By Mary O’KEEFE

In the famous Norman Rockwell painting “Doctor and the Doll,” a little girl holds up her doll to the doctor who takes his stethoscope and listens to the doll’s “heart.” This scene depicts an idyllic view of the small town doctor who understands that a practice is made not of patients but of people. That small town “people first” approach is the foundation of Dr. Alen Mirzaian’s practice.
“My favorite thing about my profession is the relationship I have with my patients,” Mirzaian said.
Mirzaian grew up in Glendale but has lived around the world including Iran, Germany and the Caribbean Islands. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Kaiser Santa Clara and received the Resident of the Year Award upon graduating. He is board certified in internal medicine. The doctor most recently lived in Northern California.
Mirzaian is one of five doctors in the Verdugo Hills Medical Group located at 1818 Verdugo Blvd., Glendale. The other doctors in the group are Collin Cooper, M.D.; Holger Bracht, D.O.; Gregory Beeve, M.D. and Leland Watkins, M.D.
Mirzaian sees patients who are 18 years old and over and treats a variety of diseases from hypertension, diabetes and high blood pressure. His real emphasis is on preventative medicine.
Education on proper eating habits and regular check-ups with their doctor are key to prevention, he said.
“I want them to be involved in their own health care,” Mirzaian added.Many times high blood pressure can go hand-in-hand with obesity and diabetes. Through education and the old fashioned concept of talking to your patient, Mirzaian helps those in his care with not only the medical side of the disease but the follow-up as well. Educating folks on life style changes will help them in the future.
And the doctor does not just preach a healthy lifestyle, he practices as well. He loves hiking with his wife and “two beautiful children” and coaches youth soccer teams. He also enjoys watching and playing soccer; his favorite team is the United Kingdom’s Liverpool FC.
He enjoys the community feel of Crescenta Valley and the chance to establish a lasting relationship with his patients.
“It is very rewarding to follow the patients’ progress,” he said.
He has extensive experience in traditional medicine as well as taking care of those patients that are hospitalized or in a nursing home and is also experienced in palliative and hospice care.
Dr. Mirzaian is accepting new patients and accepts most insurance including PPOs and HMOs as well as Medicare. Appointments can be made by contacting the doctor’s office at (818) 790-1145.