Cardiac Surgery
Welcome to cardiac surgery at Abington Memorial Hospital.
I had the privilege of performing the first open cardiac operation at Abington Memorial Hospital in December of 1996. My goal was to create a program with a university repertoire but with the warmth and convenience of community. My goal was to create a program with a reputation which would extend far beyond Abington, drawing patients from as far north as New York City and as far south as Baltimore. My goal was to create a program which could be used as a model for others, taking the best from what I had seen elsewhere while correcting that which I found deficient. I can honestly say that every goal has been achieved.
In order to achieve pre-eminence, specialists from multiple areas: nursing, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, and anesthesiology were bought together to guarantee that each patient could be assured that their care was professional, exemplary and beyond "state-of-the-art". A family liaison was recruited to guarantee that the families of patients would receive the same care and consideration as the patient. Finally, growth permitted recruitment of a second heart surgeon whose training and perspective would permit innovation well into the future. The full extent of this success is best measured by patient testimonials and our results. In 2007, the most renowned clinicians from around the world gathered at AMH for a truly international symposium.
I welcome you to Abington Memorial Health's Division of Cardiac Surgery. Whether you have a cardiac valve problem, an abnormal heart rhythm, coronary artery blockages, a congenital cardiac issue, or heart muscle failure, you will be well cared for, comforted and gently guided during your visit.
Please know, 24 hours a day you can reach me at 215-481-4200.
Sincerely,
V. Paul Addonizio, M.D.
Hartford Scholar
Chief, Cardiac Surgery, Abington Memorial Hospital
Clinical Professor of Surgery, Temple University School of Medicine
Surgical Director,
The Porter Institute for Valvular Heart Disease