For as long as she can remember, Perel Baral, DO, has wanted to be a doctor.

Growing up on Chicago’s north side, she often found herself sitting in the back of the biology class her mother taught at a local school, poring over the same anatomy textbook the college students used. “Even before I could read, I’d look at the pictures,” she said.

That early fascination with science stayed with her, eventually leading her to a career in cardiothoracic surgery. But her path was anything but traditional.

Dr. Baral left high school early to live in Panama, where she became fluent in Spanish, and later took a break from college to spend time in Israel learning Arabic. She explains, “It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Speaking with patients in their own language completely changes the dynamic. It builds trust instantly.”

Her appreciation for connection, whether through language or shared experiences, became a cornerstone of Dr. Baral’s medical training. It was further strengthened by teachers who nurtured her growing passion for cardiothoracic surgery.

After earning her medical degree in Chicago, she completed her general surgery residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. The cardiothoracic surgeons there, she recalled, were the ones who helped shape her future. Following residency, Dr. Baral completed a fellowship at the renowned Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine.

After years of intense training, Dr. Baral knew exactly what she wanted in her first attending position: a place where excellence was matched by empathy, and where she could thrive both as a surgeon and a mother.

“I love heart surgery, but I also love my husband and my kids,” she said. “I wanted to be in a place that valued both patient care and family life.”

She found that balance at St. Clair Health, where her first conversation with Andy Kiser, MD, Physician-in-Chief of Cardiovascular Services, confirmed that she had found the right fit.

“He wanted to know about me as a person and even made sure that our families met to see if we’d all be a good fit,” she remembered. “That told me everything I needed to know about the kind of culture they have here.”

Since joining the team, Dr. Baral has felt right at home. “This is a place where people work incredibly hard, and they also take pride in supporting one another. That’s rare in cardiac surgery,” she revealed. “At. St. Clair Health, we care for patients with the same intensity we bring to caring for our families.”

Now settled in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood with her husband and young children, Dr. Baral has found that caring for families—both her own and those she meets through her work—is deeply intertwined. The balance she has found allows her to bring empathy, presence, and perspective to every patient interaction.

“My favorite part of the day is rounding when families are visiting. You see patients sitting up, smiling, and getting stronger. That’s when you realize the impact of what we do,” she said. “Seeing a patient breathe easily again after valve surgery is indescribable. It’s why we all do what we do.”

And when those same patients return to clinic weeks later, fully recovered, she finds satisfaction in their absence. “I always tell people, my goal is for you to forget about me,” Dr. Baral said, laughing. “If you never need to see me again, that means you’re healthy. And that’s the best outcome I could hope for.”