Georgia Heart Institute

Georgia Heart Institute is the comprehensive, multi-disciplinary heart and vascular program of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS). With personalized care provided for the complete spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, Georgia Heart Institute is saving and improving lives for generations.

Our Vision & Approach

Built on a foundation of expertise and innovation, Georgia Heart Institute is focused on creating healthier tomorrows for everyone. First and foremost, we believe this starts with a dedication to supporting the complete individual and providing the highest level of care when it matters most.

The team at Georgia Heart Institute strives to provide an unmatched level of heart and vascular care that supports patients – and their family – for a lifetime. With experienced cardiologists, renowned surgeons and highly-trained specialists, we strive to do whatever it takes to keep patients’ hearts at their healthiest.

We’re delivering on this commitment by:

Reimaging the patient experience: At Georgia Heart Institute, the patient journey begins the moment an appointment is scheduled with one of our experts. Whether you’re focused on disease prevention or need advanced treatment for a complex condition, our goal is to meet patients exactly where they are. Ultimately, we want you to have an experience that’s seamless and simple at every step. Start your heart health journey today.
Coordinating care across all cardiovascular specialties: Led by our impressive team of cardiologists, Georgia Heart Institute has developed an integrated program that encompasses the renowned cardiothoracic surgeons and vascular surgeons of Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) to deliver collaborative and coordinated care for every type of heart and vascular condition. Meet our team of specialty-trained experts.
Bringing clinical breakthroughs to everyday care: Enriched by discovery and innovation, the experts of Georgia Heart Institute are continually finding new and better ways to treat even the most complex conditions. Through participation in international research and leading clinical trials, we’re learning about the therapies and treatments of tomorrow to improve care for our patients today. Explore our current research initiatives and learn more about the Georgia Center for Cardiovascular Biomechanics & Data Modeling.

Our History

Georgia Heart Institute is building on the rich history of care and expertise that’s always been provided by Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC).

This journey began all the way back in 1957, when Drs. Sam Poole and Dick Stribling, were recruited to NGMC to launch our Heart & Vascular Services. From there, things quickly progressed, with the first diagnostic cardiac cath performed in 1984 and the first interventional procedure in 2002. Then, in 2014, The Heart Center of NGMC officially became a part of the Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) family.

Over the last several years, our growth and innovation has continued, with the first cardiac intervention performed in Braselton in 2018. We became the first health system in Georgia with hospitals accredited as Emergency Cardiac Care Centers just last year.

Most recently, many of our system’s cardiology services were provided through The Heart Center of NGMC. As a long-standing and trusted practice within the community, we have evolved that program into Georgia Heart Institute, which includes our team of more than 80 cardiologists and advanced practice providers, more than a dozen locations throughout the region and convenient, online scheduling.

Our Services

With a robust team of experts spanning nearly every specialty of cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery, we are proud to offer patients a truly comprehensive care experience. Not only does this ensure that we have an expert that specializes in diagnosing and treating each patient’s unique heart needs, but their care also has the backing of a multi-disciplinary, collaborative team.

Through Georgia Heart Institute, we offer services in the following specialties: