PULSE › <strong>Memorial</strong> Health System › 574-647-6800Matters“You should see aheart specialist.”These six words can throw anypatient into a whirlwind. Acardiologist? Where do I find aqualified cardiologist around here?<strong>of</strong>Since a third <strong>of</strong> all Americans willsuffer from heart disease, choosingthe right cardiologist is vital toproper care. Thankfully, the answerto these questions just becameeasier: <strong>Memorial</strong>’s AdvancedCardiovascular Institute (MACI),home to six preeminent cardiologists.FINDING A CARDIOLOGISTIn June 2009, Health Magazine gavetips to those seeking cardiologists. Findone with experience, they advised, andone with whom you are comfortable.Make sure he or she takes the time toknow you as an individual and knowyour case as unique.“<strong>Memorial</strong> and MACI have the besttrained,best-educated boardcertifiedcardiologists in the region,”says Raman Mitra, M.D., Ph.D., FACC.Graduates <strong>of</strong> preeminent universitiesworldwide, MACI cardiologists havepublished standard textbooks in theirfield and five are fellows <strong>of</strong> theAmerican College <strong>of</strong> Cardiology.While other specialists may say thatthey are certified in certain types <strong>of</strong>diagnostic testing, Health Magazinereminds you to check theirbackgrounds. For example, somedoctors may be able to “performtests,” but at MACI, the cardiologistsare also certified to read them.theHeart“We provide full service withexpertise and state-<strong>of</strong>-the-arttechnologies in all aspects <strong>of</strong>cardiology to our patients. We alsoprovide expedient and completereports and follow-ups to ourreferring physician practices,” explainsDaniel Meng, M.D., Ph.D., FACC.ADVANCED CAPABILITIES,NOW IN SOUTH BEND“Our doctors work together with thepatient to determine the bestpossible treatment,” says DarleneSmith, practice manager <strong>of</strong> MACI.This personal approach is key, explainsHealth Magazine, as is ensuring thatyour doctor has the experiencenecessary to perform whateverprocedure you may require. Studiesshow that patients whose doctorshave had more experience implantingcardiac defibrillators have fewercomplications.And with MACI nearby, patients neednot travel to distant metropolitancenters for top-notch care. MACIcardiologists also serve part time atsatellite branches in LaPorte, Elkhartand Plymouth.“We want to be where patients needus,” says Dr. Mitra, who is assigned parttimeto the Plymouth branch.In 2009, the main <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>of</strong> MACIwere renovated with the patient inmind. The entryway <strong>of</strong>fers a serene,relaxing environment. The patientrooms are spacious and well-lit. Andthe nursing pods facilitate moreefficient care.Introducing<strong>Memorial</strong>AdvancedCardiovascularInstituteAreas <strong>of</strong> Consultation:• Cardiac risk assessment• Chest pain evaluation• Cardiac causes <strong>of</strong> dyspnea• Acute and chronic coronaryartery disease• Assessment <strong>of</strong> cardiovascular risksfor TIA/stroke or claudication• Management <strong>of</strong> dyslipidemia• Atrial fibrillation management• Palpitations• Dizziness or syncope• Congestive heart failure includingreferral for cardiac transplantationand ambulatory ventricular assistdevices• Assessment for pacemaker anddefibrillator implantationInpatient andOutpatient <strong>Hospital</strong>Services Include:• Cardiac catheterization• Angioplasty and stenting• Transesophageal, intravascular andintracardiac echocardiography• Electrophysiology study• Catheter ablation forsupraventricular tachycardia• Catheter ablation for ventriculartachycardia• Catheter ablation for atrialfibrillation• Implantation <strong>of</strong> pacemakersand defibrillators• Laser lead extraction• Tilt testing• Coronary CT imaging andinterpretation• Cardiac magnetic resonanceTo learn more about <strong>Memorial</strong>Advanced Cardiovascular Institute,visit www.<strong>Memorial</strong>MedicalGroup.org.012
COMPREHENSIVE CAREEach person is unique; each heartis unique. And depending on yourparticular condition, you mayneed a particular subspecialist.Electrophysiologists like Dr. Mitraand Sean Halleran, M.D., haveadditional education to treatabnormal heart rhythms. MACI islucky to have two such specialists,particularly since the Heart RhythmFoundation census calculated thereis only one electrophysiologist forevery 263,690 Americans.Omar Ali, M.D., FACC, and Dr. Mengare interventional cardiologists,dealing with catheter-basedtreatment <strong>of</strong> structural heartdiseases, such as angioplasties andthe insertion <strong>of</strong> stents.As a diagnostic cardiologist, AndrewFiedler, M.D., M.Div., FACC, workswith valvular heart disease, 3-Dechocardiographical imaging andpreventive cardiology. His fellowdiagnostic cardiologist, BrenoPessanha, M.D., FACC, FASE, is boardcertifiedin echo and nuclearcardiology and board-eligible incardiac CT. He is also able to performcardiac MRI, due to his advancedcardiac magnetic resonance training.Dr. Pessanha is the onlycardiologist in the areawith this training, which actively aidsin the imaging process.The team is completed by its trainednursing staff including Daniel Tom, N.P.,who is certified by the AmericanCollege <strong>of</strong> Sports Medicine and has 21years <strong>of</strong> experience in diagnosticstress testing.“The key is that we are an incrediblybalanced team,” says Dr. Mitra. “MACIprovides our community with quality,compassionate, accessible and costeffectivehealth care for people withnearly any type <strong>of</strong> cardiovascularissue. This type <strong>of</strong> specialization isn’tusually found in a community oursize—we are lucky.” •Omar Ali,M.D., FACCInterventionalCardiologyAndrew Fiedler,M.D., M.Div., FACCDiagnosticCardiologyBreno Pessanha,M.D., FACC, FASEDiagnosticCardiologySean Halleran, M.D.CardiacElectrophysiologyRaman Mitra,M.D., Ph.D., FACCCardiacElectrophysiologyDaniel Meng, M.D.,Ph.D., FACCInterventionalCardiologySPRING / SUMMER 2010 › www.quality<strong>of</strong>life.org013