A Holiday Full of Heart

One of the most positive side effects of the holiday season is our increased societal emphasis on joy, compassion, giving and love - the emotion most associated with the heart. December often ushers in a heightened sense of care and caring - a series of positive emotions that many wish would have a more significant impact on the months following December, too.

But how did the heart - arguably the most important organ in the human body - become synonymous with the concept of LOVE?

One theory is that the traditional heart shape comes from the silhouette of the leaves of a now-extinct plant called silphium. In the time of the Romans, silphium was considered a vital component of some sort of love potion. Plus, its seed pod looked very similar to the modern Valentine's heart.

Brief history lesson notwithstanding, I'm grateful for the heart's ability to reflect positive emotion. However, I'm even more appreciative of the heart's vital role as the body's "engine room."

According to National Geographic, the heart is responsible for pumping life-sustaining blood via a 60,000-mile-long (97,000-kilometer-long) network of vessels. The organ works ceaselessly, beating 100,000 times a day, 40 million times a year - in total, clocking up three billion heartbeats over an average lifetime.

Regardless of what you choose to love about the heart, rest assured that Physicians Regional is here to help you care for it.

Our expanded Heart Center includes advanced surgical equipment and technologies, allowing a range of interventional cardiology procedures, including minimally invasive structural heart procedures.

Physicians Regional Healthcare System is also excited to welcome Dr. Brett A. Beecher to our esteemed medical staff. He will be joining the Heart Center at Physicians Regional and the team of Dr. Dennis Stapleton and Dr. Scot Schultz.

Dr. Beecher is board certified in cardiothoracic and general surgery and has special training in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery. Dr. Beecher has most recently worked for the Cleveland Clinic in Stuart, Florida. 

A cardiothoracic surgeon performs surgery on the heart, lungs, and other parts of the chest. Surgeries can range from heart valve repair or replacement to robotic lung surgery. Cardiothoracic surgeons have extensive training and can specialize in other areas as well.

"Somehow, I knew I wanted to be a doctor from very early on as a child and I never considered doing anything else," Beecher says. "As I moved through medical school, I was immediately drawn to surgery. Then, as I moved through general surgery residency, I liked it all but didn't truly love any of it until I saw my first heart surgery. That was the moment I knew what specialty I would pursue."

Dr. Beecher earned his medical degree and completed his general surgery residency at The University of Oklahoma. He then completed his Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship at Loyola University in Chicago. 

"I have been trained by some truly amazing mentors throughout my career thus far. In this specialty, there is constant change. It is important to stay on top of and be competent in the latest techniques," says Dr. Beecher. "I have also paid special attention to the greats in our field. Though I may not know each personally, I have learned from their presentations, papers, etc."

Today, Dr. Beecher performs coronary artery bypass procedures, heart valve repair or replacement procedures, minimally invasive heart valve surgery, reoperative open heart surgery, ascending aortic aneurysm repair, general thoracic surgery, robotic lung surgery, thymectomy, transcatheter aortic valve replacement and surgical atrial fibrillation surgery.

As one gifted with the ability to remain calm and in control under pressure, Dr. Beecher takes his work very personally. "There is no better feeling than performing surgery on a patient with a problem and then seeing that problem disappear."

In addition to expanding the team, Physicians Regional Heart Center has earned the distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places Physicians Regional among the elite for adult cardiac surgery in the United States.

"I was attracted to Physicians Regional because I was aware of the program that Dr. Schultz and Dr. Stapleton have built here with a fantastic team," adds Dr. Beecher. "Patients receiving care at the Physicians Regionals Heart Center are truly receiving world-class surgical therapy."

Most patients are referred to Dr. Beecher from providers, including primary care or cardiologists, so please ask your provider if you may benefit from seeing a cardiothoracic surgeon. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (239) 348-4153 or visit physiciansregionalmedicalgroup.com