Kota C. Shekar, MD

Kota Shekar, MD, Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology and Internal Medicine, seeing patients in Rancho Mirage at the Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center. After completing medical school, Dr. Shekar completed residency program at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine/VA Hospital in Fargo, ND, and a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, in Torrance, CA.

Dr. Shekar decided to pursue medicine as a career largely due to his father's influence which included an offer to pay for his medical school education. "He so desperately wanted me to become a physician and his offer to fund my schooling was hard to pass on," states Dr. Shekar. "It benefited him as well, as I cared for him in his old age." He continued the tradition and encouraged his daughter to become a physician, who is currently in an emergency medicine  residency program in Philadelphia. Dr. Shekar became interested in the specialty of oncology and hematology during rotations in residency. "It's been a great career and has kept me on my toes with all the new discoveries and treatments - it's never been dull."

Dr. Shekar believes communication and compassion are key when it comes to patient care. He strives to provide as much information as possible to his patients and their family with regard to treatment and what to expect from the team of physicians and treatment. "Cancer does not just affect the person with cancer, but their entire family," Dr. Shekar expresses. "I make myself available to not only my patients but their family and caregivers."