Ruth Judge - Angioplasty/Heart Failure

RUTH JUDGE had been living with heart failure for six years. But the physicians who treated her at another institution didn't seem to have time for her questions. "Their bedside manner was so bad, my blood pressure went up every time I was there," she recalls. Ruth called Stony Brook's Heart Institute. There she found the care she'd been seeking, and she is now treated by Noelle Mann, M.D. "She is very easy to talk to," Ruth reports. "I never feel rushed." Ruth had a successful angioplasty procedure at Stony Brook and attends patient education seminars, where she receives information on diet and stress management. And "to other heart patients, I'd say, 'By all means, go to the Heart Institute.'"

Laurie Mattone - EP

LAURIE MATTONE headed off on a business trip, never imagining she'd soon be rushed to the hospital. Although she had a history of atrial fibrillation, it was controlled with medication. But the onset of ventricular arrhythmia interrupted Laurie's trip. Once back home, she suffered shortness of breath and fatigue, her prognosis complicated by intolerance of beta blockers. Aided by 3-D imaging, Eric Rashba, M.D., performed an ablation on Laurie's left ventricle. "I had complete faith in him," Laurie recalls. "He's my hero!" Husband Matt (a nurse practitioner) agrees: "Dr. Rashba was extremely knowledgeable and competent. He made us feel that everything would be okay." Laurie's heartbeat is normal again, and the arrhythmia has not returned.

Bert Grasso - Heart Failure

BERT GRASSO'S desire to avoid a hospital stay is all the motivation he needs to follow the Heart Failure Clinic's recommendations on self-monitoring of symptoms. Clinic staff taught him to take his glucose levels and blood pressure several times a day, and advised him to call the clinic if he experiences symptoms such as excessive coughing. So far it's working, despite Bert's history of heart failure. It has been a year since Bert needed hospitalization or an emergency room visit. During clinic appointments he is treated by Hal Skopicki, M.D., director of the Heart Failure Service. "I like the way Dr. Skopicki explains things," Bert says. "Everything is quite clear. And that's great."

Diane Passantino - Valvular Surgery

Diane Passantino just had multiple procedures in a single operation-- mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve repair, and maze surgery:

"I'll be honest: I was thinking I should go to a smaller hospital, but I'm glad I didn't. I was very happy with everything at Stony Brook. My surgeon was confident and caring and very compassionate. The care I got was very good. I felt good after surgery, too. Now I would recommend Stony Brook for heart surgery."

Press Releases

74 Year-Old With 95 Percent Blockage In Carotid Artery Undergoes Innovative, Nonsurgical Treatment At SBUMC