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Buffalo Heart Group, Memorial announce cardiology partnership

Cardiology services at The Heart Center of Niagara have expanded dramatically with the arrival as Buffalo Heart Group, LLP, one of Western New York’s largest and most highly regarded cardiology practices, at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.

Buffalo Heart Group recently opened its seventh Western New York office in The Heart Center, located at 571 10th St., Niagara Falls.  Robert Neufeld, M.D., the head of Memorial’s Division of Cardiology, has joined the practice and remains at the Heart Center as a member of the Buffalo Heart Group team.Six additional Buffalo Heart Group cardiologists have joined the Niagara Falls Memorial medical staff.  They are:

• Marie Iacona, M.D., F.A.C.C. – Dr. Iacona specializes in Clinical Cardiology and Non-invasive Cardiology and is board certified in both areas.
• Alan Meholick, M.D., F.A.C.C. – Board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Dr. Meholick specializes in invasive and clinical cardiology.
• Judyann Joy-Pardi, M.D., F.A.C.C. – Dr. Joy-Pardi is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. She specializes in non-invasive and clinical cardiology.
• Irfan Khan, M.D. – An electrophysiologist, Dr. Khan is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Electrophysiology.
• Richard Jennings, M.D., F.A.C.C. – Dr. Jennings is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology.  He specializes in invasive and clinical cardiology.
• Phong Nguyen-Ho, M.D. – Dr. Nguyen-Ho is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology and specializes in invasive and interventional cardiology and peripheral intervention.

Also joining the medical staff are two nurse practitioners: Kathleen Ruggiero, FNP-C, and Jennifer Earsing, NP.

They join Heart Center physicians Michael Merhige, M.D., and Eram Chaudhry, M.D. in providing inpatient and outpatient cardiology services at Memorial.

“Cardiac disease remains a persistent and pervasive health issue in Niagara. In fact, the death rate for heart disease in Niagara County is more than 40 percent higher than the rate for the state as a whole,” Memorial President and CEO Joseph A. Ruffolo said.  “Partnering with the Buffalo Heart Group greatly augments our ability to provide a true continuum of care to address Niagara’s No. 1 health problem.”

The Buffalo Heart Group has been a leading provider of cardiovascular disease management services since the organization was established in 1987,” said Bradley Hall, M.B.A., the group’s chief operating officer.

Buffalo Heart Group offers diagnostic, clinical and invasive cardiology services including:

• Cardiac stress testing, Holter monitoring, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and peripheral vascular imaging.
• Coronary artery disease management, including high blood pressure and cholesterol control, and congestive heart failure management.
• High quality electrophysiology services such as cardiac arrhythmia management, pacemaker implantation and follow-up, and implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) implantation and follow-up.
• A team of board certified invasive cardiologists that perform cardiac angiograms and coronary interventions such as stent placement.

The group is recognized as a preferred provider of high–quality cardiology services through its ongoing commitment to meet or exceed the expectations of patients, referring physicians and affiliated health care agencies.  Working together as a highly responsive team, its physicians and staff are committed to delivering services in an environment that emphasizes patient satisfaction, trust and open communication.

“The Buffalo Heart Group team is committed to providing high-quality cardiology services to the patients of the Greater Niagara community,” Hall said. “We truly appreciate the support of the medical community and we are honored by this opportunity to form a collaborative partnership with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. We look forward to helping the cardiovascular service line at Memorial grow and prosper.”

To learn more about Buffalo Heart Group, LLP, please visit www.buffaloheartgroup.com.