Akinniran A. Abisogun, M.D., FACC, RPVI

Privilege. The word comes up frequently when cardiologist Dr. Akinniran A. Abisogun, M.D., FACC, RPVI, describes his work.

“If you make the right moves, you can really help extend someone’s life. It’s a real honor to be able to do that.”

Giving back, self-sacrifice and service continue to be running themes in this physician’s life. As a child, he watched his father, also a doctor, push himself for the betterment of others. In his teens, Dr. Abisogun found empathy for patients while volunteering in nursing homes and hospitals. And his clinical rotations in medical school proved illuminating.

“The privilege to actually be able to go into a hospital or clinic,” he says of med school, “and talk to people that you could hopefully help in some way was the most powerful thing.”

After becoming exposed to cardiology, Dr. Abisogun, a longtime heart enthusiast, discovered his calling. He says melding his fascination of the organ with his desire to aid those in need became a winning combination.

“With cardiology, you can perform every aspect of medicine from ambulatory care to hospital and critical care to procedural, both simple and complex. It was the perfect blend of everything I wanted to be as a doctor.”

The field’s variety keeps things interesting and drives his professional passion. One day, he may be diving into interesting procedures. Another day, he might find himself navigating a patient through an office visit, coordinating their care.

“It keeps you fresh, and you always have a challenge,” Dr. Abisogun says.

Being ready for these challenges means keeping tabs on the latest advancements in cardiology. He does this as a member of several professional organizations, including The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and the American College of Cardiology.

“The benefit of being a part of these organizations is that you’re always getting exposure to the latest developments in cardiology,” he says. “It’s all at the forefront.”

In the realm of cardiology, Dr. Abisogun’s primary interests include high-risk coronary interventions, peripheral vascular disease, and care delivery to underserved populations. “The medical literature has shown that health outcomes are not the same in minority groups, especially in African-Americans.” He goes on to say, “we need to take special attention and try to identify any barriers that may stand in the way of all patients receiving optimum care.”

Giving patients the best care possible, he says, sometimes involves simply being present, lending an ear as well as compassion. Dr. Abisogun recalls one of his most impactful patient experiences took place during his residency at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I. His patient had incurable cancer, and specialists had done all they could do medically.

“The most interesting thing about that case was we were able to help the patient and his family in ways medicine never could,” he says. “Just by being there, being supportive advocates, listening to the patient and his family, addressing their needs and concerns, and valuing them and every day they had together as a family on this planet. That really touched the family, and it really touched me.”

Dr. Abisogun’s goal is to offer patients the best possible care. He says being a part of SouthCoast Health allows him to do just that. “It’s really easy for us as physicians to get what our patients need in a timely fashion,” he says. “Since SouthCoast is a large, organized group with many fields, it provides a great opportunity to give comprehensive care to our patients.”