About Us
A Different Approach to Interventional Care
We believe the best care begins with listening.
Our goal is to bring together advanced minimally invasive treatment, thoughtful consultation, and long-term patient care in one connected experience. Rather than focusing on a single procedure, we start with the patient—their symptoms, their goals, and the full range of options available to them.
Built Around Patients
Modern medicine can be complicated. Patients are often asked to navigate different specialists, appointments, tests, and treatment options on their own.
We believe there is a better way.
Our approach is built around collaboration—bringing together the right physicians, imaging, expertise, and treatment options to help each patient understand what is happening and what comes next.
A Team, Not a Procedure
Interventional radiology is one part of a much larger care team.
We work alongside referring physicians and specialists across disciplines to help patients find the treatment that is right for them—even when that treatment is not a procedure we perform.
The goal is simple:
Help patients get to the right care, with the right team, at the right time.
Building Something for the Central Coast
Our vision is to create a more connected model of cardiovascular and minimally invasive care for patients throughout California’s Central Coast—combining clinical expertise, advanced technology, patient education, and collaboration across specialties.
It is a model built not around departments or individual physicians, but around the people we care for.
One patient. One connected team. A clearer path forward.
Michael Swikehardt, MD
Dr. Michael Swikehardt is a board-certified interventional and diagnostic radiologist specializing in minimally invasive, image-guided therapies, with a particular focus on men’s health, prostate artery embolization, and advanced embolization.
Dr. Swikehardt began his postgraduate training at Mount Sinai, where he spent two years gaining extensive experience in vascular and surgical care before pursuing radiology. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency and Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR) training at SUNY Downstate in New York, followed by advanced fellowship training in vascular and interventional radiology at the Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts.
At Lahey, Dr. Swikehardt trained within a multidisciplinary environment nationally recognized for complex liver disease, transplantation, and urologic care. That experience provided extensive exposure to advanced embolization, liver-directed therapies, portal hypertension, and image-guided treatments involving the urinary and reproductive systems—experiences that continue to shape his clinical practice today.
At Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Dr. Swikehardt has developed a particular focus on men’s health and prostate artery embolization (PAE), a minimally invasive treatment for urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. His broader practice includes complex embolization, portal hypertension and liver-directed interventions, vascular disease, and a wide range of advanced image-guided procedures.
Dr. Swikehardt believes patients should understand the full range of treatments available to them—not simply the traditional surgical options. His approach emphasizes collaboration across specialties and expanding access to minimally invasive therapies so that patients can find the right treatment for their individual goals.
Outside of medicine, Michael is happiest near the ocean. He enjoys surfing, skateboarding with his son, and spending time with his family on California’s Central Coast.
Training & Background
I trained at leading institutions including:
Today, I practice in Santa Barbara, where I’m helping build a modern, minimally invasive center of excellence focused on delivering high-level care with a better patient experience.
A Different Approach to Care
Medicine can feel complicated. My goal is to make it clear, efficient, and centered around you.
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Thoughtful, not routine
Every case is different. I take the time to understand your goals and tailor the approach accordingly. -
Minimally invasive first
Many conditions that once required surgery can now be treated through a tiny artery with faster recovery and fewer risks. -
Straightforward communication
You’ll get real answers, clear expectations, and a plan that actually makes sense.
Areas of Focus
Why This Matters
You shouldn’t have to choose between “do nothing” and “have surgery.”
There’s a growing space in between—targeted, effective treatments with real long-term data—and that’s where I focus my work.
Life Outside the Hospital
When I’m not in the angio suite, I’m usually outside with my family. My wife and I are raising our two kids here in Santa Barbara, and it’s a place we genuinely love.
You’ll find me:
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Surfing when the conditions line up
That balance matters to me—and it’s the same mindset I bring to patient care: get you back to doing what you enjoy as quickly and safely as possible.
Let’s Talk
If you’re exploring your options or wondering if a minimally invasive approach is right for you, I’m happy to help you think it through.
Board-certified physician. Individual results may vary.