Biography
Mary Zhen, P.A.-C., is a certified physician assistant with MyMichigan Health and a member of the comprehensive heart and vascular team. This team includes cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, heart failure and structural heart specialists, as well as vascular and cardiovascular surgeons. She sees patients at MyMichigan’s Heart Failure Clinic and specializes in helping heart failure patients manage their condition and maximize their quality of life.
Before attending school to become a physician assistant, Mary served as a cardiology scribe and was fascinated how cardiac conditions could be categorized as part of the heart’s ‘plumbing system’ or ‘electrical system.’ “I also loved learning about the different subspecialties within the cardiology field and how various cardiac conditions are interrelated,” she added.
Philosophy of Care
Mary believes in developing strong patient-provider relationships by enabling effective communication from both parties. She described the relationship similar to a mutual friendship; one in which her patients can view her as a peer and can feel comfortable. “This involves truly understanding my patient’s individual concerns, as well as the background they come from,” she said. “By asking my patients what is important to them and what they know about their condition, this ensures that they understand their cardiac condition and respective management options. It also allows me to help them become advocates for their health. I strive to become someone my patients can trust and be confident in receiving advice and care for their cardiac condition.”
Special Interests and Procedures
As a heart failure specialist, Mary works closely with patients to help them effective manage their chronic condition so that they can maximize their overall healthy quality of life. She holds special interest in device therapy for the treatment of heart failure and the use of monitoring systems like the CardioMEMS™ system which allows for remote monitoring of heart failure patients to prevent medical deterioration and recurrent hospitalizations.
She also enjoys teaching students and is a big proponent of patient education. “Ask me anything about the heart,” she added.
In her free time, Mary enjoys reading, exploring used book stores, running, cooking new recipes, and spending time with family.
