Primary Care with Listening, Love, and Whiteboards: Let’s Get to Know Dr. Sekharan

Froedtert South boasts a robust team of Primary Care Physicians that serve as the cornerstone of our community’s long-term wellness. Primary Care Physicians, also known as Internists, coordinate routine health care for adults, such as annual check-ups, and manage ongoing treatments for conditions such as hypertension and asthma. Typically, patients choose a Primary Care Physician based on location, areas of specialty, insurance, and overall compatibility. Once selected, patients tend to keep the same Primary Care Physician for several years- even decades! Primary Care Physicians strive to be an integral and trusted first point of contact for each patient’s overall quality of life.

Now accepting new patients at both the Pleasant Prairie Clinic and the new Gurnee Clinic is Dr. Mathangi Sekharan, Internal Medicine Physician. Let’s get to know Dr. Sekharan!

Dr. Mathangi Sekharan, Internal Medicine Physician

What is your unique approach to helping patients?

I take my time. I talk a lot! I listen a lot, too. I treat every patient like a dear friend. It is so important for me to allow patients ample time to share what is going on with them. Being a doctor is actually fun, and I greet my patients with a big smile on my face. I am here to cheer them on through their wellness journey and to be happy with them. I genuinely care and truly love taking care of my patients. It is a joy and an honor to be a patient’s chosen Primary Care Physician.

What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine?

I have been practicing medicine for over thirty years. Entering an exam room with a patient is my happy place. I am thoroughly at peace —body, mind, and soul —while practicing medicine. What I enjoy the most is utilizing my time to teach my patients and explain the how, the why, and the options for their individual cases. Through patient education, I can calm their fears, promote lifestyle improvements, and genuinely help them. I utilize whiteboards in all my exam rooms to draw simple, explanatory visuals to help my patients understand how to take care of their body. To be clear, I am no artist! I draw strictly stick figures. However, the extra time and explanation is essential for patient comprehension.

I love explaining a situation to a patient and then seeing the light bulb go on, so to say, as they begin to truly understand. If a patient is having a heart concern, for instance, I draw and explain that their heart is like a house with four rooms. There are doors, plumbing, and electrical in this house. Then, there’s a beautiful moment when the patient comprehends, and I know I made a lasting impact. I strive to do everything I can to provide every patient with genuine, comprehensive care. Lives depend on me, and I love the part I play in caring for every life.

Who inspired your passion for being a doctor?

My main inspiration for my pursuit of medicine has been my uncle, a physician at an urgent care clinic. However, being a doctor, for me, is definitely a whole family thing. Several family members on my mom’s side are doctors. My grandfather was a general practitioner in India. He provided free medical care to people infected with leprosy, and his services impacted countless people. His legacy is amazing and is a driving factor for me to serve others through this profession.   

Why did you choose to practice at Froedtert South?

Many clients that I treated for years at the Gurnee Clinic were driving from Wisconsin for their appointments with me. I decided that expanding my practice into Wisconsin would ultimately be convenient for much of my dedicated clientele. In 2024, I chose to bring my practice to Froedtert South for enhanced support, resources, and convenience. My patients are so happy with the quick and simple access they now have through Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital for ultrasounds, X-rays, and lab work. If any of my patients receive emergency care, need to be admitted to the hospital, or undergo surgical procedures, communication with the entire team is excellent. If I need to refer a patient to a specialist, there is an immediate response and collaborative interdisciplinary efforts. From being greeted as they walk in the door to complete follow-up care, I am confident that my patients are receiving outstanding care throughout all aspects of Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital.

I am thrilled to be practicing here, and I now see patients two days per week at the Froedtert South Gurnee Clinic, located at 103 S Greenleaf Street, and two days per week at the Pleasant Prairie Clinic, located at 10256 Old Green Bay Road.   

How do you practice what you preach and live a healthy lifestyle?

I preach prevention, prevention, prevention! Healthy lifestyle choices can prevent certain chronic conditions. For example, I encourage patients to maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol before complications arise, not just react after there is a problem. I think it’s important to be a good example for my patients, and I do what I can to demonstrate a healthy, active lifestyle. I love being outdoors, so I find walking and exercising outside to be extra enjoyable. I am very sociable, and I enjoy cultural events and activities that bring the community together. For over seventeen years, I have been very involved in the Tamizh Folks of Lake County organization. My husband, Chandra, and I have been married for over thirty-six years, and we have two grown daughters. Altogether, family, work, and community help me to be active, happy, and healthy.

Dr. Sekharan now accepting new patients at both the Pleasant Prairie Clinic and the new Gurnee Clinic

If you’re looking for a new Primary Care Physician, contact the Pleasant Prairie Clinic at 262-551-4240 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sekharan. For more information, visit: https://www.froedtertsouth.com/doctors/mathangi-sekharan-md/