Beebe Healthcare launches comprehensive Cardiovascular Institute

Beebe Healthcare recently announced the launch of its Cardiovascular Institute, an integrated, evidence-based team model connecting patients with expert clinicians in Sussex County.

For many years, Beebe has been advancing heart care for the community, bringing the latest technologies and minimally invasive procedures to allow patients to receive the highest level of quality care close to home, in its four cardiac catheterization labs and a hybrid operating room.

Now, thanks to these advancements, the Cardiovascular Institute at Beebe Healthcare will serve as the focal point of heart, vascular and lung care for Sussex County patients, bringing together the area’s top clinicians to streamline the patient care experience and provide efficient, quality care. The November implementation of Epic and MyChart for seamless care coordination and patient engagement will further improve the process.

“The institute is the culmination of years of work to deliver comprehensive cardiovascular care right here in the community,” said Paul Sierzenski, MD, senior vice president, chief physician executive. “Patients benefit from a coordinated team of cardiologists, heart, lung and vascular surgeons, advanced practice clinicians and external partners delivering the most evidence-based, high-quality care.”

Championing the institute is its physician leader, Mouhanad Freih, MD, FACC, FCSI, a board-certified interventional cardiologist with two decades of experience serving Sussex County’s most timely heart needs. To further this initiative, Freih is joining Beebe Medical Group and becoming an employed physician at Beebe.

Freih will continue seeing patients at the same office — now Beebe Interventional Cardiology Lewes — at 16392 Coastal Highway. He will also see patients at Beebe Cardiothoracic Surgery Lewes as needed in collaboration with the specialists at that practice.

In recent years, as director of Beebe’s Structural Heart Program, Frieh has played an instrumental role in the progressive growth of Beebe’s cardiovascular services, as well as its ability to achieve numerous recognitions as a prominent leader in the delivery of quality-centric, evidence-based and outcomes-based heart care.

“For many years, Beebe has been providing and expanding advanced heart care services for our neighbors and visitors,” said Freih. “It’s been an honor to help shape this growth and now serve as physician leader of the Cardiovascular Institute. The coordinated, team-based care that Sussex County will receive from Beebe has been a dream shared by my colleagues and me, and now it’s a reality for our community.”

Also joining Beebe and leading the opening of the medical group’s only general cardiology practice is Andrew Foy, MD.

A Delaware native, Foy earned his medical degree at Thomas Jefferson Medical College and remained there to pursue residency training in internal medicine. He went on to complete a cardiology fellowship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, where he received the Department of Medicine’s Annual Award for Excellence in Research as a Fellow.

Foy diagnoses and treats many conditions including chest pain, lipid disorders, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and syncope.

He has a specialized interest in and is renowned for management of hypertension, including benign, resistant and renovascular forms. Foy is extensively published and has earned an international reputation for his commitment to continuously advancing cardiology care for the benefit of patients and communities.

“I’m excited to be a part of Beebe Healthcare and help be a solution for access to quality heart care with my colleagues,” said Foy. “Beebe is very committed to improving the care in the community that I’ve known for my whole life.”

Cardiac surgeon Vince Lotano, MD, and interventional cardiologist Zaid Amin, MD, will be joining Beebe Medical Group later this summer as the team continues to grow to meet demand.

Beebe Healthcare has been on the forefront as technology has advanced in recent years.

“I’m extremely proud of the team here at Beebe for their commitment to continue to bring the most advanced care to the people of Sussex County. Many years ago, this was only an aspirational idea that has been made a reality thanks to our dedicated physicians, leaders and clinical staff,” said David A. Tam, MD, Beebe Healthcare president and CEO. “I must also thank our community for the generous philanthropic support — you are helping Beebe Healthcare grow faster. Your generous support has helped us open our new Cardiovascular Institute. You are truly fueling Beebe Healthcare’s growth so that we can care for this growing community.”

The hospital has invested in tools to allow the availability of many minimally invasive procedures like Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, which started in 2020 and has more than 200 successful cases to date.

The institute also offers procedures such as advanced left atrial appendage closure, which helps prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, using Watchman and Amulet devices. The team celebrated the completion of its 300th procedure in 2025.

Beebe’s team-based approach is grounded in the latest research and national best practices, earning five Get With The Guidelines awards for heart failure, stroke and heart attack care. These national honors from the American Heart Association highlight Beebe’s commitment to evidence-based, high-quality cardiovascular and stroke treatment, and reflect the expertise and dedication of its clinical team. In the coming year, the institute will be seeking accreditation from the American College of Cardiology.

Employed physicians, advanced practice clinicians and independent physicians on Beebe’s medical staff provide the following specialties at the Cardiovascular Institute: general cardiology, interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, thoracic (lung) surgery, vascular surgery, electrophysiology, cardiac rehabilitation and noninvasive cardiology.

In total, more than 30 physicians and advanced practice clinicians make up the Cardiovascular Institute at Beebe Healthcare.

A number of advanced practice clinicians will be working to support clinical operations and the continuous growth of the Cardiovascular Institute, including Amanda Caputo, DNP, FNP-BC, and Taylor Hodges, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, both cardiology nurse practitioners, and Anne Villalobos, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, a clinical nurse specialist.

This team plays an instrumental role in diagnosing and treating patients with a wide variety of complex cardiac conditions, including congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, coronary atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and arrhythmias. They are also committed to providing patients with education and support to manage symptoms, understand and minimize risks, and make lifestyle changes to improve their heart health.

To learn more, go to beebehealthcare.org.