In 1985 two cardiologists who were friends and colleagues had the vision that a highly personalized cardiovascular practice would benefit patients in the State of Vermont.  They opened a small practice in a building of Victorian vintage in Burlington.  Walter Gundel had been the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the University of Vermont and Dan Raabe had been the Coronary Care Unit Director. In 1992 Kevin Carey who had recently trained at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and Stanley Shapiro who had an established cardiology practice in Middlebury, joined the group.  Subsequently, a third cardiologist from Rutland, J. Christian Higgins, was enlisted thus creating a third CVCA office and expanding the referral base throughout the entire State of Vermont.  Following in rapid succession were Joseph Winget and Robert Battle, both with highly regarded cardiology practices at the University of Vermont.  Most recently Steffen Hillemann joined the practice.  By 2002, CVCA had moved into larger quarters on Dorset Street in South Burlington.  Presided over by Karen Rounds, Chief Operating Officer, who runs the practice with boundless energy and limitless innovation.  Employing more than forty individuals, CVCA is the largest private cardiology practice and medical subspecialty group in Vermont.  CVCA is proud to say that staff members, from clinical to clerical, are routinely praised by patients for the way they care for them and respond to their needs.  Every day a nurse is stationed at a phone for patients who can call with questions, request prescription refills or share concerns with a live human being at the other end. “We’ve made a commitment to continue to provide a personalized high-level service for patients,” says Raabe.  “As a group we really enjoy our patients,” adds Gundel.  “We’ve known a lot of these people for years and they’ve become very special to us-they’re friends.” According to the philosophy these doctors share, a caring and friendly attitude can be downright therapeutic.  “If you like and trust your physician, you’re much more likely to do the things you’re asked to do that will help make you healthy,” Raabe comments.    Specialties “Cardiology has many subspecialty areas and we cover them all,” explains Dr. Raabe.  Clinical cardiology is basic:  seeing patients in the office, adjusting prescribed medications, and ordering diagnostic tests.  Beyond that CVCA provides a multitude of diagnostic and treatment modalities including nuclear cardiology and nuclear stress testing, echocardiography, interventional cardiac catheterization, and electrophysiology.  In fact, Walter Gundel was the first doctor in the State to perform angioplasty in 1982.    Prevention CVCA is planning to introduce a preventive cardiology wellness program to provide baseline screening for blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol and offer related information on treatment options and lifestyle modification.  “Coronary artery disease is clearly related to lifestyle: what you eat, how much you exercise, how much you weigh, if you smoke,” says Raabe.  There are some genetic factors as well, but lifestyle choices count most.  Prevention can play a major role.    A Second Chance When intervention is required, the doctors at CVCA specialize in cardio-catheterization, performing about 25-30 procedures every week at Fletcher Allen Hospital.  Installation of pacemakers and defibrillators is also increasing. Most rewarding is a person in the fast lane to a shortened life comes for treatment.  Raabe recalls a story treating three young guys who had never taken care of themselves.  “Now they had very serious problems-but I could correct them and I did.  They got a second chance and they’ve made the most of it.  To see these guys today, taking care of themselves and leading productive lives-that’s what it’s all about.”