FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2009

Leading Cardiologist and Research Specialist Joins
St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital

One of the leading cardiologists in the St. Louis area has joined St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital. Arthur Labovitz, M.D., FACC, an internationally recognized specialist in cardiovascular medicine and research, has been named director of cardiovascular research for St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital. In addition to his research role, Labovitz will see patients as a member of St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular physician group.

“We are so pleased to have Dr. Labovitz join St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital,” said Virginia Frank, vice president of operations. “His world-renowned expertise in cardiovascular research will contribute substantially to heart and vascular programs at St. John’s Mercy.”

Labovitz brings more than 20 years of cardiovascular research experience to St. John’s Mercy. He has published more than 470 scientific abstracts, articles and texts on cardiovascular research. Labovitz was formerly the director of the division of cardiology and director of the cardiovascular fellowship program at St. Louis University Hospital.

“I look forward to leading the team at St. John’s Mercy in research efforts that will shape the way cardiovascular care is provided,” Labovitz said. Under his direction, St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital will be a coordinating center for many international studies and will serve as the echocardiographic core laboratory for cardiac imaging of those studies.

Labovitz is a diplomat in the American Board of Internal Medicine and is board certified by the Subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Diseases, Nuclear Cardiology and Echocardiography. He is a Fellow in the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology, the American Society of Echocardiography and the American College of Cardiology. Labovitz is past president of the National Board of Echocardiology and the St. Louis Chapter of the American Heart Association. He also serves on the editorial boards of multiple medical journals and on a number of national committees.

For more information or to make an appointment, patients can call 314-251-1700.

St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular is a 17-physician cardiology group practice with offices in north, south and west St. Louis counties and Franklin County. The group is affiliated with St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, Creve Coeur, and St. John’s Mercy Hospital, Washington. St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital is located on the campus of St. John’s Mercy Medical Center.