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St. Mary Honors 60th Anniversary of First Open Heart Surgery

It's American Heart Month and Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center is celebrating by honoring the first open heart surgery patient and Long Beach resident, Mr. Michael Rivard as he joins us for his 72nd birthday.

Sixty years ago, Mike was just a 12-year-old little boy with a congenital heart defect, which caused chest pain and shortness of breath and over time resulted in an enlarged heart. Doctors told that little boy’s parents he had a one in four chance of surviving the invasive surgeries. Thanks to the cardiovascular services available at St. Mary, Mike will share his story of gratitude with us. 

When                   

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 11 a.m. 

Where              

Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center
Health Enhancement Center
1050 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

Who                     

Michael Rivard, First Open Heart Surgery Patient (available for interviews)
Dr. Nik Kapoor, St. Mary Cardiologist 

Contact Angela Giacobbe at (818) 314-3269 or Lysa Barry at (818) 716-7111

Contact at Event:

Megan Martinez, Manager of Marketing & Communications,
Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center (949) 233-4093

About Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center

Founded in 1923 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center is a highly-regarded 389-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital that offers a full range of inpatient, outpatient and related health and wellness services to the greater Long Beach area.  St. Mary is committed to providing a unique balance of high-quality, compassionate care that brings both healing and humanity to the body, mind and spirit of our patients.  We deliver care to the sick while providing direct services to the underserved and advocate on their behalf. 

Publish date: 

Wednesday, February 08, 2017

Media Contact

Christina Zicklin, Director of External Communications

p: (310) 922-8522

[email protected]