About PRANA

Proactive Health for South Asians

South Asians experience more heart disease and diabetes than most other ethnic groups. At Palo Alto Medical Foundation, a group of doctors, dietitians and community members developed PRANA: PRevention and AwareNess for South Asians. This wellness program provides information on early screenings, health education and lifestyle changes to help you and other South Asians live longer, healthier lives.

 PRANA resources include:

• Doctors experienced in treating people of South Asian origin.
• My Health Online, an e-health service that lets you view key components of your PAMF electronic health record and track test results for blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, as well as receive e-mail messages from your doctors.
• Nutritionists who have extensive experience with common risk factors in South Asians, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
• Health education classes on topics including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes and diabetes.
• Free community lectures at several Sutter health centers.

PAMF and El Camino Hospital Partnership

PRANA and El Camino Hospital’s South Asian Heart Center combine their strengths and expertise to benefit the local community. Together, we help prevent and dramatically reduce the high incidences of heart disease and diabetes seen in South Asians living in the Bay Area. We recently integrated electronic health records (EHRs) to enable a seamless coordination of care and improve your patient-doctor experience.

PRANA Task Force Members

Ronesh Sinha, M.D.

Latha Palaniappan, M.D.

Anita Bhandia, M.D., Internal Medicine

Geetha Desai, M.S., R.D., CLE, Nutrition Services

Girish A. Narayan, M.D., Cardiac Electrophysiology

Cheena Ramrakhiani, M.D., Cardiology

Vaijayanthy Rangarajan, M.D., Internal Medicine

Aarti Srinivasan, M.D., Internal Medicine

PRANA: Additional Resouces

Below are links to Web sites with health information for South Asians. These links are provided for your general information and education only, and should not be relied upon for personal diagnosis or treatment. PAMF does not sponsor or endorse any of these sites, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them.

• Aasra: (800) 313-ASRA or (510) 657-1245 or (510) 657-1246, asraa1@aol.com
• Maitri (Bay Area): (888) 8-MAITRI (toll-free), (408) 436-8393 (office), maitri@maitri.org
• Naira (Bay Area): (800) 215-7308
• Asian Women’s Shelter: (415) 751-7110 (office), (415) 751-0880 (crisis)
• South Asian Public Health Association