Paul Sylvan, MD

Paul Sylvan, MD, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Radiology, specializing in Breast Imaging. He had been Imaging Director at the Scripps Polster Breast Care Center in La Jolla, CA since 2000, as well as Lead Radiologist for the breast cancer line at the Scripps-MD Anderson Cancer Center. He comes to Eisenhower as Medical Director of the Eisenhower Schnitzer-Novak Breast Center at the Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center in Rancho Mirage.

After completing his undergraduate degree at Cornell University, Dr. Sylvan attended Yale University School of Medicine where he earned his medical degree, cum laude and was elected to the medical honors society. He completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Radiology at Yale New Haven Hospital, and was selected as Chief Resident in both programs.  He completed subspecialty training in Body Imaging and a visiting fellowship in Breast Imaging with Laszlo Tabar, MD, in Falun, Sweden. Dr. Sylvan was an Instructor in Internal Medicine and Assistant Professor of Radiology at Yale. Dr. Sylvan does all aspects of breast imaging and has performed more than 12,000 breast procedures. He has been recognized by his peers as a “Top Doctor” by the San Diego County Medical Society on multiple occasions.

Dr. Sylvan’ s love for science and interest in working with people guided him to a career in medicine. While in medical school he found the diagnostic dilemmas to be the most challenging part of medicine. “During my residency in Internal Medicine I saw the critical role that imaging played in solving the diagnostic problems facing us,” states Dr. Sylvan. “However, I remained very interested in patient care. Breast Imaging is one of the few areas in Radiology that has a focus on direct patient care, so I chose that specialty. Having a strong clinical background, breast imaging seemed like an ideal fit for me to use both my clinical and imaging skills.” 

Dr. Sylvan has tremendous empathy for his patients. “I strive to talk to my patients in a manner that is easy for them to understand and in the most compassionate way possible. My highest priority is to make my patients comfortable, even when discussing very difficult situations,” states Dr. Sylvan.