Exeter Hospital is proud to announce the naming of its Interventional Cardiovascular Lab in honor of Thomas Wharton, Jr., MD of Core Cardiology, a pioneer in the treatment of myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, with emergency balloon angioplasty and stenting.
In recognition of Dr. Wharton’s leadership and to acknowledge the tremendous impact he has made to Exeter Hospital and the communities served, the Board of Trustees together with the leadership of Exeter Hospital are pleased to formally name Exeter Hospital’s interventional cardiovascular lab the “Thomas P. Wharton, Jr. Cardiovascular Suite.”
Kevin Callahan, president and CEO of Exeter Health Resources stated, “For many years Dr. Wharton has led Exeter Hospital’s outstanding cardiovascular interventional team – a team that has been responsible for saving the lives of countless members of our community. His constant reminder that time is critical has resulted in Exeter being recognized nationally for its work with the entire ‘chain of survival’ to respond quickly, from paramedics in the field all the way to the cath lab for acute coronary angioplasty. Dr. Wharton has been a consistent advocate for – and proponent of – community hospital-based interventional cardiac programs, thereby significantly advancing standards of cardiac care nationally. His work has not only saved hundreds of lives locally, but countless lives across the country.”
In addition, the Hospital is establishing The Wharton Fund, which will help to support Dr. Wharton’s commitment to the prevention of heart disease along with the continued provision of advanced interventional cardiac services within the local community.
Dr. Wharton first learned of this honor when Kevin Callahan (CEO), Richard Hollister, MD (president, medical staff) and a delegation from the hospital “made a house-call” to his home. “I am very surprised and deeply honored by this dedication of the Cardiovascular Suite in my name,” said Dr. Wharton. “The honor really should go as well to the hospital’s administrative staff who supported us in the early days when what we were doing was so controversial, and to the staffs of the local emergency medical services, the Emergency Department, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Intensive Care Unit, Telemetry Nursing, Cardiac Rehabilitation and all of my cardiology colleagues.”
To donate to The Wharton Fund, please visit unitedinwellness.org.
Photo: Pictured with a rendering of the new signage for the Interventional Cardiovascular Lab are (left to right) Kevin Callahan, CEO, Exeter Health Resources; Thomas Wharton, MD, Core Cardiology; Dennis Mechem, supervisor, cardiac catheterization lab; Jessica Sutherland, MD, Core Cardiology.