Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona

I am sad to have to post Dr Richard Heuser's obituary. He passed away May 23, 2024 & will be missed by us & all who knew him Nathan Laufer MD Richard Ross Heuser November 17, 1950-May 23, 2024 Richard R. Heuser, MD, FACC, FACP, FESC, MSCAI, was an internationally recognized cardiologist, inventor, educator and author, and was a diplomat of the American Board of Cardiovascular Diseases and the American Board of Interventional Cardiovascular Diseases. He was one of the early pioneers of coronary and peripheral angioplasty and is considered one of America’s top cardiologists. He was Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, as well as past Director of the Interventional Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix Campus. Rich was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Attended the University of Wisconsin and Johns Hopkins University. With 24 patents granted for different catheters stents and other medical devices, Dr. Heuser served as a principal investigator to research the safety and/or effectiveness of more than 100 medical devices and 50 pharmaceutical products and participated in more than 100 research studies. He authored numerous articles, textbooks, and medical manuscripts, and was frequently invited to international medical conferences to present findings of research originating in Phoenix. Dr. Heuser developed the first catheter treatment for leakage of the mitral valve, which has presaged the catheter treatment that is now available routinely for narrowing or leakage of the mitral valve. His hydrophilic or “water loving” wire, co-developed with an engineer, is utilized in approximately 20% in all angioplasty procedures performed worldwide. The covered stent that Dr. Heuser co-invented is currently used in every catheter lab worldwide that performs angioplasty and stenting. Frequently listed as a “Top Doc” in national publications, he had the honor of previously being named as Top Cardiologist in the Columbia HCA System, the largest hospital system worldwide in 1999. Dr. Heuser is the former President of the Arizona Chapter of the American Heart Association and served on their Board. Dr. Heuser was named 2010 Health Care Hero by the Phoenix Business Journal in Arizona. He was awarded the Top Innovation award for his technology at the 2016 CRT meeting. He was also named Physician of the Year at the 2016 Arizona Business Magazine Healthcare Leadership Awards. He recently was also honored to participate in the 40th Anniversary of Angioplasty in Zurich, Switzerland. To those of you who knew him, worked with him, were treated by him, or attended any of his lectures, you knew him to be extremely passionate about his work, intelligent, attentive, funny as heck, sometimes irreverently. But many of us would say his most defining characteristic was his good humor and devotion to his family, especially to his beautiful wife, Shari.

Dr Richard Heuser has joined Heart and Vascular of Arizona. Heart & Vascular Center of AZ, founded by Dr. Nathan Laufer in 2001, added Dr. Heuser, a Cardiologist practicing in Arizona since 1990. Heuser was recently honored at the Global Cardiovascular awards in London, England. Dr. Heuser Co -invented the Endologix Detour device that was named the top Innovation in Cardiac Surgery in 2024. This device is utilized for percutaneous femoral- popliteal surgery instead of the open surgical approach. This device was approved by the FDA in May 2023. This is one of nine devices that Heuser has invented, approved, and in use for cardiovascular treatment worldwide.

We would like to wish all our friends and patients the best in health and happiness for the holiday season

Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona P.C. ("HVCA"), a leading independent cardiovascular physician practice has merged its operations with Cardiovascular Associates of America ("CVAUSA"). HVCA offers a full suite of cardiovascular services, including cardiology, electrophysiology, vein and vascular treatments, ambulatory surgery, office-based lab solutions, and cardiovascular imaging to a patient base across two clinical locations and numerous hospitals in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Read more about Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona here. www.heartcenteraz.com Cardiovascular Associates of America, a portfolio group of Webster Equity Partners, is a physician-led network committed to leading cardiology into a value-based future that benefits patients, partnering with payers, primary care groups, and more to transform care delivery. Learn more about CVAUSA here www.cvausa.com B. Riley's investment bankers team was led by Ben Matz and Adam Fitzmaurice, and included Jonathan Beygelman and Jack Baldner.

Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona P.C. ("HVCA"), a leading independent cardiovascular physician practice has merged its operations with Cardiovascular Associates of America ("CVAUSA"). HVCA offers a full suite of cardiovascular services, including cardiology, electrophysiology, vein and vascular treatments, ambulatory surgery, office-based lab solutions, and cardiovascular imaging to a patient base across two clinical locations and numerous hospitals in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Read more about Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona here. www.heartcenteraz.com Cardiovascular Associates of America, a portfolio group of Webster Equity Partners, is a physician-led network committed to leading cardiology into a value-based future that benefits patients, partnering with payers, primary care groups, and more to transform care delivery. Learn more about CVAUSA here www.cvausa.com B. Riley's investment bankers team was led by Ben Matz and Adam Fitzmaurice, and included Jonathan Beygelman and Jack Baldner.