At the East Carolina Heart Institute, East Carolina University and Vidant Medical Center have partnered to create a place where physicians and professionals provide an array of high-quality cardiovascular services for both adults and children. We offer a patient-centered approach so that all patients will receive the latest, most promising treatment options. By anticipating what is best for our patients, East Carolina has been at the forefront of the latest medical procedures. In fact, more than 10 years ago, our doctors pioneered minimally invasive cardiac surgery, which reduces the trauma associated with heart surgery and helps a patient recover sooner. The institute's physicians and other health professionals strive to improve North Carolina's health status through cardiovascular health care, research, and education. By accomplishing this, we are, in turn, providing world-class care for eastern North Carolina, the state, and the world.