Dr Heather J. Shenkman, MD

06/20/2025

Here’s a post at the intersection of working and being a single mom. I was asked to give a presentation at the Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Medical Staff meeting. I jokingly said that my daughter is out of school and I have no Au Pair since she’s on vacation, so I’ll just have to bring her along with me, thinking I’d get out of it. Nope! Bring your daughter, she can sit with us, I was told. So Ava got to come along to the Medical Staff meeting and hear me give a presentation. She was an excellent audience member.

02/01/2025

We welcomed Athina to our home last week, from She’s a Staffordshire terrier mix, and from what we are told, her family lost their home and surrendered her.

Athina has settled into our home well. She knows her commands (sit, stay, come), and loves toys, treats, and cuddles.

01/29/2025

We are doing our best to continue patient care under the circumstances. All of our exam rooms are unusable, and most of our equipment has been destroyed.

We’ve turned my personal office into an exam room. This small piece of the hallway is our triage area. We are also renting space from the postal store on the first floor to see patients.

we will probably not be back up to full capacity in the office for several weeks while the rooms dry out and are repaired.

01/22/2025

These ladies are my team. Maria, Gloria, Yesenia and Sharon. They definitely proved it today.

A massive flood destroyed most of my office this afternoon. It literally was raining in my office (see videos in my last post). The ceiling in room 4 collapsed under all the water. My echo machine, treadmills, exam room computers and furniture are all likely destroyed. The waiting room and exam rooms had up to 3 inches of standing water.

Maria and I grabbed what we could carry out so that we can continue patient care, and a nice firefighter lifted the vitals machine and brought it down the stairs. My staff helped carry and pack these items to keep them safe.

I held back tears as I walked through the office I’ve spent seven years of my life building. But I remembered, these are just things. My patients are safe. My staff is safe. I’ve called my insurance company. I will rebuild.

In the meantime we will see patients on the first floor of the building, and will contact any patients if that changes.

Thank you for your professionalism and covering as much of my equipment as possible.

01/21/2025

How’s your Tuesday?
We are dealing with a flood at the office.
Update on appointments will come soon.

01/14/2025

Celebrating a successful 7th year at my practice!
2024 was a year of growth. I added Yesenia Davis, NP to help care for office patients. I promoted Maria to the position of office manager. Gloria serves as my lead medical assistant and Sharon has joined the practice as a second medical assistant. David and Mahsa perform echocardiograms weekly. I am incredibly grateful for this amazing team, who help make it a joy to come in to my office to see patients. I am eager for another year of success!

01/12/2025

The view from our office as of Friday 1/10/25.
We hope you are all safe. Barring any major emergency our office will remain open for appointments next week.
First photo taken by Maria Najera, my office manager.

12/24/2024

Wishing you a happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas, happy Kwanzaa and a wonderful new year!!

10/11/2024

We are open! For those of you who asked, please know none of us were harmed when the car crashed through the coffee shop below us.

Patient appointments will resume as usual on Monday October 14.
We are without an elevator for now, and my staff will be reaching out to those of you who may need assistance getting up to the second floor for ways to accommodate you.

Pictured is me with the amazing people who help me do what I do as a cardiologist.

10/11/2024

Our office is closed for now. Will post updates. This happened yesterday afternoon.

Eight people were injured after a car rammed into a strip mall in Tarzana.

08/29/2024

Another cool pic from Ava’s first day as a kindergartener