News Release: December 29, 1997

Albuquerque, NM -- Earlier this month, Michael B. Harding, MD, joined Presbyterian's newly formed and Albuquerque based Heart Group. Dr. Harding, a cardiologist, has been seeing patients in Ruidoso and surrounding areas for over four years. He will continue to operate his clinic located at Lincoln County Medical Center's Professional Building and consult on cardiovascular issues. To schedule an appointment, patients should call Presbyterian Heart Group at 1-800-734-4278.

The Heart Group consists of six cardiologists and two cardiothoracic surgeons. The eight physicians were already on the medical staff of Presbyterian Hospital and formerly practiced as independent physicians in Albuquerque. The Presbyterian Heart Group will become the corner stone of Presbyterian's heart program.

Since 1996, Dr. Harding, has been the Medical Director of Presbyterian's Cardiac Catheterization Lab. He attended Medical School and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Vanderbilt University. He did his Cardiology Fellowship at Duke University and Angioplasty Fellowship at the University of British Columbia. He has been practicing cardiology in New Mexico for over five years.

Presbyterian's Heart Program has been in existence since 1970 and currently ranks among the top 5% in the nation for volumes and quality outcomes of heart care. New Mexico's only option for comprehensive heart care, the Heart Center is the sole center for organ transplantation, provides adult and pediatric cardiology and surgery, as well as rehabilitation and cardiovascular laboratory services. The Heart Center is owned by Presbyterian Healthcare Services, the state's largest not-for-profit healthcare delivery organization.