Recalibrating the standard of care

Since 1999, Gery Tomassoni, MD, has dedicated his career to providing direct patient care to those with abnormal heart rhythms, but also to advancing innovative heart care through research with a focus on exploring new approaches.

“My interest in becoming a physician stemmed from an innate desire to help others,” said Dr. Tomassoni. “I wanted to help those around me look out for their physical and mental health, but beyond that, I wanted to identify new methods of treatment where a patient is able to experience less discomfort and recover faster. When you consider a heart, it is essential to our ability to live, but it is also something we are continuing to learn more about. When you focus on helping patients and seeking how to better support them during their moments of need, I know that way of practicing healthcare has the potential to help individuals far after I hang up my stethoscope.”

For Dr. Tomassoni, being able to meet with patients and helping them on their journey toward healing is the most fulfilling part of his job. “Being a physician isn’t a nine to five job, when a patient needs us, we answer the call to provide care. Through that type of relationship, each patient becomes more to you than just a number, they are someone you care about and someone you want to see succeed.”

Gratitude is something that Dr. Tomassoni finds often expressed by his patients, but it isn’t why he does his job. “I appreciate gratitude, but more so, I appreciate life. I want to help improve a patient’s quality of life and help them live longer.”

Through his research, Dr. Tomassoni has recently been able to perform pulse field ablation, a new technology that allows for a faster, safer course of care for patient’s suffering from atrial fibrillation. The implementation of new procedures such as this allow for increased patient volume and contributes to improved margins of success. 

“Baptist Health is dedicated to providing patients with next-level care, and that is evident to me each day when I come in to work,” said Dr. Tomassoni. “We are working toward the beginning of a revolutionized era of cardiology care, and that is something that I am positive will continue to make an impact on our children and our children’s children for generations to come.”