Meet Two Cardiologists who share a passion for prevention and treatment of heart disease. Diane Greiner, M.D. and Laura Jacobs M.D. are cardiologists with the Heart Clinic of San Antonio .

Dr. Greiner traces her love of cardiology back to her first clinical rotation at Duke University School of Medicine, a leading institution for cutting-edge cardiac research and care. “I saw patients’ lives being changed, often overnight, by the compassion and dedication of the cardiologists in the cardiac care unit,” she says.  “Care for the patient, not just the disease, was their passion. From then on, I knew I wanted to specialize in cardiology.”

After completing her medical degree at Duke, Dr. Greiner moved to San Antonio to train in cardiology at Wilford Hall Medical Center. She proudly served in the United States Air Force for 10 years, and has been been in private practice in San Antonio since leaving the military in 2003.  She is an invasive cardiologist, and is as comfortable doing procedures as she is seeing patients in the office.

“One of my greatest joys as a physician is working as a team with patients and their families to manage their risk factors for heart disease and lead a healthier life,” she says.  Dr. Greiner has a special interest in the care of women with heart disease, as well as in the prevention of heart disease.  “I joined Heart Clinic of San Antonio because this is a dedicated group of cardiologists that truly work as a team to provide their patients with world-class care, both in the office and in the hospital.  I look forward to coming to work every day!”

Dr. Jacobs discovered her love for cardiology while attending Baylor College of Medicine. She considers it a privilege to be involved with her patients’ health care and says, “The actions we take at each follow-up visit in both the treatment and the prevention of heart disease have the potential to make a dramatic impact on the patient’s entire life. Our goal is to help patients live without limitations from their heart disease to the greatest extent possible.”

While Dr. Jacobs employs all the latest high-tech cardiovascular tools at her disposal for the treatment of coronary disease, valvular disease, heart failure and other cardiovascular conditions, she knows that the active involvement of the patient in prevention is essential in order for them to enjoy the highest quality of life.  She explains, “I try to approach every patient individually as a partnership…he or she is not coming to me for pills, they are coming to me for advice.”

Dr. Jacobs is optimistic about advances in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary disease (blocked arteries) and promotes the importance of risk reduction in her practice. In addition to the well-publicized impact of treating high cholesterol, smoking cessation, controlling hypertension and diabetes, routine exercise programs and weight control, she also emphasizes the importance of nutritional supplements and aspirin.  “In the early stages of coronary disease and before any obvious symptoms,” she says, “the risk for heart attack can be just as high as in the later stages that do produce symptoms such as chest pain.”  Dr. Jacobs believes that early detection and a regimen of lifestyle modification, medication and nutritional supplements can greatly reduce heart attack and stroke.