Dr. Mike Jeong

By Brian Sodoma

Friday, May 1, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Dr. Mike Jeong remembers watching his grandmother change through the years. The cognitive and physical decline he witnessed led him to pursue a career in geriatric medicine. His drive for this branch of medicine was further sparked by a patient he met during his residency at Yale School of Medicine.

“I remember sitting in a room with a gentleman dying of prostate cancer. He shared his life story with me,” Jeong said. “It was a busy day. … Physicians spend so much time looking at numbers and just kind of lose focus of the person that’s being taken care of. That opportunity just changed my perspective on taking care of patients.”

Today, Jeong, 42, is the medical director of the skilled nursing facility at Las Ventanas, a continuing care retirement community. He has educated many patients and caregivers on how to live with chronic illness and disabilities, while accessing appropriate medical care, and rehabilitative and support services. Jeong looks at all aspects of a patient’s situation, asking about emotional and spiritual well-being and assessing current and past physical abilities.

Jeong also wholly believes in the connection between a person’s mental and spiritual well-being, and their physical healing.

“(Spirituality) is a part of life that many people push to the end of their life to deal with, when they have to deal with the fear of death and eternity,” the physician added.

Jeong also likes to rekindle a “psychological sense of purpose” in his patients, asking them about their past, what drove them and what they accomplished in their lives.

But while he focuses on the mind-body connection, Jeong still encourages physical activity as often as possible.

“I’m a firm believer in preventative care, especially for seniors. ... people are 70, 80 or 90 years old, and they’re lifting weights, doing cardio exercise. This lessens their fears of falling, and they are not as dependent on people,” Jeong said.

The physician is a member of The American Geriatric Society, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American College of Physicians, American College of Physician Executives and American Medical Directors Association.

“I’m doing my passion, and the opportunities that have come up have been a great journey. … I want to continue to grow to be the best I can be, to be available for this calling,” he added.