Salisbury, MD — TidalHealth Peninsula Regional’s Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute Cardiac Catheterization/EP Labs and 2 East clinical unit celebrated Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, after successfully performing their 700th WATCHMAN™ procedure.
The WATCHMAN™ is a minimally invasive procedure designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who cannot take blood thinners. By implanting a small device that closes off the left atrial appendage (LAA) — the source of many stroke-causing blood clots — the procedure significantly lowers the likelihood of stroke while allowing patients to stop using blood-thinning medications, offering improved safety and quality of life.
Pictured are members of the clinical team along with Amanda Kille, TidalHealth Cardiology WATCHMAN™ program coordinator; Dr. Steven Hearne; Dr. Akhil Parashar; Dr. Scott Kaufman; and Dr. Biswajit Ghosh.
Dr. Hearne led the initiative to bring the WATCHMAN™ procedure to TidalHealth in 2016 and performed the first procedure. TidalHealth Peninsula Regional has since become a leader among Maryland hospitals performing this procedure.
“This milestone not only reflects the growing need for this procedure in our community, but also underscores the trust our patients place in TidalHealth for innovative and effective treatments,” Hearne said.
Congratulations to everyone who made this milestone possible — from the TidalHealth Cardiology office team to the pre- and post-procedure nursing units, cardiac anesthesia, and the dedicated clinical team working alongside our physicians. Your commitment to excellence is truly inspiring.
To learn more about heart and vascular care services at TidalHealth, visit tidalhealth.org/heart.
