May 5, 2011

Vanderbilt Heart expands presence in Columbia

Vanderbilt Heart expands presence in Columbia

The partnership between Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute and Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has expanded to include interventional and non-interventional cardiology services as the physicians of South Central Heart Group become Vanderbilt Heart–Columbia.

The partnership has provided cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at MRMC since 2007.

South Central Heart Group cardiologists, Fathi Ali, M.D., Jacques Heibig, M.D., Kevin Maquiling, M.D., Daniel Skarzynski, M.D., and Janice Vinson, M.D., will continue to deliver clinical care to MRMC patients and conduct their procedures in the MRMC cardiac catheterization labs.

Physicians and patients will benefit from the best practices employed throughout Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute, including subspecialty clinics for conditions such as advanced heart failure and their strengths in research.

“We are pleased to work together with Maury Regional and this outstanding group of physicians in their mission to serve heart patients,” said Keith Churchwell, M.D., chief executive officer, Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute.

“The physician office will remain on their campus and we have plans to recruit additional cardiologists as this practice continues to grow.”

South Central Heart Group currently operates part-time satellite clinics in Lewisburg, Pulaski, Lawrenceburg and Hohenwald.

As Vanderbilt Heart–Columbia, the practice will continue to serve these communities and examine the possibility of expanding into additional locations within the region.

“With Vanderbilt already providing cardiovascular surgical services, we felt this was a logical transition and the cardiologists agreed,” said MRMC CEO Robert Otwell.

“Our relationship with Vanderbilt has proven to be successful for both organizations and more importantly has benefitted the residents of southern Middle Tennessee by providing a level of cardiac care not previously available.”