News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2013
MEDIA CONTACT: Stephanie Poyant
Public Information Officer
Southcoast Health System
Office: 508-961-5280
Cell: 774-634-1460
Fax: 508-961-5876
Pager: 508-387-2532
poyants@southcoast.org
www.southcoast.org/news/releases/
Top cardiothoracic surgeon Iraklis S. Gerogiannis, MD, FACS, joins
Southcoast’s five-star-rated heart surgery program
Dr. Gerogiannis plans to bring robotic-assisted cardiothoracic surgery to Charlton
Memorial Hospital
FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast™ Health System today announced that Iraklis S.
Gerogiannis, MD, FACS, has joined Southcoast Cardiothoracic Surgery, part of Southcoast
Physicians Group. As one of the region’s top heart surgeons, Dr. Gerogiannis brings more than 14
years of experience and skill to further elevate Southcoast’s heart program, which is already
recognized as one of the top programs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and ranks among the
top programs in the U.S.
Dr. Gerogiannis brings to Southcoast his broad experience in cardiothoracic surgery and
research as well as years of experience with minimally invasive robotic surgical technique using
the da Vinci Si robotic system, a surgical approach he plans to add to Southcoast’s cardiac
surgical program.
Prior to joining Southcoast, Dr. Gerogiannis was a cardiothoracic surgeon and medical
director at Gulfport Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Miss. During Hurricane Katrina in August
2005, most of the hospital’s doctors lost their homes, including Dr. Gerogiannis. He remained at
Gulfport Memorial for a year during the hurricane relief effort, where he was the only cardiac
surgeon within 80 miles and was on call 24/7.
A graduate of the National University of Athens in Greece, Dr. Gerogiannis completed
his residency in general surgery at the Graduate Hospital, University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine in Philadelphia and his residency in cardiothoracic surgery at Yale-New Haven
Hospital, Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.
Dr. Gerogiannis was an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Tufts University School of
Medicine in Boston and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of
Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester.
He is board certified in cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery and is a fellow of the
American College of Surgeons. Dr. Gerogiannis specializes in robotic cardiothoracic surgery,
which he will perform using the da Vinci Si robot at Charlton Memorial Hospital. The Southcoast
cardiothoracic robot-assisted program is scheduled to launch in 2013.
Dr. Gerogiannis resides in Newton with his wife, ophthalmologist Sheila BorboliGerogiannis, MD, and their three children.
Dr. Gerogiannis’s office is located at 300 Hanover Street in Fall River. He is accepting
new patients. For an appointment or to learn more about the minimally invasive cardiac surgery
program available at Southcoast, please call 508-679-7774.
Southcoast Cardiovascular Services
Southcoast Cardiovascular Services provides a broad spectrum of cardiovascular
services locally, including open heart procedures, cardiac catheterizations, coronary angioplasty
and cardiac implantable devices. Southcoast performs more cardiac catheterizations than any
other community hospital system in Massachusetts, with approximately 60 percent of patients
needing advanced treatment such as coronary artery bypass or angioplasty. Southcoast’s state-ofthe-art Electrophysiology Laboratories at Charlton Memorial Hospital provides diagnostic testing
for cardiac arrhythmias as well as invasive electrophysiology procedures such as arrhythmia
ablations.
Southcoast’s heart program continues to grow with an astounding 24 area cardiologists
joining Southcoast Physicians Group in the past two years.
“Our number one priority is to provide well-coordinated, high-quality care to all of our
patients," said Margaret Ferrell, MD, Physician-in-Chief for Cardiac Services. “The success of
the Southcoast heart program is credited to the highly skilled team of cardiologists, surgeons and
health care professionals at our three hospital sites. It is their 24 hours, 7 days a week dedication
and the commitment by Southcoast to invest in the latest technology, equipment and state-of-theart facilities that enables us to rank among the best in the country.”
Southcoast performed the first open heart surgery in Southeastern Massachusetts in April
2002, bringing the lifesaving procedure to a region with the state’s highest incidence of heart
disease. Southcoast was the first of three community hospitals approved by the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health to offer open heart surgery and elective coronary angioplasty at its
Charlton Memorial Hospital site in Fall River.
Southcoast’s cardiac surgery program has brought unprecedented access to advanced
cardiac services to the region and has received exemplary reviews and outstanding patient
satisfaction since its inception including ranking as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for heart
care by Healthgrades®, the nation’s leading, independent source of physician information and
hospital quality ratings. Healthgrades awarded Southcoast its Specialty Excellence Award for
Overall Cardiac Services, Cardiac Surgery and Coronary Interventional Procedures.
“The Healthgrades rankings are an exceptional accomplishment for our cardiac program
and a testament to our physicians, surgeons, nurses and health care providers who are saving lives
every day,” said Laurie Mulgrew, Vice President of Clinical Services for Cardiovascular Care &
Imaging. “Patients who receive their cardiac care at a Southcoast hospital can rest assured they
are receiving their care at one of the top heart hospitals in the U.S.”
The 14th Annual Healthgrades Hospital Quality in America Study analyzes tens of
millions of patients’ outcomes — specifically, mortality and complication rates — at the nation’s
5,000 hospitals. Healthgrades’ 2012 clinical achievements for Southcoast Hospitals included
being a recipient of the Healthgrades Cardiac Care Excellence Award™ for six years in a row and
a recipient of the Healthgrades Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award™.
For a complete listing of Southcoast Hospitals’ Healthgrades rankings visit
www.healthgrades.com.
About Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group
Southcoast Health System is a community based health delivery system with multiple
access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern
Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes the three hospitals that make up
Southcoast Hospitals Group — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in
New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast provides advanced clinical services, such as open heart surgery, angioplasty
and heart rhythm services, comprehensive cancer care, neurosurgery, weight loss surgery,
orthopedic surgery, advanced imaging services and is the only provider of maternity services in
the region.
Southcoast is a not-for-profit charitable organization that depends on the support of the
community to provide services. More information is available online at
www.southcoast.org. Connect to Southcoast through social media
at www.southcoast.org/connect/.
Southcoast™ is a trademark of Southcoast Health System Inc.
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