Physician Spotlight: Ferenc Pantaleone Nagy, M.D.
Job: Vascular surgeon with Louisville Vascular Specialists, Jewish Physician Group; registered physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI). Employed with the legacy Jewish and St. Mary’s Health-Care, part of KentuckyOne Health. Offices
at Jewish Hospital, St. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, and Jewish Hospital Medical Center East.
Why did you decide to become a doctor?
I decided early on in my teens to be a doctor. We were always around doctors because of family members and friends having ill health. It seemed like such a neat profession, especially when the doctors came and talked with us. Their knowledge was extraordinary. I wanted to have that knowledge and use it.
Is it diferent than what you thought? If so, how?
Being a doctor is definitely different than what I thought. !e work doctors do behind the scenes is never shown or documented, and you don’t appreciate the effort that goes into being a good, dedicated doctor. Only until you start training and then working do you understand the time and commitment that is required.
What is the biggest misconception about your “field?
That most of us take off during the day to go golfing. I can’t remember the last time I had time in the day to leave and
do anything.
What is the one thing you wish patients knew and/or understood about doctors?
I think most of the public thinks of doctors as hard working, but I don’t think they understand the amount of time spent with them is far greater than almost everyone else in our lives, including family. I have had stretches of time where I won’t see my wife and kids for days at a time because I am in the hospital with very sick patients. If we are a little grumpy at times, it’s usually because we are working as hard as we can to help them, but we miss some of the perks other jobs take for granted, such as not being on call or being able to take a lot of time off, because we feel a dedication to our patients.
What is your opinion of Managed Care and how will this a!ect you and your practice?
Managed Care has some benefits to getting people in to see the doctor and providing more access to doctors. However,
it runs smoothly when everyone understands how it works and how to make it more efficient. The main problem with it is that companies in the managed care business are not in it to lose money. They want to make money, and that does cause a backlash of the public against them. When you are trying to get a test ordered, and your insurance denies it because they don’t think the test is necessary, this is a case of a formula dictating how the managed care organization is rationing services. It does come up in my practice often. Since I am a specialist I often order tests that are required to get a diagnosis, but I often have to justify to the managed care company why the test is needed, and this takes time out of my day, which could be better served by seeing my patients.
What’s one thing your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?
That I am a homebody. Whenever I can just spend time at home and relax with my family, I would much prefer to do that than go out to dinner or take a trip. I also am a barbecue enthusiast, and I love experimenting with my kettle grill to cook new dinners.
What’s the last good book you read?
The Godfather by Mario Puzo. I have seen the movies plenty of times, but after reading the book you get a new appreciation of how good the movie really was.
Do you have a favorite beverage?
Unsweetened iced tea.
Can you recall the best advice you ever received? Who gave it to you?
“Be humble and never act or seem smarter or more important than anyone you meet or treat. Everyone deserves the utmost respect and attention.” This was from my mother, an immigrant from Italy who had to learn English when she came here at age seven. A very smart and tough lady.
