Mayank Mittal, MD - Beacon Medical Group Advanced Cardiology Specialists South Bend

Dr. Aslam received his medical degree from King Edward Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan and Masters in Public Health / Health Administration from University of Oklahoma-health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City. He completed his internal medicine residency at Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University, cardiology fellowship at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois and Interventional cardiology fellowship at Aurora St. Luke's Hospital / University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Affiliated Hospitals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is board-certified in cardiology, nuclear medicine, interventional cardiology and endovascular medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a fellow of the society of cardiac angiography and intervention. He serves as faculty at University of Indiana School of Medicine as Voluntary assistant Professor. He is currently Medical Director of Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists at South Bend as well as Medical Director of Cardiac Cath Lab at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. He serves on the Governing Council of the Beacon Heart & Vascular & Stroke Center and various quality and peer review committees. He formerly served as director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Memorial Hospital of South Bend and director of ICU and Cardiopulmonary Services at Grandview Hospital in Michigan He has special interest in coronary, peripheral and endovascular interventions, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), as well as structural heart diseases.

Everything fell into place for Dr. Howard Wiarda in college. He had always enjoyed anatomy classes, and one day it just clicked that he was meant to be a physician. This love of understanding the human body transferred well to his specialty field, where he now uses interventional radiology to help patients live a better life. "The most important part of my work is knowing that I take good care of my patients," Dr. Wiarda said. "I want my patients to know that they're important to me." Of course, Dr. Wiarda likes to have fun, too. He believes that when you like what you do and you like the people you work with, everything else works itself out. His personal motto is related to this. "If you keep the patient at the forefront, and make the right decisions with the patient in mind, everything else will settle," he says. Home Life: When Dr. Wiarda is not working, he can most likely be found outside biking, running, swimming, or spending time with his family.

About Michele Knuth It was after working in another field that Michele Knuth, FNP, decided on a career in medicine when she was 24 years old. “The work was unfulfilling and lacked true growth opportunities,” she says. Michele earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah, and her Master of Science - Family Nurse Practitioner degree at Purdue Global University. She sees nurse practitioners as bringing heart and experience to their role, something she says is needed for excellent, patient-centered care. “I love the wide variety of cases and care that IR [interventional radiology] provides, everything from stroke to cancer care and everything in between. I cannot think of an area of the body or a specialty in the hospital that IR does not impact,” Michele says. Through her years of experience, Michele says she has realized the importance of slowing down and connecting with patients. When this happens, the overall experience is greatly improved. “I want people to know they are not another number, they are an individual, a human being, and If I have the ability (and I am the best option), I am going to provide them with the best care I possibly can,” Michele says, adding, “People first, patients second… not just another procedure, appointment or medical record number.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? A series of people were there at the right time to guide me in different seasons of my life. My grandmothers have always been very special to me, and family friends who encouraged me to pursue health care when I didn’t have the confidence for it on my own. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? My first job was working as a family assistant. I was part nanny/part grocery shopper/part party planner/part chauffeur. It was very eye opening for me as I was exposed to a lifestyle very different from my own. What is your favorite food? Movie? Favorite foods: I really love Mexican food…guacamole, tacos, pork carnitas, etc. Favorite movie: All the old 007 films, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina…anything with Audrey Hepburn. What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? I loved government, psychology and history, and enjoyed German and Spanish and learning about other cultures. I hated geometry but loved algebra. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? I would love to sit down with Amelia Earhart and find out what actually happened to her. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I am passionate about empowering women, helping them realize their goals and of course, my family. I am happily married with three daughters. What are your hobbies, interests? I love listening to health-centered and personal development podcasts. I also really love traveling and spending time with my family. Do you have pets? We have two dogs, a cat and a couple dozen chickens. What is something most people don’t know about you? I absolutely love to travel, if nursing didn’t work out my back up plan was to be a nomad.