St. Francis Hospital and Emory Healthcare celebrated the one-year anniversary of their cardiothoracic surgery affiliation with a recent event to honor the patients whose lives were saved in the last year through this partnership which expanded cardiothoracic care to the Columbus area and Middle Georgia region.

"This celebration was an opportunity to honor not only the strength of the patients but also the strength of the cardiothoracic surgery program and what it means for our community to have comprehensive heart care right here in Columbus," says Dan Jones, CEO of St. Francis Hospital, "This program is truly allowing us to fulfill our mission of Making Communities Healthier."

More than 300 patients were treated during the first year of the joint program.

"It's important to celebrate the growth of this program and the lives that have been saved through its creation. It's been an honor working collaboratively with the talented team at St. Francis and providing cutting edge, quality cardiothoracic care to the people in the Columbus area," says Jacob Davtyan, MD, medical director of the St. Francis Hospital Cardiac Services program and an assistant professor in the Emory University School of Medicine's Department of Surgery.

More than 200 people gathered at the Country Club of Columbus for the anniversary celebration. Guests included former patients and their families, Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, medical team members from St. Francis Hospital and Emory Healthcare, as well as members of the community.  WTVM, Main Anchor, Barbara Gauthier was the emcee for the event.  "Our efforts to advance local healthcare capability and access across Georgia and the region have been greatly served by this partnership and Dr. Davtyan's role as medical director," says Robert Guyton, MD, FACC, Charles Ross Hatcher, Jr. Professor of Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine. 

"This partnership has provided valuable access to additional heart services for patients throughout the region, while allowing them to stay close to home, close to the care and support of friends and loved ones." 

In 2016, St. Francis Hospital's Cardiac Services program entered into an affiliation with The Emory Clinic's Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. The affiliation expanded the heart program at St. Francis and aligned the hospital's CT Surgery service with Emory's three existing CT surgery programs: Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital.