Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Dina Sparano ’98

This winter the Padua MedTrack® program invited Dr. Dina Sparano ’98 to the school to speak to students about her highly specialized field of cardiac electrophysiology. Since returning to the Cleveland area in 2014, Dr. Sparano has had many Padua students shadow her at the Cleveland Clinic where she specializes in the management of heart rhythm disorders, but surprisingly, this speaking engagement marked the first time she had been back in the building since graduation.

“Some things were very much the same, but in other ways the school has changed dramatically,” she said of returning to her alma mater. “It is obvious they are investing a significant amount of money into updating the building. It was nice to see some of the renovations the school has made.” In addition to the building itself, Sparano noted differences in the programs and supports offered. She commended the implementation of the MedTrack program and the more robust AP selection the school now offers, but also discussed how much more guidance and opportunities students have now. “I knew for sure I wanted to go to college, and had a good idea that I wanted to pursue medicine. The Padua education definitely prepared me for higher education, but I would have liked to have had some of the more tangible mentoring opportunities these students receive today,” she said of her education.

“I might not have realized it at the time, but having a faith-based education was really important to me,” she added. The Middleburg Heights and Independence native started her parochial education at St. Bartholomew’s for grade school and after high school, chose to continue on to John Carroll University, a Jesuit school, for her undergrad. She believes her faith-based education helped shape her into the woman she has become and believes the schools’ smaller class sizes and more nurturing environments leant to having a well-rounded education.

After her local schooling was completed, Sparano’s path led her to Rutgers University in New Jersey where she attended Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and then to Chicago where she completed her residency in internal medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where her husband Dr. Jason Savage, a spinal surgeon, also worked. While in Chicago, Sparano also completed fellowships in cardiovascular medicine and electrophysiology at the University of Chicago Medical Center. While the medical duo had many memorable experiences during their time in the Windy City, they decided to move back to the Cleveland area to be closer to Sparano’s family and to raise their two daughters.   

When asked how they managed raising a family while working in such demanding fields, Sparano credited their proximity to work. “Our daughters’ school, where we work, and where we live is all within a very tight radius. We don’t waste time on a long commute which helps us be more present in their lives. Help from my mother and the consistency that the girls’ school provides have also been invaluable.” Sparano noted how essential it was to have a schedule and the importance to sticking to it.

“We also make time for what is important. We love spending time outdoors and traveling,” she said of the importance of spending time with her family. Their love for the outdoors and being active led them to create their own family fun run each Thanksgiving. Their annual Turkey Trot has grown over the years into a much larger endeavor. The successful Cleveland area charity event now raises money for the Journey Center for Safety and Healing, a charity the family feels strongly about. “It provides services to those affected by domestic violence and prevents abuse through education, advocacy, and systemic change,” explained Sparano.

In addition to her advocacy work for the Journey Center, Sparano speaks widely raising awareness for cardiac health, especially in women. Many people might guess that heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women, but they might be surprised to know that heart disease kills more than twice as many women than all cancers combined, including breast cancer. It is for this reason Sparano wants to ensure women are educated on their heart health so they can be their own best advocates.

Sharing her wisdom and experiences with Padua’s MedTrack students is exactly what makes the program so enriching for our students. Dr. Dina Sparano genuinely enjoyed visiting the school and talking with the students about the career she loves and looks forward to continuing her partnership with the program. After visiting with the students, she walked the halls and reminisced a bit before heading home to the eastside. It was then that she ran into a familiar face, guidance counselor Andy Shuman ’95. “I began explaining to him why I was there and he just said ‘Welcome Home.’ That simple phrase reminded me of the sense of community that was always so special here.” She knows now that she is always welcome, and hopefully she won’t wait so long to visit again.