have several supportive and motivating educators, including my parents, who taught me the value of being a lifelong learner. In addition, my faith-based values inspire me to continue to be a servant to others, especially those who are most vulnerable.

There are multiple cardiovascular problems that I treat, which are not limited to valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, common heart arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies.

Being a doctor is simply a privilege that I cherish on a daily basis. With that in mind, people that meet me should always know that they have choices to see other physicians and it is a privilege for me to be a part of their lives. I will never have all of the answers to a particular ailment, but I will always give the best of my compassion, clinical expertise, and respect.

As a doctor, I believe in patient empowerment. It is my hope that every person I encounter leaves the visit/encounter feeling confident about what we have discussed. Often times, being in a room with a cardiologist is a stressful situation and people can easily forget the things that I have said. I encourage note taking and asking questions to make for a more complete and thorough visit.

When people visit me, they should expect to be treated as an individual and not as a medical record number. I commonly invoke the concept of shared-decision making, where the patient and I, sometimes along with their family/friends/primary care doctor, decide on the best plan for that person. There is no "one size fits all" approach to health care. Each decision should be individualized and mutually agreed upon.

I have been fortunate enough to have a strong, beautiful, and charismatic wife who is the mother to our four loving, giggly, and energetic children. The most joy during my workday are random thoughts of their giggles. So, if you ever catch me randomly smiling, there's a strong chance that I'll be thinking about one, or all, of my children.

Physician Practice Organization

NorthBay Health