Dr Samin K Sharma MD
Director, SP and Seema Lohia Cardiovascular Clinical Institute
Director of Interventional Cardiology, Mount Sinai Health System
President, Dr Samin K Sharma Family Foundation Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
New York, USA
Janam Bhumi:
Alwar, Rajasthan, India
Dharma Bhumi:
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Karma Bhumi:
New York, USA
Repairing Hearts, Sparking Synapses
The ‘Samin’ Factor: “Excellence is not performed in a moment; it is lived as a habit, a discipline shaped by the goals we commit to.”
THE MAN
Dr Samin K Sharma was born on 28 May 1957, in Alwar, Rajasthan. Growing up across Alwar, Jodhpur, and Rajgarh, every time someone would ask, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ His response would be: ‘Doctor’.
His father, Anand Lal Sharma, a Forest Services officer, and his mother, Kamala, were both his inspiration and emotional anchors. With their encouragement and his own strong-willed determination, he cleared the pre-medical examination and entered Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur. Academically brilliant, he was always at the top of his class, earning eight gold medals and five honours, and graduating in 1978 with his MBBS, followed by an MD in 1981. He says, “You’ll climb the academic ladder if you fall in love with your subject.” And, Dr Sharma was besotted with his course books, reading them numerous times, undeterred by the voluminous page count.
This rigour would come in handy, as he boarded a plane to New York in 1983 to pursue his destiny as one of the most distinguished names in interventional cardiology.
THE JOURNEY
New York was a strange new world that had to be navigated with limited finance and zero moral support. But there was no going back without achieving his goals. He breezed through his residency in Internal Medicine at the NY Infirmary–Beekman Downtown Hospital, a fellowship in Cardiology at Elmhurst Hospital in 1988, and advanced interventional training at Mount Sinai in 1990. As an attending physician at Mount Sinai, Dr Sharma had almost perfected the art of interventional procedures. He says, “In complex cases where others had 2–3 percent complication rates, my complication rate was only 0.09 per cent.”
The rise was steady—from Director of Interventional Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in 1996, Co-Director of the Cardiovascular Institute in 2004, and eventually Professor of Medicine.
Dr Sharma, who performs over 1,500 complex coronary interventions annually, has reigned at the pinnacle of angioplasty in New York. For over three decades, he has commanded the state’s highest success rates and earned the rare ‘Star designation’ for mortality rates dramatically lower than predicted. His pioneering work in non-surgical treatments for complex conditions—such as mitral and aortic stenosis—has made him a titan in his field, earning many accolades and a position on the Cardiac Advisory Board of New York State.
In India, he co-founded the Mount Sinai-affiliated Eternal Heart Care Centre (EHCC) in Jaipur, which later evolved into Eternal Hospital. His wife, Dr Manju Sharma, a distinguished non-medical professional, serves as Co-Chairperson and Managing Director of the hospital. Since 2015, Dr Sharma has travelled to India once a month, dedicating his expertise to the hospital, while Dr Manju ensures its smooth operation. The hospital also has a branch, Eternal Sanganer, providing affordable medical care to all patients with difficult socio-economic backgrounds. Dr Sharma is now planning a state-of-the-art cancer hospital in Jaipur, aimed at bringing advanced treatments to those who need it the most.
An educator, mentor, and community builder. Dr Sharma has worked with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and the Association of Indians in America (AIA). With over 230 articles, 450 abstracts, and twelve books, his intellectual legacy is as formidable as his medical one.
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
“Medicine, for me, is not a profession. It is worship,” says Dr Sharma. This philosophy has guided Dr Sharma’s decades-long career across continents. He also believes that knowledge must be shared, and passed on to future generations. This commitment earned him the Simon Dack Best Teacher Award in 2000, honouring his extraordinary ability to teach, inspire, and mentor. In India, he has been training doctors in advanced techniques and preparing them for the future. Through the EHC Foundation, Dr Sharma is also making world-class cardiac care more accessible. The Eternal Hospital Sanganer offers procedures at nearly half the cost of the flagship hospital, and the Foundation has raised over ₹30 crores in donations to subsidise life-saving heart surgeries for the underprivileged. They have equipped hospitals with critical tools, both during crises like the pandemic and in routine care.
THE LEGACY
Dr Sharma’s career is marked by groundbreaking contributions to cardiology. Yet, there is no hint of a God complex to be found. In fact, he admits it is the divine forces that guide his hands to deliver error-free results and save lives.
While the heavens continue to smile upon him, Dr Sharma’s family is his lighthouse on Earth. The inherited values from parents, the wisdom gained from teachers, and the unwavering support from his wife, who is an equal partner – in life and work – are his wellspring of courage. He is equally proud of his children. Son, Raman, trained at Mount Sinai, is now an attending faculty member specialising in endovascular interventions for leg arteries. Daughter, Ritu, is pursuing business administration in New Jersey. Dr Sharma and his wife dote on their only grandchild and hope they get to pamper a few more in the future.
Dr Sharma’s medical prowess shines across the world; his name is embossed in gold lettering on his alma mater’s walls in India and is included in the illustrious ‘America’s Top Doctors’ list in the US. And, to think it all began with a very decisive four-year-old who knew what he wanted to be and has made it happen by mending hearts, empowering lives, and living a fulfilling life.
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“Growing up, India was a place where community bonds thrived and we lived a simple life. Today, when I return to India, I feel proud to see the incredible progress India has made as a global medical and economic force.”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“The discipline and respect for knowledge instilled in India guide me through every procedure and patient interaction. My work is a direct extension of the values I carried from India. It enables me to practice empathy and compassion. Nothing can change that.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“Indian doctors abroad are not just healers; we are ambassadors of India’s intellect, compassion, and perseverance. I have instilled this in my son, who is a doctor too. My daughter, though not in the profession, follows the same values. I believe Indian values can co-exist with global success.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“My pride in India has only deepened with time. I draw constant inspiration from the brilliance of its young medical minds and the remarkable strides being made in interventional cardiology. Under the visionary leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I believe India’s medical sciences will not only achieve self-reliance but also reaffirm the nation’s destiny as a true ‘Vishwaguru’ -a guiding light to the world.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“I always tell all young people that health is wealth. So focus on your health. Balance innovation with empathy, and pursue excellence without fear. Explore global horizons, share knowledge and give back to their homeland. India is already a superpower, but my personal dream for India involves enforcing stringent food safety measures, curtailing adulteration, a major cause of health issues in India.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
I have always liked street food; ‘pani puri’ was my favourite.
NOW
I still love ‘pani puri’. A ‘methi parantha’ is my go-to happy meal.
Sport Spirit
THEN
I played a lot of street games like ‘gilli danda’ and gully cricket.
NOW
Bowling alley outings with my grandchild and watching baseball games.
Music Tastes
THEN
I grew up listening to legendary singers like Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar.
NOW
Apart from the legends, I enjoy listening to Shreya Ghoshal.
Holiday Life
THEN
My holidays were spent with my cousins.
NOW
A getaway is a luxury now, but I always find my way back to my hometown with my family.
Leisure Habits
THEN
Time was spent either with friends or then watching Hindi films, though infrequently.
NOW
It is a monthly ritual to watch at least one Hindi film in a theatre. I also enjoy watching Broadway shows.
AKA
Director of Interventional Cardiology, Mount Sinai Health System | President, Dr Samin K Sharma Family Foundation Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory | Samin Sharma Mount Sinai
