SBL Heart Center Collaborating with Washington University Physicians in Illinois, Inc.

Pictured left to right: Dr. B. Lakshmi, DO, Dr. Michael LaMonto, DO, Allyson Gough, APRN, Dr. Dean Katsamakis, DO. Photo submitted by Sarah Bush Lincoln

For Immediate Release

Sarah Bush Lincoln is excited to introduce its new cardiology team in the Heart Center and announce its collaboration with Washington University Physicians in Illinois, Inc.

Continuing to provide excellent care is SBL Cardiologist Michael LaMonto, DO, and Advanced Practice Provider Allyson Gough, APRN. They are joined by SBL Interventional Cardiologist Dean Katsamakis, DO, and SBL Cardiologist B. Lakshminarayanan, (Dr. Lakshmi), MD.

SBL President and CEO Jerry Esker said, “We could not be more pleased with our new cardiology team, and as members of the BJC Collaborative, we are especially pleased with our collaboration with Washington University Physicians in Illinois, Inc. This group brings world-renown care and a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our community that is second to none.”

He added while the SBL cardiology team is employed by Sarah Bush Lincoln, the community will benefit from the broad strength and world-class reputation of Washington University Physicians in Illinois, Inc., as it helps SBL to enhance the quality of its cardiology care.

The SBL cardiology team will feel like familiar old friends. Dr. LaMonto and Ally Gough have been with Sarah Bush Lincoln for many years, while Dr. Katsamakis provided cardiology care for the community nine years ago. Dr. Lakshmi first came to Sarah Bush Lincoln to practice with long-time cardiologist Dr. Zaveri from 1999 through 2005. He continued to care for many of his area patients through Christie Clinic in Champaign and in a local office.

Esker added, “We are fortunate to bring these great minds together to care for the cardiovascular needs in our community. Their breadth of knowledge is deep, and as peers, they are anxious to work in unison to provide extraordinary care.”

The new relationship was developed through the BJC Collaborative of which Sarah Bush Lincoln has been a part of since 2015.

Sandra Van Trease, BJC group president who provides strategic leadership for the Collaborative, explained, “The BJC Collaborative provides a means of facilitating the exploration and ultimately, the implementation of potential program and services between and among the Collaborative members to improve access to and quality of healthcare for patients.”

While Sarah Bush Lincoln has benefitted in multiple ways through the Collaborative, this is an excellent example of how members are working together to enhance the quality of care for patients in their local communities, she added.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women – about one in four people will die from heart disease each year. That’s why Sarah Bush Lincoln recently invested in a contemporary and comforting Heart Center so it could continue its rich culture of offering the gold standard of care to all of its patients.

The newly opened Heart Center is spacious and beautiful. It provides diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization with two Cath labs at its ready, expanded exam rooms, extensive cardiac rehabilitation following a heart event, stress testing and echocardiography, pulmonary function testing, EKG and nuclear medicine services all in one easy to access area through Entrance H at the Health Center.

For more information about The Heart Center or to make an appointment, call 217 238-4960.