Our Physician
-Richard
D. Paustian, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.P., F.S.C.A.I., F.A.S.E.
Dr. Paustian is a specialist in cardiology and cardiovascular
diseases. He attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana
for his undergraduate training and received a major in biology. He
attended the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis,
Indiana where he graduated with honors. He went from Indianapolis to
Atlanta, Georgia where he attended Emory University Affiliated
Hospitals and specialized in internal medicine. He spent an
additional three years at Emory training in cardiology and
cardiovascular diseases. He has received
special training in the management of patients with heart attacks
and congestive heart failure as well as those who require open-heart
surgery.
Dr. Paustian is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology
and Cardiovascular Diseases, Adult Echocardiography and Cardiac CT
Angiography. He currently (December 2011) is the only cardiologist
in the State of Montana with the echocardiography credential and one
of two with the ct credential. He is a Fellow of the American
College of Cardiology (F.A.C.C.), a Fellow at the American College of
Physicians (F.A.C.P.), a Fellow of the Society of Cardiac Angiography and
Interventions (F.S.C.A.I.) and a Fellow in the American Society of
Echocardiography (F.A.S.E.). He has been selected as one of the
Best Doctors in America
every year since 1996 by his peer physicians in the State of Montana.
Dr. Paustian did additional training starting in 2002 to provide
diagnosis and treatment to patients with peripheral arterial
disease.
Dr. Paustian moved to Helena from Atlanta, Georgia in August 1983
accompanied by his wife Jan. They were lured to this area by their
love of the outdoors and enjoy hiking, backpacking, fishing and
hunting. Dr. Paustian and his wife have two sons, Ryan and Sean. Dr.
Paustian has also been an avid runner and has completed 22 marathons
as well as countless 5K, 10K and half-marathon runs.
An injury in June 2011 markedly slowed down Dr. Paustian. As a
result of three herniated discs in his lower back (from working on a
retaining wall by himself over the objections of his wife
(surprise!), he developed a partial paralysis of his left foot. His
running turned to walking and his work in the office slowed down
ever so slightly. He underwent back surgery in late November 2011
and returned to work in The Clinic in 10 days and to the cardiac
catheterization lab in 17 days. He is now back walking over four
miles per day (on 01/02/2012) as he makes his comeback. He is hoping
to return to snowboarding and skiing later this season and hiking
again in the summer.