Top Physician To Discuss ‘New Advances In Cardiovascular Care’

DANBURY — February is National Heart Month, and Danbury Hospital is offering heart-saving information and screening at its next Medical Town Meeting February 13.

Heart disease — not cancer — is still the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States. Fortunately today, cardiovascular advances can help save more lives.

New procedures give doctors more options in treating conditions like blocked arteries, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases. Minimally invasive techniques such as angioplasty, a procedure that uses a balloon to open narrowed or blocked vessels, allow doctors to treat conditions without the need for more traditional open heart surgery.

These procedures will be discussed by a Danbury Hospital interventional cardiologist at a Medical Town Meeting that is co-sponsored by Northeast Utilities’ Transmission Group. “Heart Matters: New Advances in Cardiovascular Care,” will be held Tuesday, February 13, from 7 to 8:30 pm, at the hospital. The public is welcome to attend.

Staff from the Praxair Regional Heart & Vascular Center at Danbury Hospital will conduct cardiac risk assessments and blood pressure screenings from 6 to 7 pm.

The meeting features Hal S. Wasserman, MD, director of Interventional Cardiology at Danbury Hospital. Approximately 500 patients a year have had an interventional procedure like angioplasty at Danbury Hospital since the program began under Dr Wasserman 16 months ago.

Board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and interventional cardiology, Dr Wasserman is a leader in the field, coming to Danbury Hospital in 2005 from the New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in Manhattan, where he earned his medical degree.

Dr Wasserman also teaches at Columbia University where he is an associate clinical professor of medicine. He served for 12 years as Columbia’s associate director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory and as the director of the thrombolysis research program. Dr Wasserman also served as a member of Columbia’s committee for cardiology fellowship training, and on the New York Presbyterian Hospital joint hospital clinical technology committee.

He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and Society of Cardiac Angiography and Intervention. Dr Wasserman completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at The Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and then fellowships in cardiology and cardiac catheterization/ interventional cardiology at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.

“We are extremely proud to have Dr Wasserman leading our Interventional Cardiology program at Danbury Hospital,” said Andrew Keller, MD, chief of cardiology. “Under his leadership, we have some of the best outcomes and lowest complication rates in the country.”

This Medical Town Meeting takes place in the John C. Creasy Center for Health Education auditorium. Park free in the Blue Visitor’s parking lot, Hospital Avenue entrance.

For event registration, service, or physician referral, contact the Danbury Hospital Call Center at 866-374-0007. To view more information about Danbury Hospital community health and wellness programs, go to www.danburyhospital.org.