World Class Cardiologist to Lead Methodist Medical Center Cardiovascular Services

Methodist Medical Center in Peoria has added Dr. Igor Singer in the newly created role as Executive Medical Director, Cardiovascular Services.

Peoria, Illinois (PRWEB) April 27, 2003 - Methodist Medical Center President and CEO Michael Bryant today announced that Dr. Igor Singer will lead Methodist Heart Care in the newly created role of Executive Medical Director, Cardiovascular Services, effective July 1, 2003.

Bryant said, Dr. Singer is an internationally recognized researcher, clinician, and professor and will further lead Methodist in providing world class heart care."

As a respected clinician, Dr. Singer will build relationships with area cardiologists and will not only treat patients locally but will direct the installation of a new state--of-the-art electrophysiology cath lab as part of the Methodist heart care facilities.

As one of the worlds leaders in cardiac education, he will work closely with the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria to establish four Fellowship programs for cardiologists. The programs he creates will be instrumental in providing Fellowship trained cardiologists for Peoria and surrounding communities, opening the door to greater access to specialists for patients throughout the region

As an internationally known researcher, Dr. Singer will continue to conduct leading-edge research into treatment strategies for arrhythmias and other cardiac related issues. Dr. Singer will work closely with Peoria Next and will continue to be actively involved in clinical studies that will bring state of the art technology and treatments to the forefront. Dr. Singer will be an asset in assisting Peoria Next with its support of the culture of discovery, the creation of innovation and the implementation of commercialization in the areas of life science, material science, and engineering science.

Igor Singer is currently Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Arrhythmia Service and Director of the Electrophysiology and Pacing Program at the University of Louisville. He received his cardiology training at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Singer has authored five widely used textbooks in electrophysiology: Clinical Manual of Electrophysiology, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Future, Armonk, NY, Interventional Electrophysiology, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, Nonpharmacological Therapy of Arrhythmias for the 21st Century: The State of Art, Futura, Armonk, NY, and Interventional Electrophysiology, Second Edition, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA. In addition, he has published extensively in medical journals and has contributed to numerous highly respected textbooks on cardiac pacing and electrophysiology.

Dr. Singer is also Program Director for the prestigious biennial International Symposium on Advances in Interventional Electrophysiology" held in Louisville, Kentucky. The fourth symposium is scheduled for June 19-20, 2003. He has plans to bring this symposium to Peoria.

The addition of Dr. Singer is the latest milestone in Methodists commitment to providing world-class cardiovascular services. In 1999, Methodist was named one of the top 100 cardiovascular hospitals in the country and has a history of being first with many heart care advances. In July 2002, Methodist announced its association with Arizona Heart Institute, a collaboration between Methodist staff and cardiovascular research and technology at Arizona Heart that solidified the hospitals role as a provider of world-class heart care. That technology and expertise translate into direct advantages for patients, including the very latest treatment procedures resulting in shorter recovery periods, fewer complications, shorter procedure times, less hospitalization, and a better quality of life for heart patients.

Other cardiac accomplishments at Methodist include:
·   1966-First coronary intensive care unit in Peoria established at Methodist
·   1970-First telemetry (step down) unit formed outside of Chicago
·   1975-First open heart surgery beginning Peorias longest continually running open heart program
·   1994-First elective coronary stent implanted in Central Illinois
·   1999-Recognized as one of Americas Top 100 Hospitals for Interventional Cardiology
·   2000-First to perform ELG procedure for aortic aneurysms using Ancure device.
·   2001-First Endovascular Center
·   2002-First in Illinois to implant an Endomed Thoracic Endoluminal Graft for aortic dissection.
·   2002-Dr. James Williams is awarded a Milestone Achievement Award from Guidant Ancure Endograft for his work at Methodist, recognizing him as one of the top vascular surgeons in the nation using high tech-cardiovascular grafts.

Bryant said, Dr. Singer brings to Peoria a tremendous level of skill, reputation, and expertise in cardiology and will move Methodist Heart Care to even greater national and international recognition. His arrival will further enhance the Medical School and Peoria Nexts efforts to capitalize and expand on our outstanding medical community."