Heartbeat Magazine Fall 2009

HeartbeatThe Magazine of St. Francis Hospital The Heart Center® Fall 2009

Surgery without ScarsRevolutionary “bellybutton surgery”offers fast recoveries and no visible signs of the procedure

Plus:• U.S. News Ranks St. Francis

Among the Best—Again• New Advances in Cardiac Research• The Nation’s First Wireless

Pacemaker

Surgery without ScarsRevolutionary “bellybutton surgery”offers fast recoveries and no visible signs of the procedure

Plus:• U.S. News Ranks St. Francis

Among the Best—Again• New Advances in Cardiac Research• The Nation’s First Wireless

Pacemaker

The Magazine of St. Francis Hospital The Heart Center® Fall 2009

Heartbeat Fall 2009 • St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®2

In Pursuit of Excellence

From the

President

Heartbeat

In this Issue

is published by St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center®. Questions or commentscan be directed to St. Francis Hospital, Office of Development and Public Affairs, 100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn,New York 11576. Copyright © 2009. All Rights Reserved. St. Francis Hospital is a member of Catholic HealthServices of Long Island, the healthcare ministry of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

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At St. Francis Hospital, ourmission focuses not only on the diagnosis and treat-ment of heart disease and a range of other specialties,but also on cardiac research,education and prevention.

While we take great pride in the quality of care that we provide our patients, we make importantinvestments in programs and services designed to keep people out of the hospital altogether.

In this issue, our renowned cardiac imaging expertand Director of Research, Nathaniel Reichek, M.D.,reports on the status of several exciting researchprojects at St. Francis. These studies promise toshed new light on the nature of heart disease and ultimately may lead to improved preventivemeasures and treatments. We also include highlights of our upcoming community health programs that will be offered at our DeMatteisCenter, one of the largest free-standing facilities in the region dedicated to cardiac research andeducation.

At the same time as we maintain our focus on prevention, for those who require acute care, St.Francis is also pioneering new diagnostic tools andtreatments. In this issue you will learn about newdevelopments in heart surgery, the latest genera-tion of “wireless” pacemakers, and an innovativenew technique in abdominal surgery called single-incision laparoscopic surgery. Otherwise know as“bellybutton surgery,” this procedure reducesrecovery times and leaves no visible scars on thepatient.

I am also pleased to report that St. Francis Hospitalcontinues to garner important awards and acco-lades. Most recently we were recognized as one ofthe best hospitals in the country by U.S. News &World Report, AARP The Magazine and ConsumerReports. These honors are a tribute to the hard workand dedication of our superb physicians and staff.

Best wishes,

Alan D. Guerci, M.D.President and CEO

From the President 2

In the NewsNation’s First Wireless Pacemaker Implanted at St. Francis 3U.S. News & World Report Honors St. Francis Again 3St. Francis Ranked One of Top Hospitals by Consumer Reports 4Daily News Prostate Screening at St. Francis 4Making a Difference: Sean Levchuck, M.D. 4Heart Healthy Grilling with Dr. Shlofmitz 5Mark Hoornstra, M.D., on ER’s finale 5

FeaturesNew Advances in Cardiac Research 6Nathaniel Reichek, M.D., discusses the latest research developments at St. Francis

Cover StorySurgery without Scars 8Gary Gecelter, M.D., explains how a minimally invasive procedure through the bellybutton can provide faster recoveries and cosmetic benefits

Heart Surgery’s Experienced Hand 10As people live longer, the need for aortic valve surgery is growing

St. Francis Receives Top Marks from AARP 11AARP The Magazine ranks St. Francis one of the best hospitals in the U.S.

Giving BackA Garden for Healing 12The Young and the Helpful 12Meet Isabelle Whelan 13Nancy Munson: A Tribute 13Campaigning for Excellence Update 14

Vital Signs St. Francis Offers Cool New Way of Saving Lives 14Mission of Mercy 15Spinal Cord Stimulators for Treating Chronic Pain 16Carotid Stenting: Soon to become a Mainstay 16

St. Francis Photo Album 17

Late Breaking NewsReaching Out to the Community 18A Perspective on Swine Flu 18First Cardiac PET/CT Program Opens 19

Staff News 19

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ® • Fall 2009 Heartbeat3

In the News

St. Francis Cardiologist ImplantsNation’s First Wireless Pacemaker

Imagine being able to know that your pacemaker’s battery is running low from awireless monitor at your bedside. Now, thanks to a new FDA-approved device,patients won’t have to visit their doctor’s office to have their batteries checked;instead, they will be getting a call from their doctor who is connected to a centralmonitoring station.

Steven Greenberg, M.D., aleading cardiologist at St.Francis Hospital’s world-renowned Arrhythmia andPacemaker Center was thefirst physician in the U.S. toimplant the AccentTM RF pace-maker, the high-tech devicemanufactured by St. JudeMedical, Inc. Its remote mon-itoring capabilities allow doc-tors to more efficiently followpatients, while patients enjoythe convenience of care fromhome.

“Wireless communication isused everywhere today. Now,it can help us provide round-the-clock care for our patients

through a secure notification system that can be programmed to meet a patient’s specificneeds,” says Dr. Greenberg. “Rather than checking on a device a few times a year, daily alertsallow me to know about important changes in my patient’s condition or device functions soI can act more quickly in addressing any issues.”

The automatic alerts are designed to notify a physician when a rapid atrial rate, atrial tachy-cardia or atrial fibrillation exceeds the programmed value of the pacemaker or occurs overan extended period of time. The devices can be programmed to notify a patient of suchepisodes, as well as device and lead-related issues, through a two-tone audible alert. In addi-tion, the patient’s clinic can be informed through the home monitoring system.

Carol Kasyjanski, an account clerk for the City of Glen Cove, was the first person toreceive the device. “It helps me rest easier knowing that if there are any sudden changes inmy condition the wireless monitor on my night table will let me and my doctor know,” saysCarol who finds the monitor very simple to use. “I am considering bringing it with me onmy next vacation.”

There are about 3 million people worldwide with pacemakers and 600,000 more areimplanted each year. Cardiac pacemakers are used to treat bradycardia, which is a heart ratethat is too slow. These devices monitor the heart and provide electrical stimulation when theheart beats too slowly for a patient’s specific physiological needs.

New high-tech device allows patients to be monitored 24-7 through central station

Dr. Steven Greenberg unveils the nation’s first wireless pacemaker that allowspatients such as Carol Kasyjanski to be constantly monitored from home.

U.S. News &World ReportHonors St. FrancisHospital, AgainFor the third year in a row, St. Francis Hospital,The Heart Center® has been recognized byU.S. News & World Report as one of the besthospitals in the nation andthe only hospital on LongIsland to be ranked inmore than one of themagazine’s 12 adultmedical and surgicalspecialty categories.The magazine’s presti-gious annual ranking ofmedical institutions honored St.Francis once again as a leader in heart andheart surgery, digestive disorders and geri-atrics.

“It is gratifying to be ranked consistentlyamong the very best medical institutions inthe nation, not only for our cardiac specialtybut for our growing non-cardiac programs,”said Alan D. Guerci, M.D., President and CEO.“I want to thank our physicians, nurses, andstaff for their tireless pursuit of excellence inall of the care that we provide. This honor is atestament to their hard work, skill and dedi-cation.”

According to U.S. News, “this is Year 20 forAmerica’s Best Hospitals, a tool for patientswho need medical sophistication that mostfacilities simply cannot offer.” It says unlikeother rankings and reports, “we do not gradehospitals on routine procedures…we lookinstead on how they do in complex anddemanding situations.”

Of the 4,861 hospitals surveyed in 16 dif-ferent specialties, St. Francis Hospital wasone of only 174 medical centers to be hon-ored. The ranking in heart care places St.Francis among the top five medical centers inNew York State. St. Francis was also one ofonly 17 hospitals in the state to be ranked inany specialty rating overall.


Daily News Prostate

Screening at St. Francis

Marks Another

Successful Year

For the second year in a row,St.Francis Hospital participated in aDaily News program to help raiseawareness about early screening forprostate cancer. The Hospital offeredtwo screening sites for the public –one at the main campus in Roslyn and

the other at the DeMatteis Center in Greenvale – providing more than 200free screenings to the public.Felix Badillo, M.D., Chief of Urology, was one of the featured experts in a series of articles that began on Father’s Day and ran throughout the week. His patient, RobertSpina, highlighted the need for early testing. Spina, who is the Marketing Manager andPhysician Liaison for the DeMatteis Center and an avid Daily News reader, decided to be tested during his lunch hour the first year the program began at St. Francis. Testsshowed he had elevated PSA levels and he immediately went to see Dr. Badillo, whoperforms more robotic prostate surgeries than any doctor on Long Island.

Now, more than a year later, Bob, a father of three and grandfather-to-be, is cancer-free. He says he feels great and considers himself a “poster boy” for getting out themessage that “a simple test can save your life.” He says, “If it wasn’t for the screeningprogram, I might not have seen my son’s wedding in June or the birth of my otherson’s baby this fall.”

Dr. Felix Badillo

News 12 Spotlights St. Francis PediatricCardiologistDirector of Pediatric Cardiology,Sean Levchuck, M.D., was featuredon a News 12’s “Making aDifference” segment for donating histime to repair children’s damagedhearts. The physician was creditedfor believing in the concept of “pay-ing forward” in his mission to helpchildren from around the worldreceive lifesaving surgery. Dr.Levchuck has helped hundreds ofyoungsters through the Gift of Life program, most recently 2-year-old Vladislav Yakimov, aRussian boy who was born with a hole in his heart. But now, the child, like many otherswho have received Dr. Levchuck’s care, has a new lease on life.

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center®

has been ranked among the best hos-pitals in the metropolitan area forpatient satisfaction by ConsumerReports. The Hospital took the toprank on Long Island and was sur-passed by only one New York CityHospital – the Hospital for SpecialSurgery in Manhattan.

The recent rankings by the majorconsumer magazine come on the heelsof similar top ratings by U.S. News &World Report and AARP The Magazine.

The Consumer Reports findings arebased on federal surveys of more thana million patients in over 3,400 hospi-tals nationwide.

Hospitals were evaluated on eightmeasures of patient satisfaction,including communication with physi-cians and nurses, staff attentivenessand whether the patient would recom-mend the Hospital to family andfriends.

“These latest rankings reflect whatour patients have been saying allalong about how they would rate theirhospital stay at St. Francis – first in itsclass,” says Alan D. Guerci, M.D.,President and CEO. “We take greatpride in these results and it is yetanother tribute to our entire staff.”

Subscribers can look up their localhospital to see how it measured up aswell as the types of experiencepatients reported having there atwww.consumerreportshealth.org. Thewebsite also provides tips to con-sumers on what to look for in a hospi-tal and how to avoid complicationsduring their hospital stay.

Consumer ReportsRanks St. Francis One of the Top Hospitals in the New York CityMetro Area for PatientSatisfaction

In the News

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ® • Fall 2009 Heartbeat

When ER, the popular, long-running NBChospital drama, ended its 15-year run earli-er this year, Mark Hoornstra, M.D., theDirector of the Emergency Department atSt. Francis, was one of many viewers whowere sad to see it go.

Several media outlets asked Dr.Hoornstra to give his spin on the so-calledend of an “ERa” and as a fan, he was gladto share his perspective. Dr. Hoornstra wasinterviewed on the NPR program “On Point”about ER’s impact on the practice of emer-gency medicine. He was joined by LisaSanders, New York Times Magazine med-ical columnist and technical consultant for

Heart Healthy Barbeque

He is known for his medical expertise in the Cath Lab, but Richard Shlofmitz,M.D., Director of Cardiology, displayed his culinary talents on the PIX MorningNews by unveiling some heart healthy recipes for a barbeque. The doctor intro-duced his Double H turkey burger which stands for “Heart Healthy” and a curried cauliflower salad designed to cut your appetite before you chow down.Dr. Shlofmitz says he learned about cooking from his father, who operated acatering business, and since then, like medicine, it has been a lifelong passion.His message to barbeque fans: “Bon Appetit – without the cholesterol!”

Double H Burger (Heart Healthy)1 pound ground turkey meat3 tablespoons Madras hot curry2 yellow onionsKosher salt and coarse black pepper1/2 cup white mushrooms1/4 cup olive oil

1. Separate 2 whites and one yolk and combine with bread crumbs, turkey meat, salt,pepper and Madras curry. Form rectangular patty with ! inch perimeter edges.2. Sauté chopped onions and mushrooms in oil until brown.3. Fill bottom turkey patty with onions and mushrooms and cover with additional flat patty.4. Grill 5 minutes on each side.5. Sprinkle oil on whole scallions and romaine and grill until char marks are present then remove.6. Place burger, sliced scallion and romaine on burger and the Portuguese roll and topwith chutney.

the TV program, House.Dr. Hoornstra also appeared in a Newsday

television column and wrote an Op-ed for thepaper about why emergency physicians weremourning the loss. The doctor said, “ER hasdone more to educate Americans about emer-gency medical care and treatment than anyother television show, and probably evenmore than magazines, newspapers and othermedia combined.”

Our ER chief also noted that once the showtook to the airwaves, “applications to emer-gency department residencies dramaticallyincreased, allowing those programs to choosefrom the best medical school graduates.”

ER’s Impact on Emergency Medicine

5

2 Portuguese rollsRomaine lettuce leaves Scallions (1 stalk)Mango chutney (to taste)2 eggs1/2 cup bread crumbs

Dr. Shlofmitz cooks up healthy fare on Channel 11’s morning newscast. He reprised his demonstration for TV 55News in early September.


Q&A

or Nathaniel Reichek, M.D., Director of Research andCardiac Imaging at St. Francis Hospital, these are excit-ing times. He and his research colleagues have entered

a promising and productive period in their search to understandthe nature of heart disease. Recently, they launched the firstcardiac PET/CT program on Long Island, even as they continuework on important research studies and clinical trials in cardiacMRI, cardiac CT and 3-D echocardiography. Dr. Reichek, who isalso a Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at theState University of New York at Stony Brook, recently filled us inon new developments.

Heartbeat: The Cardiac PET/CT program at St. Francis is officially upand running. Can you tell us about it?Dr. Reichek: Our program is one of only two such programs in theNew York metropolitan area, serving a population of about 6 millionpeople here on Long Island and in Queens and Brooklyn. We are alsobeginning to receive referrals from Manhattan. Our new PET scanneruses radioisotopes for imaging patients who have impaired bloodsupply to the heart. Using this imaging method, we can assess theviability of the heart muscle and determine whether a patient is likelyto benefit from bypass surgery or angioplasty and stenting. PET/CT isalso helpful for patients who are overweight, women whose symp-toms have been difficult to diagnose, and patients who have hadinconclusive noninvasive studies. Very few centers have scanners asadvanced as ours in the nation. When it was installed the only otherswere at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Johns Hopkins.

Heartbeat: St. Francis is collaborating with Stony Brook University andBrookhaven National Laboratory on a promising research study. Whatis the status of the project?Dr. Reichek: We are very excited about this study. Dr. Jie (Jane) Cao,Clinical Director of CT and MRI and Bill Schapiro, our chief technician,are leading the research here at St. Francis. They began studying atransgenic mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy, a serious diseasein which the heart muscle becomes weakened and doesn’t work prop-erly. Cardiomyopathy in mice produces the same kind of heart failure

and sudden death that humans may experience, so the team is usinga very powerful magnet to perform cardiac MRI imaging to investigatethe condition. A mouse’s heart beats 500 times a minute, whichmakes it challenging to image but with the right approach you can get really beautiful pictures. This is a long-term project, but hopefullythe research will ultimately translate to improved treatment of car-diomyopathy in humans. This is a great collaboration. Brookhaven has the technology, the Stony Brook team created and has studied the mouse model with other methods and our team has the cardiacimaging expertise using MRI to permit optimal imaging and imageinterpretation.

Heartbeat: The Research Department has also been working with Dr.Richard Shlofmitz, Director of Cardiology.Dr. Reichek: Yes, we have been assisting Dr. Shlofmitz with an expan-sion of research in other areas of cardiology besides the imaging pro-gram. This is mainly clinical trials. Dr. Shlofmitz is doing a number ofstudies on new stents. In particular, he is interested in looking at anarea that has been a subject of controversy: the anti-clotting drugtreatments that stent patients receive and how long they need to becontinued. He has just begun a new research project that he originat-ed called STOP (Safe Termination of Plavix) that focuses on the dura-tion of anti-platelet therapy in stent patients. I believe it has greatpotential. He expects to complete it within the next year and a half.

New Advances in Cardiac Research

Nathanial Reichek, M.D., Director of Research and Cardiac Imaging

Nathaniel Reichek, M.D., discusses the latest research developments at St. Francis.

F


Heartbeat: You are also planning some new research on coronaryblockages with Dr. Shlofmitz. Dr. Reichek: We are looking at a very novel way of potentially improv-ing outcomes in patients undergoing stent treatment. It has beenknown for some time that people who have angina pains before hav-ing a heart attack tend to have less damage to their hearts than peo-ple who don’t have angina pains beforehand. It’s been experimentallyproven that a temporary blockage of an artery before permanentblockage results in a smaller heart attack. It turns out that it may nothave to be a coronary artery that is temporarily blocked – it can be anartery in the arm or leg, which somehow has remote effects of improv-ing the circulation in the heart.

Heartbeat: How can this benefit patients at St. Francis? Dr. Reichek: A paper published in Circulation in February of this yearreported a randomized trial in which half the patients received threeshort interruptions of blood flow in an arm by blowing up a bloodpressure cuff, keeping it pumped up for five minutes and then lettingit down, just before having a stent implanted. The others had the cuffput on, but not blown up. It turns out that the patients who had thecuff blown up repeatedly did better, not only with fewer symptomsand ECG changes during the stenting, but during the six months afterthe stenting. This is really very interesting. So we are going to see ifwe can replicate these results. If we can, then this could be a veryinexpensive and very simple way to benefit our patients.

Heartbeat: This has definitely been a busy year for you and theResearch Department. Any other exciting news? Dr. Reichek: Dr. Cao has also developed a very interesting approachto looking at the function of the arteries of the lungs. Using a newMRI technique, she has been able to show that blood flow in thelungs of smokers does not respond normally to stimuli that shouldincrease blood flow. Even if the smokers seem perfectly normal anddon’t have lung disease and their hearts seem to be working fine –just the fact that they’re smokers alters the way the arteries in thelungs are working. She is also looking at this effect in patients withheart failure.

Dr. Aasha Gopal, Director of Advanced Echo Technology, is continu-ing to pursue her work in 3-D echocardiography. She has recently beenpursuing research on 3-D echo stress testing. We have also added 3-Decho in the operating rooms for our cardiac surgeons. Now we can do3-D echo via the transesophageal approach during heart valve surgeryto evaluate the valve that is going to be repaired or replaced and seehow well a valve repair is working. These 3-D images provide the sur-geons life-like pictures that help them to decide exactly what needs tobe done to repair a valve. Dr. Newell Robinson, Director ofCardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, has been particularly interestedin this technology and has found it very helpful. It is another greatexample of how, at St. Francis, research, technology, and clinicalexpertise work hand-in-hand for the benefit of our patients.

3-D echo stress testing is the subjectof research at St. Francis Hospital.


–Jackie Chall, Bellybutton Surgery Patient

“It’s amazing – in three weeks I was back at the gym. Two weeks later, I was doing full sit-ups.”

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ® • Fall 2009 Heartbeat 9

hen Jackie Chall first learned that she had to have her gallbladder removed, shethought she would be scarred for life. But after undergoing a new procedure at St.Francis Hospital, the physically fit 28-year-old who works for a New York City law

firm, was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. She emerged scar-free, thanks to a minimally invasive, single incision laparoscopic procedure known as bellybutton surgery.

W

An innovative minimally invasive technique, made possible in new state-of-the-art ORs, brings new benefits to patients.

Cover Story

“It’s amazing – in three weeks I was back at the gym. Two weeks

later, I was doing full sit-ups,” says Jackie. “By spring I was at the

beach in my favorite bikini. My fiancé looked at me and said ‘I can’t

believe you had surgery.’”

Gary Gecelter, M.D., began performing the revolutionary new surgery –

a St. Francis first – after becoming Director of Surgery. Since then, he and

his partner, Eugene Rubach, M.D., have performed the procedure on

dozens of patients.

High Definition Imaging

The St. Francis surgeons use a highly dexterous, hand-controlled laparo-

scopic device to perform the procedure. It contains several ultra-thin flexi-

ble tubes that carry a small camera and tiny cutting and clutching instru-

ments through a single, " inch incision hidden in the base of the

patient’s bellybutton. The camera provides a high-definition image of the

surgical area so surgeons can get a precise picture, resulting in minimal

damage to surrounding tissue. This innovative technology is not only

being used for gallbladder surgery, but for colectomies and appendec-

tomies as well.

“After healing, the incision is not visible and offers the most cosmeti-

cally ideal way of performing these procedures,” says Dr. Gecelter, who

works closely with his patients on exploring the latest options that are

available to them.

Jackie Chall credits the surgery for helping her keep her active, healthy

lifestyle. She originally was told her symptoms were from acid reflux, but

after undergoing testing with Dr. Gecelter, she found out her gallbladder

was to blame. The self-described “foodie” says she initially thought

about postponing the surgery, because she was afraid she couldn’t eat

her favorite dishes. But after getting assurances from Dr. Gecelter, Jackie

decided to give bellybutton surgery a try.

Fast Recoveries

“I would definitely recommend it to other patients, and for Dr. Gecelter to

do it,” says Jackie. “After suffering from gallstone attacks for three years, I

finally feel back to normal, but

even better.”

Says Dr. Gecelter, “The goal of

this procedure is to provide

patients with minimal incisions

and quick recovery times with

no visible reminders of the

surgery.” He credits this medical

innovation with helping

surgeons perform complex sur-

geries with the best outcomes.

Surgery without Scars

The bellybutton provides a naturalorifice for scar-free surgery.

Gary Gecelter, M.D., has brought bellybutton surgery to St. Francis.


Heart Surgery’s

As people live longer, the need for aortic valve surgery is growing

Experienced

HandWhat do comedian Robin Williams, former First Lady Barbara Bush, and former New York City Mayor Ed Koch all have in common?

n the past year, all three have had aortic valve replacement sur-

gery, an increasingly common form of heart surgery. What is aortic

valve surgery and why are more people having this procedure?

We recently spoke with James Taylor, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon at

St. Francis Hospital who was recently appointed Director of Thoracic Aortic

Surgery. Dr. Taylor has been at St. Francis since 1991 and is one of the most

experienced heart surgeons in the United States. He was recently named

one of the Best Doctors in the metropolitan area by New York Magazine.

IClear Benefits, Demonstrated Success

Dr. Taylor confirms that aortic valve surgery is on the rise and has been a

growing share of his and most other heart surgeons’ caseload for the past

10 years. The reasons are straightforward: “People are living longer,” says

Dr. Taylor, and many tend to be in better physical condition in their later

years. In previous decades, he says, “elderly patients were not usually

offered heart surgery as an option” because of the anticipated risks.

“Today we have demonstrated success in operating on older patients, with

Cardiothoracic surgeon, James Taylor, M.D.


As people live longer, the need for aortic valve surgery is growing

Experienced

clear benefits for both enhancing and prolonging life.” Valve surgery is the most common form

of aortic surgery; other forms of aortic surgery can include the repair of aortic aneurysms, a

dangerous weakening in the wall of the blood vessel. Aortic valve surgery is done alone and in

combination with other procedures such as coronary artery bypass surgery.

The aorta is the largest blood vessel, carrying oxygenated blood to all parts of the body. The

aortic valve connects the aorta to the left ventricle or pumping chamber of the heart, and it

helps to maintain the forward flow of blood out of the heart and into the body. While congenital

abnormalities can necessitate valve replacement surgery, the most common reason for surgery

is aortic stenosis, a condition where the valve becomes thick and narrowed as people age.

This thickening and narrowing of the valve reduces the efficiency of the heart’s pumping

action and affects the amount of oxygenated blood supplied to the body. Symptoms can range

from shortness of breath and chest discomfort to fatigue, dizziness, or palpitations. Although

many of Dr. Taylor’s patients are in their 80s, he also sees patients in their 50s and 60s. It is

not unheard of for a teenager to need the surgery to correct a congenital abnormality of the

valve. Aortic valve problems are usually confirmed with a simple test, an echocardiogram that

assesses heart function.

A Focus on Improving Quality of Life

The most common treatment option is open-heart surgery to replace the damaged valve with

a mechanical valve or a biological one made from human or animal tissue. Younger patients

are more likely to get a mechanical valve because they last longer, although they require the

patient to be on blood thinners for the rest of their lives to reduce the risk of clots. Patients

with biological valves commonly take blood thinners for three months at most, but biological

valves do not last as long as mechanical valves.

Dr. Taylor says that a typical patient will be 60 to 70 percent recovered in six weeks, with full

recovery in 10 to 12 weeks, although he cautions that it can be 8 to 12 months before a patient

can feel 100 percent recovered.

Now that the success and safety of aortic valve surgery have been proven, heart surgeons

like Dr. Taylor are focusing on improving patients’ quality of life, specifically on improving

recovery times and patient comfort. As is happening in other surgical specialties, heart sur-

geons are exploring new minimally invasive techniques to treat patients, often aided by high-

tech tools.

For example, Newell Robinson, M.D., the Director of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at

St. Francis Hospital, and his colleague, heart surgeon Harold Fernandez, M.D., are exploring

the use of the da Vinci robotic surgical system for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. Dr.

Taylor and Dr. Fernandez are also pioneering a new minimally invasive technique for replacing

damaged aortas. The heart surgeons work as a team with vascular surgeons and perform the

procedure through small incisions without having to stop the patient’s heart and placing him

or her on a heart-lung machine.

According to Dr. Taylor, this is the wave of the future. And it is happening today at St. Francis.

“What’s unique about St. Francis is the way the physicians, the nurses, the administration and

staff all work together as a team,” says Dr. Taylor. “What’s exciting for me is that we are all

driven by the desire to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

AARP The Magazine Ranks St. FrancisOne of the Best Hospitals in the U.S.

St. Francis Hospital was the only hospital on LongIsland and one of only four hospitals in the NewYork metro area to be rated as one of the nation’sbest hospitals in a report published in theMay/June issue of AARP The Magazine. The publication bills itself as the world’s largest-circu-lation magazine with more than 34 million readersand the definitive voice for Americans aged 50 and older.

The new study was conducted for AARP byConsumers’ Checkbook, a nonprofit research organ-ization. The three other hospitals in the region thatwere recognized in the report are New York-Presbyterian/Columbia, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and NYU LangoneMedical Center.

“This latest recognition is yet another affirmationof the outstanding medical care patients can expectat St. Francis and the world-class excellence of ourstaff,” said Alan D. Guerci, M.D., President and CEO.“We are pleased to be acknowledged in a magazinethat millions of Americans rely on for importantinformation.”

The nonprofit watchdog group ranked hospitalsbased on five measures. St. Francis surpassed itsregional counterparts on three of those measures:patient satisfaction, proper tests and procedures,and rate of complications. An interactive map of thetop hospitals can be found on the AARP magazine’swebsite (www.aarpmagazine.org/health).


Robert Catell, retired chairman of National Grid, U.S., and for-

mer CEO and Chairman of KeySpan, has always been passionate about

medicine and research. So it only seemed fitting for him and his wife,

Joan, to begin contributing to a hospital. Fortunately, the Catells chose St.

Francis, and they have been contributing to the Hospital since 1998. In

fact, St. Francis is naming a garden, located between the new DeMatteis

Pavilion and the original hospital entrance, after the couple.

The Catells’ relationship with St. Francis started after Joan’s mother

had surgery at the Hospital over 15 years ago. That’s when the couple

became familiar with St. Francis and its reputation in the community.

“I was also friendly with a number of people who served on the board

and who spoke very highly of the Hospital, so I got to know all the

Giving Back

The Young and the HelpfulEarlier this spring, the Young Hearts for St. Francis Hospital was established to

bring together an active group of women and men in the community with youth

and health in mind. Designed for socializing and

networking, the organization also tries to keep

members connected to all of the latest develop-

ments in healthcare at St. Francis.

On April 30, 2009, the Young Hearts held its first event, a dessert and cocktail

reception at the DeMatteis Center in Greenvale. It was a great opportunity for

great work that St. Francis was doing in the field,”

says Bob.

The couple started off supporting the annual gala at

St. Francis. But then after hearing that the Hospital

was about to embark on construction of a new patient

care pavilion, the couple decided to become even

more involved. “We felt it would be appropriate and

helpful if we played a bigger role in the construction

and I spoke to Dr. Guerci about it,” Bob remembers.

“So we came out to the campus for a visit and were so

impressed with what was going on with the new wing

that we just had to be a part of it.”

Bob admits that he and Joan tend to be more of a

behind-the-scenes couple. “We usually try to do things

quietly. But my wife is a gardener, so when St. Francis

suggested a garden, it just connected for us.”

Another reason why the garden is so important to

the Catells is that it will serve as a place where family

members can have a little peace and quiet while their

loved one is in the Hospital. “It seemed like the appropriate place for us

to be associated with,” Joan says.

The garden is scheduled to be completed in the fall. But in the mean-

time, the Catells are enjoying the new scenery on campus. They are very

impressed with the DeMatteis Pavilion and the other renovations. “The

Hospital is beautiful,” Joan says.

Bob agrees. “Obviously, when you come to a hospital it can be stress-

ful. You either come for yourself or for your loved one, but I think St.

Francis is trying to make it very patient friendly. Also, the Hospital has a

great reputation. It’s known as a heart center, but they do so many other

things too. It’s definitely one of the finest medical institutions anywhere.

We are very proud to be a part of the SFH family.”

young members of the community to gather, get to know each other, and dis-

cuss how they can make a difference at St. Francis.

Upcoming events, such as hospital tours, wine

and cheese receptions and basic CPR classes, will

help to promote a social environment while support-

ing the efforts of the Hospital.

For more information on the Young Hearts or to participate on a planning

committee, call (516) 330-5592 or e-mail [email protected].

YHY O U N G H E A R T Sf o r S t. F r a n c i s H o s p i t a l

“We are very proud to be part of the SFH family.”

Meet the CatellsA Garden for Healing


Wednesdays are never filled with woe for Isabelle Whelan. They’re a day

of grace. The veteran volunteer recently celebrated 35 years of volun-

teering her services at St. Francis Hospital, logging in more than 5,000

hours.

Mrs. Whelan, the wife of retired St. Francis Chief of General Surgery

Joseph Whelan, M.D., said she first decided to volunteer, based on her

husband’s schedule. “He was a doctor and the doctors he knew at that

time used to play golf every Wednesday, so I decided to find a produc-

tive use for my time,” said Whelan.

Since then she’s been volunteering in the Hospital’s Emergency Room

every Wednesday. She says she only takes time off in the summer,

“when the candy stripers come in.”

The mother of two and grandmother of three from Manhasset says

she gets a lot physically and mentally from volunteering. “It keeps me

going,” says Whelan. “I’ve had such a good life, and just want to give

something back.”

Whelan says she does a little bit of everything in the ER – getting pil-

lows and blankets for

patients, and chatting with

them while trying to keep

them calm. “The nurses

are so busy, so I try to

help out the best way I

can,” says Whelan.

The energetic volunteer

says giving to others helps

her keep a bright outlook

on life. “I can’t afford to

feel down, because I’m

trying to keep others up,”

says Whelan, who was

honored at this year’s

Volunteer Luncheon.

Meet Isabelle WhelanVolunteering at St. Francis Is HerMidweek Mission

Giving Back

The St. Francis Hospital family mourns the loss of Nancy Munson,

founding Chair of the Sr. Jean M. Pignone Legacy Society, following a

tragic accident in May.

Nancy’s connection with St. Francis extends as far back as the

institution itself. In the 1920s, a relative donated to the Sisters of

the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary the property that would eventu-

ally become the Hospital’s main campus on Port Washington

Boulevard.

She is remembered as a dear friend who touched the lives of

many with her generosity and thoughtfulness. Throughout her life-

time, Nancy befriended neighbors, colleagues and others in the

community, indulging them with as much concern and kindness as

she did her own parents, brother, and his family.

There is no question that Nancy lived what she preached. For

decades she had her own significant planned gifts for St. Francis in

her estate. Because of this tragedy, her deep generosity will be real-

ized and suitably memorialized by the Hospital.

Arlene and John McGrotty, also generous members of the Sr. Jean

M. Pignone Legacy Society, will carry on for Nancy as co-chairs of the

Society. Arlene and John’s enthusiasm will surely inspire other

friends to make giving back to St. Francis a priority.

A Tribute:Nancy Munson 1936 – 2009

Isabelle Whelan credits her husbandDr. Joseph Whelan with motivatingher to be a volunteer.


St. Francis Offers Cool New Way of Saving LivesSt. Francis was one of the first hospitals on Long Island to adopt a newcooling technique that can revive unconscious patients who have sufferedcardiac arrest and restore their normal brain activity.

The lifesaving concept, called therapeutic hypothermia, lowers apatient’s body temperature 8 degrees below normal. It relies on a specialsuit containing cooling water that wraps around a person’s legs, arms andchest. The goal is to reduce loss of oxygen to the brain by lowering thebody’s metabolism for 24 hours, thereby protecting it and other vitalorgans.

Statistics show that as many as one in five patients may benefit signifi-cantly by using this relatively new technique that is designed to helpreduce trauma to the brain following a cardiac arrest.

“Since we are the only specialty-designated heart center in New YorkState, St. Francis treats one of the highest volumes of cardiac arrests in theregion,” said Jack Soterakis, M.D., V.P. of Medical Affairs.

“Having access to this new technique will help us further improve ourpatients’ recovery rates.”

“I am very excited that, after years of limited options for these patients,we now have a new therapy with a proven benefit,” said Mark Hoornstra,M.D., Director of the Emergency Department at St. Francis.

Campaigningfor Excellence

Now more than ever, St. Francis Hospital is fortunate to have the support of friends who recognize just how important it is to continue investing in the latesttechnology and upgrading clinical facilities, despite the challenging economic times. Reaching the $59 million mark in August was an especially mean-ingful milestone of The Capital Campaign for St. Francis Hospital.The generosity of many grateful patients and other members ofthe community continues to drive the success of a MasterFacilities Plan that is transforming St. Francis Hospital with:

• a renovated Emergency Department, which will double in sizeby mid-2011• a new staging and recovery unit for cardiac catheterizationpatients, and the addition of a seventh cardiac catheterization lab• renovated semi-private and private rooms in The Heart Centerwhich will be on par with those in the new Nancy & FrederickDeMatteis Pavilion, completed in Phase I of the project• upgrades to the cardiothoracic operating rooms that will providehigh-definition capabilities comparable to the 14 new ORs thatopened last summer in the DeMatteis Pavilion

As the campaignmoves toward a goalof $70 million to com-plete these Phase IIprojects, additionalnaming opportunitieshave become available.The Brick Campaign,which provides givingopportunities in the

form of inscribed commemorative bricks that will line pathwaysin front of the hospital, also continues with the first set of bricksto be installed in September.

Goal: $70 millionRaised: $59 millionRemaining: $11 million

206 Total Gifts103 Major Gifts ($100,000+)

Naming Opportunities Reserved RecentlyPrivacy Glass in the Emergency DepartmentPET/CT Suite Patient Room in the Emergency DepartmentCentral Nursing StationPatient Room in The Heart Center

Vital Signs

The Women’s Center of St. Francis Hospital...where setting up a test is quick and convenientand you usually receive same-day results. Formore information, call: (516) 629-2400.

Director of Emergency Medicine Mark Hoornstra, M.D. (third from right), demonstrates coolnew cardiac therapy with his highly trained ER team.


n February 2009,Vinni Jayam, M.D.,an electrophysiolo-

gist in the ArrhythmiaCenter at St. FrancisHospital, took a seven-daytrip to India to operate andimplant pacemakers andcardiac resynchronizationtherapy (CRT) devices for people who otherwise did not haveaccess to and were not able to afford the procedures. With the sup-port of Catholic Health Services of Long Island, St. Francis Hospitaland St. Jude Medical, Dr. Jayam was able to care for several patientsin two different hospitals, Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad and SriVenkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) in Tirupati,both in South India.

“We performed several pacemaker implantations on patientswho were at risk of imminent death and had neither the knowledgeto understand nor the resources to mitigate their plight,” says Dr.Jayam. He performed the first CRT implantations at both hospitalsin addition to training several physicians in the area and conductingelectrophysiology workshops and lectures. All of this was donewithout charging the patients or hospitals anything. While there,several Indian and American media outlets covered his mission ofmercy, and people from neighboring cities traveled to Hyderabadand Tirupati for consultations.

“I came from a small city in India and had the good fortune ofcoming to this country to pursue a career at one of the best institu-tions in the world, Johns Hopkins University. I knew it was time for

me to give back. So goingto India was about giving back to the placeand the people who made me what I am today,” he says. “Theendeavor was physically and technically challenging. But seeing thelight in the eyes of those patients whose lives were changed wasimmensely gratifying.”

Dr. Jayam sees his recent trip as just a beginning. He plans ongoing back to India very soon and was delighted to recently receivean invitation from Antigua for the same type of charity work. He saysthat if it weren’t for the support of CHS and his St. FrancisArrhythmia Center colleagues Joseph Levine, M.D., David Hoch,M.D., Stuart Schechter, M.D., and Steven Greenberg, M.D., the mis-sion to India would not have been possible.

“I think it’s important for physicians to give back,” says Dr. Jayam.“We as doctors come to the profession with the idea of helping oth-ers and serving the needy. Service is the best way of honoring ourprofession. That is one reason why I am personally gratified aboutthe entire experience.”

Mission of Mercy

I


For the past 6 years, Kevin Boris of Sea Cliff had lived with constant pain in the right side of his chest. “It felt

like I was having a massive heart attack, but no one was able to figure out the source of the pain,” says the

computer engineer who had to quit his job because of the debilitating condition.

But now, after undergoing numerous tests procedures, including MRIs, CT Scans, spinal taps, nerve blocks

and epidurals, Kevin finally has relief – thanks to an implanted spinal cord stimulator that has offered him an

alternative to taking prescription pain killers around the clock.

“I was starting to get liver and kidney damage from all the medications I was taking, but this has given me

back my life,” says Kevin who was unable to take a deep breath and suffered two collapsed lungs before

deciding to undergo the procedure.

Patrick Annello, M.D., a board certified anesthesiologist with expertise in using the device, recently offered

it for the first time at St. Francis, and Kevin, a patient of Daniel Sajewski, M.D., Director of the Hospital’s Pain

Management Program, willingly volunteered.

“We are always looking to evaluate and adopt state-of-the-art pain management techniques, and this

technology is especially promising,” says Dr. Sajewski, who thought his patient would be an ideal candidate.

“As soon as we put in the trial lead, his pain disappeared,” says Dr. Annello.

A spinal cord stimulator, also known as a dorsal column stimulator, is implanted below the skin with a lead

that connects to the spinal column. An electric impulse generated by the device produces a tingling sensa-

tion that alters the brain’s perception of pain. The patient controls the impulses through a remote controlled

hand-held device. When he or she feels pain, relief is just a finger tip away.

Dr. Annello has been working with Lawrence Durban, M.D., a leading St. Francis cardiothoracic surgeon

who is an expert in implanting devices such as pacemakers. A trial lead is tested and monitored for a few

days so the patient can evaluate the therapeutic effects. Once a satisfactory level is reached, the patient

undergoes surgery under local anesthesia to have the device implanted.

Though spinal stimulation therapy has been available since the sixties, Dr. Annello, who completed his

clinical training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Hospital for Special Surgery and New York Presbyterian-

Cornell, says the most significant advances have been made in the last ten years.

“Our hope is to bring this latest technology to patients as a non-pharmacological way of treating pain,”

says Dr. Annello. In addition to treating chronic back and chest pain, the doctor says it can also be used to

treat pain associated with angina and peripheral vascular disease.

Kevin Boris can attest to the benefits. “Dr. Annello saved my life,” he says. “I got to the point where my

body was starting to reject the medications. I was unable to drive because of the side effects of all of

painkillers I was taking. But now I feel wonderful. I can start living my life again.”

Vital SignsSpinal Cord Stimulators forTreating Chronic Pain

Carotid Stenting Could Be OneStep Closer to Becoming theMainstay for Treating CarotidArtery BlockagesAlthough carotid stenting was approved by the FDAfor use in high surgical risk patients in 2004, carotidstenting could ultimately became the primary treat-ment for carotid artery disease based on the soon-to-be released findings of two nationwide studies in whichSt. Francis Hospital has been a participant.

The Act 1 and Crest Trials are looking into whetherthe minimally invasive procedure may be a good alter-native to surgery for low risk patients as well.

George Petrossian, M.D., Director of InterventionalCardiology at St. Francis and the Hospital’s expert incarotid stenting, expects the findings to reflect what hehas believed for some time – that carotid stenting is areasonable option for most patients with carotid arteryblockages.

“It’s taken a long time to get to this point,” says Dr.Petrossian, who has treated 300 patients with carotidstents since 2005, with a nearly perfect success rate. “Ibelieve stenting is as good or better than surgery forpatients with carotid artery disease.”

Under the current FDA guidelines, carotid stentscan be used for patients who are at high risk of compli-cations from surgery, such as patients who have hadprevious carotid surgery or a total blockage in one oftheir two carotid arteries. Other risk factors include amedical history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure andpulmonary problems.

Dr. Petrossian says stenting, a catheter-based proce-dure, avoids the risk of patients having to undergo gen-eral anesthesia. It also reduces the risk of scarring andpermanent damage to the facial nerves.

The results of both nationwide studies are expectedto be released within a year.

St. Francis cardiologist,George Petrossian, M.D., is considered a leadingexpert in carotid stentingand has successfully performed the procedureon hundreds of patients.

Dr. Daniel Sajewski (above),Director of the Hospital’sPain Management Program,recommended that KevinBoris (left), receive spinalstimulation therapy from Dr. Patrick Annello–much toKevin’s relief.

17St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ® • Fall 2009 Heartbeat

His Saving Grace After developing rheumatic fever at the age of 7, Charles Greiner was in and out of several hospitals, without muchimprovement. But in 1955, at the age of 12, he wasadmitted to St. Francis, where his health improveddramatically thanks to the doctors, nuns and nurses who treated him. Today, at 67, Charles, aconstruction cost analyst, is happy and very healthy. “St. Francis saved my life. Beyond theirextraordinary medical care, they provided warm,loving care, day after day,” Charles says. “Not forone moment in the 11 months that I was there did I feel unloved or unimportant in any way. How many places could provide that?”

The Lucky 13 Friday, February 13th turned out to be a lucky day for 13 fortunate heartpatients. They were reunited with the 13 doctors who saved them at a pre-Valentine’s Day “Beatthe Odds Brunch” at St. Francis Hospital. The event was designed to raise awareness about cardiac disease during Heart Month.

A Heartfelt Reunion More than three decades after receiving lifesaving, open-heartsurgery at St. Francis at the age of 12, Gift of Life patient Robinah Nakabuye of Uganda is reunitedwith two of her favorite physicians – Filippo Balboni, M.D. (r.), the Pediatric Cardiologist who originally diagnosed her condition, and Steven Greenberg, M.D., her current cardiologist.

St. Francis Photo Album


Reaching Out to Others When They Need It MostLouise Spadaro, M.D. (right), Director of the Cardiac Outreach Program, and her dedicatedteam launch the maiden voyage of the Hospital’s new outreach van. The mobile unit willbe going to underserved communities once a week to give uninsured patients muchneeded cardiac, blood pressure and diabetic screenings.

Upcoming Community Health Events at the DeMatteis Center in Greenvale

Special Program Date/Time Call for More Information

Free Prostate Screening Wed., September 23 (516) 629-2038 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Annual Women’s Thurs., October 1 (516) 629-2038Wellness Seminar 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Louis Acompora Day Thurs., October 29 (516) 629-2036for AED Training 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Coping with Chronic Mon., November 2 (516) 629-2040Pulmonary Illness 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Diabetes: Stepping Fri., November 20 (516) 629-2045Toward Control 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

St. Francis Late Breaking News

A Perspective on the Flu OutbreakTwo St. Francis physicians have beentapped for their insight on the recent swineflu outbreak. Chief of Infectious DiseasesAlan Bulbin, M.D., appeared on FOX TV’spublic affairs program “Street Talk” focusingon back-to-school precautions.

In addition, Associate Medical Directorand infectious diseases expert MarvinTenenbaum, M.D, was featured by The New

York Times in anarticle about the media impact onthe outbreak.

“It’s a fine linebetween educat-ing the public andfrightening them,”Dr. Tenenbaumtold the Times

earlier this year atthe beginning ofthe outbreak.

It felt like acase of déjà vu forDr. Tenenbaum,who was in theU.S. Public Health

Service during an earlier epidemic thatbegan in 1976 after a group of soldiers sta-tioned at Fort Dix, N.J. became sick with astrain of influenza that infects pigs. Dr.Tenenbaum told Crain’s Health Pulse thathe initially had reservations about a crashprogram to develop a vaccine to protect thepublic against the current flu.

The doctor, who was put in charge of aregional vaccination program in Connecticutduring the Fort Dix outbreak, saidresearchers did not have sufficient time tofully assess the safety of the vaccine andsome patients who were vaccinated becameparalyzed with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Asit turned out, what researchers first thoughtwas a pandemic never developed into ahealth threat.

Alan Bulbin, M.D.

Marvin Tenenbaum, M.D.

Staff Appointments

Anthony Pellicano,has been appointed Vice President forHuman Resources for St. Francis Hospital inRoslyn and Mercy Medical Center in RockvilleCentre. Mr. Pellicano was formerly VicePresident of Human Resources at Holy NameHospital in Teaneck, NJ, where his accom-plishments ranged from developing a leader-ship academy to implementing a HumanResources information system.

Marvin Tenenbaum, M.D.,has been appointed Associate MedicalDirector at St. Francis Hospital. He will continue to serve as Director of Medicine. In light of his expanded responsibilities at St. Francis Hospital, he has retired from his clinical practice in infectious disease.Dr. Tenenbaum previously served as Chiefof Infectious Diseases at the Hospital for13 years.

Richard Johnson, M.D.,has been named Chief of Neurosurgery at St. Francis Hospital. Dr. Johnson has been onstaff in the division of Neurosurgery since2005. He is the former Chief of Neurosurgeryat the St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Centerof Brooklyn/Queens and St. Johns QueensHospital. He has a general neurosurgicalpractice and is fellowship trained in minimal-ly invasive spinal procedures as well asspinal reconstruction and instrumentation.


Staff NewsSt. Francis Introduces First Cardiac PET/CT Program on Long IslandDoctors at St. Francis have a new high-tech device to assess whether a person should havebypass surgery. The Hospital is now offering a 64-slice multi-detector PET (positron emissiontomography) CT scanner, a nuclear medicine technology that relies on radioisotopes to detect ifa person has impaired blood supply to the heart.

“Because some patients’ hearts are weak, we are not sure if they should have bypass sur-gery,” says Nathaniel Reichek, M.D., Director of Research. “PET testing can show how muchheart muscle can potentially benefit from bypass surgery and help determine whether it is worthtaking the risk of heart surgery.”

The only Hospital-based program of its kind on Long Island relies on a nationally recognizedteam of physicians who have years of experience in diagnosing patients using the PET modality.“I was excited to join the St. Francis team because of the prospect of bringing this new tech-nology to the patients here,” says Andrew Van Tosh, M.D., FACC, Clinical Director of NuclearCardiology. “It will be a tremendous benefit to all of the communities we serve.”

Patients who can benefit from PET also include people preparing for bariatric surgery, diabeticpatients, and female patients whose symptoms have been difficult to diagnose.

PET Provides Even More BenefitsIn addition, the state-of-art scanner is being using to evaluate the extent of cancers. By injectingpatients with radioactive glucose, doctors can get a clear picture of metabolic activity in the bodyand to determine the stage of the cancer.

Plus, PET can be used in detecting forms of dementia to see if a person has Alzheimer’s dis-ease. Because there is a change in the metabolic pattern of the brain that is typical ofAlzheimer’s, the PET is able to detect the abnormality in metabolic activity. “This is very valuablein the early stages, when you’re not sure if the patient really has the disease. Now this can helpyou decide if it is in fact Alzheimer’s,” says Kenneth Goodman, M.D., Director of Radiology. “Andif you can begin treatment at an early stage, then it’s a huge benefit.”

Nathaniel Reichek, M.D. (center), with the cardiac research team and the new PET/CT scanner.

Diagnostic Imaging at St. FrancisSt. Francis Hospital has all of the major state-of-

the-art diagnostic imaging modalities for both

cardiac and noncardiac screening. We also have

unparalleled expertise in interpreting the results.

Whether it is CT, PET, MRI, echocardiography, or

breast imaging, you can find it at St. Francis. For

more information or to schedule an appointment,

call (516) 705-6627.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAID BROCKTON, MA

PERMIT NO. IOOO

St. Francis HospitalThe Heart Center ®

100 Port Washington BoulevardRoslyn, New York 11576www.stfrancisheartcenter.com

2009MarkYourCalendarSt. Francis Hospital Events for 2009

October 6Fall Recognition Luncheon at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho

Join the Guild of St. Francis in honoring Rita Castagna.

November 21The Challenge Gala at RXR Plaza in Uniondale

Fine dining and dancing will be featured at this annualfundraising event for St. Francis Hospital.

For more information or tickets, call (516) 705-6655

Documents

Heartbeat Magazine Fall 2009