VCS Blog

Patients deserve to know that their heart care is backed by experience, safety standards, and independent oversight. That’s why Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists is proud to share that Dr. Vivak Master was recently featured in EP Lab Digest for his article, “Building a High-Performance Electrophysiology Program in an Ambulatory Surgery Center: Lessons From a 3-Year Journey […]

Heart disease is often thought of as a men’s health issue—but it is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Many women are surprised to learn that heart disease risk can begin early in adulthood and develop quietly over time, long before symptoms are obvious. Understanding your personal risk factors—and how […]

VCS wants to share an important insurance requirement that may affect your care. Some Medicare Advantage plans now require a referral from your Primary Care Provider (PCP) before you can be seen at our office. This requirement is specific to certain plans, including the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO plan. Many patients who selected this new […]

Holiday gatherings often mean heavier meals, busy schedules, and more alcohol than usual. This may lead to what is known as Holiday Heart Syndrome–a sudden onset of cardiac arrhythmia (most often Atrial Fibrillation or Afib). This can happen even in people who have no history of heart problems. What Is Holiday Heart Syndrome? Holiday Heart […]

When Dr. Matthew J. Chung, MD, FACC, a board-certified structural interventional cardiologist with Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists (VCS) and Director of the Structural Heart Program for Bon Secours Mercy Health Richmond Market, met patient Eleanor, progressive fatigue was impacting her daily activities. At 90 years old, her severe aortic stenosis had begun to demand she slow […]

This article, originally published in the Summer 2025 issue of the Richmond Academy of Medicine’s The Patient’s Navigator, features Dr. Nayef Abouzaki, board-certified interventional cardiologist at Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists. Dr. Abouzaki shares why he supports Access Now’s mission to expand specialty care for Richmond’s most vulnerable patients and how his work on the board is […]

Dr. Chung performed a minimally invasive mitral valve repair with MitraClip, using a new, safer transseptal puncture system called SafeCross™ Transseptal Radiofrequency (RF) Puncture & Steerable Balloon Introducer System made by East End Medical.

Earlier last week, Dr. Vivak Master was the first to perform an Aveir VR implant in Richmond, Virginia.  The procedure took place at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital. VCS is pleased to now offer Abbott’s new Aveir VR leadless pacemaker – the world’s only leadless pacemaker designed to be retrieved.  Aveir VR leadless pacemaker provides a new […]

VCS began working with HealthSnap to implement a Remote Patient Monitoring program (RPM) for our Medicare patients in late 2021. Wanting to know the real impact of these programs on our patients, the VCS Board and physicians asked HealthSnap to conduct an analysis of any clinical benefit of the RPM program.  HealthSnap was able to […]

Do you wish to understand more about Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)? Dr. Melchior breaks down the basics to keep you better informed!

Here at Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists, we care about the health and well-being of our patients! We strive to make everyone feel happier and healthier than before they started seeing us.

Check out our newest Webinar as Dr. Chung breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of TAVR!

Richmond, VA and Miami, FL – October, 14, 2021 – Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists (VCS), a 39-doctor cardiology practice in Richmond, Virginia, has selected HealthSnap, a leading Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) platform, to provide a new chronic condition management experience for its patients. By using HealthSnap, VCS will also look to reduce patient readmissions and improve the overall functionality of […]

Investigators from The Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center recently concluded a study that examined the relationship between CAC scoring, bleeding risk, and 10-year ASCVD risk while exploring the net benefit of Aspirin at three different CAC score categories. The goal of the study was to identify […]

Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists earns national recognition for efforts to reduce number of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA) for their commitment to helping improve blood pressure (BP) control rates among the patient populations they serve, Gold level recognition as part […]

Last week at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital Dr. J Trevor Posenau was the first in Richmond to deploy the next generation Sapien 3 Ultra TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement). This valve was approved in August 2019 for the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis at low or greater risk for open-heart surgery. Dr. Sameer Rohatgi […]

Every April, Richmond Magazine compiles the Top Docs of Richmond. These awards are based on nominations by Richmond physicians in 82 categories.   VCS physicians have been recognized as Top Doctors for the past 22 years. This year 6 of our VCS physicians were recognized! Congratulations to Dr. Appleton, Dr. Gilligan, Dr. Jennings, Dr. Kundur, Dr. Newton and Dr. Sperry, all recognized as 2017 Top Docs! And […]

By: Dr. Daniel A. Schneider Experiencing a fast heart rate can be a worrisome occurrence, especially if you are not aware of why it is taking place. Let’s take a brief look at some of the basic questions surrounding a fast heart rate, as well as when to take further action. What Is Considered A “Fast […]

By: Dr. David M. Gilligan A heart palpitation is the awareness of your heart beating in your chest. When you can feel or hear your heart racing or pounding, you are experiencing a heart palpitation.  Sometimes it feels like your heart skipped a beat or you feel an extra beat.  Although most people feel this sensation […]

By: Dr. Carolyn A. Burns The term heart disease is a broad term that may refer to a number of different ailments, including issues with the heart’s electrical system, valve system, or its pumping ability. Generally speaking, however, “heart disease” is most often referring to coronary artery disease (CAD). In cases of coronary artery disease, there […]

By: Dr. Ashwani Kumar A cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions (for example, blockages). During a cardiac catheterization, a catheter is put into a blood vessel so that a doctor may perform diagnostic tests and treatments on your heart. The difference between a standard catheterization (femoral) and a radial […]

By: Dr. William L. Coble, Jr. The words chest pain and chest tightness are often used synonymously, but it’s the former that represents more of a catch-all terminology. Chest tightness is generally associated with a heaviness or achy feeling, while a “pins and needles” sensation is usually more indicative of musculoskeletal issues. Let’s take a closer […]

Being a prepared patient will help your doctor diagnose and treat you more accurately; and it will help you get the most out of your visit as well. Before scheduling an appointment make sure you understand how your insurance works and what it pays for, including what your deductible and co-pay are.  You should also […]