Cardiologists retiring after more than 30 years

O n the first day of his cardiology fellowship at Atlantas Emory University School of Medicine, John Frazier spoke to another man as they walked in the door. The year was 1971.

That encounter would result in a 43-year friendship. That friendship would translate into a thriving medical practice and the establishment of a cardiovascular program at Washington Hospital that would make the difference in thousands of lives.

Today, the practice Drs. John E. Frazier and Neil J. Hart began in 1982 as Frazier-Hart is flourishing as Washington Health System Cardiovascular Care with a professional staff of nine cardiologists and eight nurse practitioners. Both men, now in their 70s, are retiring this month.

They announced their intentions to retire several years ago, giving the practice time to hire a physician and begin transferring patients to other cardiologists, said Kurt Segeleon, office manager. The practice, located at 125 N. Franklin Drive near Consol Energy Park, sees 32,000 patients annually.

The doctors retirement has not been without some mixed feelings.

Its been very emotional, said Marjorie Fischer, a medical assistant, who earlier that day witnessed a patient tearfully saying goodbye to Hart.

Fischer understands the emotions. She began her work at the practice in 1982, just one month before Hart joined his friend in the Washington Trust Building. Frazier had started his Washington practice in 1975 and talked Hart, a native of Cleveland, into joining him.

I knew one person in Washington County and just on faith alone I came down, Hart said.

Talk about the odd couple, he added. I had six kids and another on the way and John wasnt even engaged.

A typical physicians office in the 1980s was much different than today. Forget computers; there wasnt even an office fax machine noted Fischer, and an electric typewriter with erasable tape was something of an electronic miracle.

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Cardiologists retiring after more than 30 years