Dr. George Papanicolaou, MD

Why I Became a Physician On a beautiful spring day while in high school, I decided to skip class. Of all places, I decided to visit the famous anatomy and pathology wax museum at the University of Athens Medical School, one of the oldest medical institutions. I was truly fascinated to see the human body from so many perspectives. This fascination was the beginning of my desire to pursue medicine as a career. I became a surgeon because I respect human life and I have the opportunity to positively affect a patient’s health towards well-being and longevity. Why I Chose My Specialty I chose vascular surgery as a specialty because it requires solutions of complex surgical and medical conditions. In vascular surgery, attention to detail is of great importance, intervention needs to be done in a timely fashion, and surgery itself requires great precision. The results are immediate and very gratifying for the patient. Vascular surgery deals with the surgical diseases of the arteries, veins, and lymphatics. The most frequent open operations I perform are carotid endarterectomies, aortic aneurysm repairs, abdominal aortic and leg bypasses, and operations for hemodialysis access. I also perform endovascular interventions on the arteries and veins, including endovascular repair of aneurysms. I use color duplex ultrasound for the diagnosis of vascular diseases. I like vascular and endovascular surgery because it is a very versatile and continuously evolving specialty. What I Like about Kaiser Permanente The spirit of collegiality and teamwork is what I enjoy and appreciate most at Kaiser Permanente. The surgeons, nurse practitioners, medical assistants -- everyone involved works to provide excellent patient care. The utmost wellness of the patient is of key importance for the group. All physicians work together to provide the best medical care for the best interest of the patient. My Philosophy on Healing I believe in an honest, caring, and meaningful interaction with the patient and family to provide the best care possible. Listening to my patients, respecting their needs, and informing them in detail about the surgical procedure and desired outcome are all part of my philosophy of healing. The decision of conducting an operation is taken after all other non-operative options of treatment have been exhausted. It must be the option that the patient feels the most assured and confident with. My philosophy is to listen, inform, and perform the best treatment for each and every patient. Other Personal Interests Travel has taken my family and me to many places around the world and in many parts of the United States. We savor every chance to be together and enjoy nature, music, and the arts. I see gardening as an art, and I enjoy growing roses for my wife. She, on the other hand, is an artist and loves to paint them. Our young daughter loves to pick the rose petals one by one and spread them throughout the house. And, at the same time, our Maltese dog likes to run after her and catch the flying petals. Life is good if you take it just right.