
Top row (L to R): Jason Pelton, MD, Interventional Cardiology; Michael Bauer, MD, Cardiovascular Surgery; Yazan Ghosheh, MD, Interventional Cardiology; Tom Wallace, MD, Cardiac Electrophysiology; David Griffin, MD, Invasive Cardiology. Bottom row (L to R): Oyidie Igbokidi, MD, Interventional Cardiology; Morris Kelley, MD, Interventional Cardiology; Thomas Rayburn III, MD, Cardiovasculary Surgery; Muhammad Waqas, MD, Advanced Heart Failure; Joe Hargrove, MD, Invasive Cardiology
A healthy heart is the most critical element of overall physical health. This is something that the team at CHI St. Vincent knows well, which is why the organization has made such a concerted effort to help the hearts of Arkansas.
What was originally Heart Clinic Arkansas for nearly 20 years was acquired by CHI St. Vincent in 2012, then becoming the CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute. Since then, the affiliate has become the state’s largest and most diverse network of heart specialists, with more than 25 community locations across the state.
It is through this trusted name of the CHI St. Vincent umbrella that the Heart Institute has become one of the names most synonymous with heart health in Arkansas, as U.S. News and World Report ranks it the best in the state for cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. The Heart Institute also continues to push the field of heart care forward by integrating advanced technologies like HeartFlow Analysis into its continuum of care, earning the gold standard in heart attack care from the American Heart Association and recently partnering with Penn Medicine of Pennsylvania to accelerate heart surgery research into innovative approaches.
“CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute patients don’t just benefit from the care of one of our exceptional cardiologists or heart surgeons,” says president Marcia Atkinson. “Every morning, our Heart Institute doctors come together to share information, discuss cases and decide as a team on the best path of care for each individual patient. Each of our patients benefits from that full continuum of care from our incredible team of doctors.”