Capital Cardiology Associates and Albany Medical Center Mark Milestone with 50th Barostim Implant
Left to Right: Megan Monahan, (CVRx/Barostim Representative), Dr Eugene Pashkovetsky, (CCA), and Dana Murnane, RN (CCA)
From left to right: Dr. Steven Hernandez (AMC Vascular Surgery Fellow), Dr. Darling (AMC Vascular Surgery Attending), Dr. Rizwan Alimohammad, (CCA EP), Dr. Julia Kleene (AMC & Glens Falls Hospital Vascular Surgery Attending), Megan Monahan (CVRx/Barostim Representative), Joe Tsokanos (CVRx/Barostim Senior Director)
From left to right: Dr. Darling, Dr. Grishma Pradhan (AMC Surgical Resident), Dr. Steven Hernandez (AMC Vascular Surgery Fellow)
Albany, NY — Capital Cardiology Associates, in collaboration with the Division of Vascular Surgery at Albany Medical Center, has reached a milestone with the completion of its 50th Barostim implant, an advanced therapy designed to improve symptoms in patients living with heart failure. You can learn more about how Barostim works by viewing this 90 second animation.
The Barostim device is an implantable therapy that works by stimulating baroreceptors, specialized sensors located in the walls of blood vessels that help the body regulate blood pressure and heart function. By activating these natural pathways, the device helps rebalance the autonomic nervous system, which can become overactive in patients with heart failure. Clinical studies have shown the therapy can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue.
The program includes Dr. Rizwan Alimohammad, Dr. Eugene Pashkovetsky, Dr. Ian Santoro, and Gina Chavarria, NP, of Capital Cardiology Associates, working in collaboration with vascular surgeons Dr. R. Clement Darling III, Dr. Casey Hladik, Dr. Nicholas Gilbert, Dr. Jeffrey Hnath, Dr. Julia Kleene, and Dr. Brett Voigt.
Dr. Alimohammad reflected on the broader meaning of the milestone. "Medicine, at its best, is not about defeating death—it is about restoring the quiet dignity of life. This procedure is not merely a technical advance; it is a bridge between suffering and relief, between uncertainty and hope. We intervene with our hands, yes, but what we truly offer is time—time reclaimed, breath renewed, and the possibility for a life once interrupted to continue its story. Barostim has enabled us to reach this goal."
Intraoperative view of Barostim neuromodulation electrode placement on the carotid sinus for baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) in the management of resistant hypertension.
Dr. Pashkovetsky echoed the significance of the milestone. "Reaching our 50th Barostim procedure is an important milestone for our program and, more importantly, for the patients we serve. Barostim therapy offers a meaningful option for individuals with advanced heart failure who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy, and we've seen firsthand how it can improve quality of life and functional capacity. I'm incredibly proud of our team for achieving this milestone, and we are committed to continuing to grow and expand access to this therapy for the patients who need it most."
Capital Cardiology Associates is proud to partner with Albany Medical Center in advancing access to innovative therapies for patients across the region.
Barostim therapy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 and is indicated for patients who remain symptomatic despite guideline-directed medical therapy. The device is implanted during a minimally invasive procedure and offers a non-pharmacologic approach to managing heart failure.
About Capital Cardiology Associates
Capital Cardiology Associates is a cardiovascular practice serving New York's Capital Region, bringing together cardiologists, advanced practice providers, and clinical specialists as one unified clinical team focused on delivering comprehensive heart care close to home. The practice supports patients across the full continuum of care, from prevention and early detection to advanced treatment and long-term management of cardiovascular disease, including its Enhanced Cardiac Access walk-in clinic for same-day evaluation of urgent, non-emergency cardiac symptoms.
This work is supported by decades of clinical experience and the integration of modern approaches in cardiac medicine, including AI-supported diagnostics, remote monitoring, minimally invasive structural heart procedures, leadless pacemakers, and advanced cardiac imaging. These capabilities allow for earlier diagnosis, more precise treatment, and improved coordination of care across specialties.
About Albany Medical Center
Albany Medical Center, northeastern New York's only academic medical center, is one of the largest private employers in the Capital Region. It incorporates the 766-bed Albany Medical Center, which offers the widest range of medical and surgical services in the region, and Albany Medical College, which trains the next generation of doctors, scientists, and other healthcare professionals. It also includes the region's largest physicians' practice with more than 500 doctors.
Albany Medical Center works with dozens of community partners to improve the region's health and quality of life. It is a member of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, and the Visiting Nurses. The system has 1,520 beds, more than 900 physicians, and 125 outpatient locations throughout the Capital Region.
Albany Med Vascular is the first in New York State and the only program in the region to be certified by the American College of Surgeons and the Society for Vascular Surgery as a Comprehensive Inpatient Vascular-VP Center. The Division of Vascular Surgery consists of 13 board-certified vascular surgeons and three advanced practice providers who see patients at seven clinic locations spanning Glens Falls to Kingston, NY.
