Now that he’s a nurse practitioner, a Habersham native is getting back to his roots in more ways than one.
Stan Underwood, AGACNP, has joined Georgia Heart Institute to provide advanced heart care to people in Demorest. He, his wife and their families are all from Habersham County. Stan has also cared for patients as a nurse at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville – where his mother also worked as a nurse for 30 years – for nearly a decade.
“Northeast Georgia Health System raised me as a nurse,” said Stan. “It’s also where I did most of my clinical training as a nurse practitioner, so staying in the health system while serving my community is important to me.”
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the U.S., which is what drew Stan to cardiology. Before joining Georgia Heart Institute as a nurse practitioner, Stan was a registered nurse in the cardiovascular intensive care, critical care and coronary care units at NGMC Gainesville.
“Every organ system in the body is impacted by cardiovascular function,” said Stan. “When we’re able to treat heart disease, we’re able to improve the quality of life of our patients, and ultimately extend their length of life.”
Stan completed his clinical education through Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia, and the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
“Stan is a skilled clinician who has personal ties to this community, which makes him a great fit with our growing practice,” said Alan Opsahl, MD, a cardiologist with Georgia Heart Institute and director for non-invasive cardiology in Demorest and Toccoa. “We’re passionate about bringing specialized cardiac care closer to home for people in this region, so patients don’t have to travel far to get the care they deserve.”
To schedule an appointment at Georgia Heart Institute’s Demorest location, visit georgiaheartinstitute.org/habersham or call 770-534-2020.
About Georgia Heart Institute
Georgia Heart Institute is the most forward-thinking heart and vascular program in the state and includes one of the largest cardiology practices in the region, including more than 120 clinicians seeing patients at more than a dozen locations. With a multi-disciplinary team of experts treating nearly every type of heart and vascular disease and participating in leading national research, we’re providing advanced care that ensures lasting heart health for generations. Request an appointment and learn more at georgiaheartinstitute.org.
The experts of Georgia Heart Institute also form the core of the cardiac care team at Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s five hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. It’s all part of Northeast Georgia Health System, a non-profit which serves more than 1 million people across the region. Learn more at nghs.com.