Originally from the Ukraine, Dr. Iryna Chastain became interested in medicine when she was a child. “My mother was a doctor and I saw how much she was needed and how people admired what she did to help people,” she explains. “I also was very attracted to the challenge of medicine. It’s a field where you constantly have to learn and figure things out, which I really enjoy.”

As a hospitalist, Dr. Chastain likes the challenge of treating patients who need acute round-the-clock care. “In the hospital you interact with all these different subspecialties so you are always learning something. There is also a lot of teamwork involved in being a hospitalist which I enjoy.” Some of the diseases that Dr. Chastain typically treats patients for include: congestive heart failure, myocardial infarctions, pneumonia, cellulitis and others.

In her experience as a hospitalist Dr. Chastain has learned that taking a good history is one of the most important things you can do. “In many cases a good history of the patient can be better than any exam or test. In some instances, people might come into the hospital suffering from more than one illness, so knowing their exact medical history can really make a difference.”

Dr. Chastain believes in treating each patient the way they would want to be treated. “I really strive to treat everyone in my care the same way I would treat a family member. As a doctor, I feel I am really the patient’s advocate. For me, the patient’s interests always come first.”

When she is not busy at the hospital helping patients, Dr. Chastain enjoys spending time with her husband and son. She likes playing the piano (sometimes with her son playing the sax) and taking bicycle rides. She also enjoys gardening when she has the time.

Please Note: Dr. Chastain provides acute medical care for Reliant Medical Group patients who are admitted to Saint Vincent Hospital.