ATLANTA - Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI) is pleased to welcome three cardiovascular surgeons to its family of physicians. W. Morris Brown, M.D., John P. Gott, M.D., and James R. Kauten, M.D.--all formerly with Peachtree Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons--have joined Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians, effective August 18, 2009. All three surgeons have practiced at Piedmont Hospital for several years and will continue to offer the same high level of quality care to residents in greater Atlanta needing open-heart surgery.

"Piedmont Hospital celebrated 20 years of open-heart surgery and cardiac angioplasty in 2008. These physicians have been here to set and sustain the high standard of care in the open-heart program, and Piedmont Heart Institute is pleased to welcome them to continue that tradition," said Michele Molden, president and CEO of Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI). "Doctors Brown, Gott and Kauten will help PHI continue Piedmont's legacy of exceptional cardiovascular care through their expertise and experience in caring for our patients in need of open-heart surgery."

Piedmont Hospital was named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery (2008 and 2009) by HealthGrades®, and in particular, received the 2009 Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award, placing the hospital's clinical outcomes in the top 10 percent nationally. In addition, Piedmont Hospital also received five-star ratings for coronary bypass surgery, treatment of heart attack and treatment of heart failure. Piedmont's outcomes placed it among the top five hospitals in Georgia for cardiac surgery, cardiology and overall cardiac services.
Building on a strong and long legacy of quality care, Piedmont Heart Institute was established in 2007 and brings together more than 65 cardiovascular specialists and the Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta at Piedmont Hospital to propel new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, cardiac surgery, stroke and cardiac imaging, as well as all other cardiovascular care components.

Dr. Brown earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga., and completed his internship and residency through Emory University affiliated hospitals. He then served as a research fellow and as a clinical fellow in cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University affiliated hospitals. Dr. Brown joined the Piedmont Hospital medical staff in 2001.

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