Scott Boccia is living the good life. Having overcome a major aortic valve replacement that had him in the hospital for more than a month, he and his Virginia Heart team worked together to help Scott take control of his own health and enjoy a full recovery.

Patrick McClure knew he was tired and not feeling well. What he didn’t know was that his heart was functioning at a fraction of its normal capacity. After consulting with his Virginia Heart specialist, Patrick opted for surgery that has changed his life—and left him feeling better than he ever has before.

David Sollenberger loves a good puzzle. But he’s glad his Virginia Heart physicians were able to solve the puzzle of his arrhythmias quickly. Thanks to their swift diagnosis and treatment, David is back to doing what he loves—and has even shared his passion for puzzles with his Virginia Heart caregivers.

Curt Boatman feels most at home in the skies. A commercial airline pilot, his career has taken him all over the world experiencing new cultures and adventures. But his career could have been cut short earlier this year when Curt was diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Because of careful monitoring of his left bundle branch block by Dr. Robert Shor, Bob Weber has been able to continue his passion for cycling. Bob averages 4,000 miles a year and demonstrates how patients with chronic heart conditions can continue to lead active lives. “I have been with Virginia Heart for many years and they take great care of me. It's all routine, but very reassuring to have a cardiologist and staff that put a premium on long-term monitoring,” Bob says.

Thanks to an emergency angioplasty performed by Dr. Nicholas Cossa, Christopher E. Robin, 53, survived a “widow maker” heart attack. He was also diagnosed with sleep apnea through Virginia Heart’s Sleep Disorder Clinic. Now armed with two new stents in his coronary arteries and a CPAP machine, Christopher says he feels better than he has in years. “Everyone at Virginia Heart has been terrific,” he says. “They constantly remind me that you can always turn things around.”

Christine and Vince Cavaleri aren’t letting their age—or cardiac conditions—slow them down. Vince, 89, suffers from valve disease and congestive heart failure. Christine, 77, is a heart attack survivor. But they follow the advice of Dr. Nicholas Cossa at Virginia Heart and exercise almost every day, adhere to a healthy diet and stay busy pursuing their hobbies. Vince even works part-time. As Christine says, “You’ve got to be fit if you want to stay in the game.”

Our mission at Virginia Heart is to exceed expectations in Heart and Vascular care through Proven Clinical Excellence and Superior Service. The 2018 Virginia Heart Quality report summarizes the data from the last two years to support our mission in action.

Don’t let myths and misconceptions endanger your cardiac health. Get the straight story from a Virginia Heart expert about how diet, exercise and medications impact your overall heart health.