UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital is expanding its cardiopulmonary program with the addition of two new cardiologists, “aiming to improve access to specialized heart care for patients in Chenango County and the surrounding area,” according to a UHS news release.
Dr. Joseph Petro and Dr. Ifrah Abdirahman recently joined the medical staff at UHS Cardiology in Norwich, “bringing advanced training and expertise in treating heart disease — one of the area’s most common chronic conditions,” the release stated.
“Heart disease is very prevalent in our area,” said Dr. Thomas Genese, chief medical officer at Chenango Memorial. “The key to being able to successfully manage it is through access to care.”
Genese said the hospital already benefits from two well-established cardiology nurse practitioners, Sue Button and Fawn Mumbulo. With the addition of Petro and Abdirahman, he said, the hospital will be able to expand basic and advanced cardiology services for inpatients and outpatients.
A Broome County native, Petro earned his medical degree from St. Georges University School of Medicine in Grenada. He completed his residency at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey and his cardiology fellowship at UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City, according to the release.
“Dr. Petro’s return home to the Southern Tier illustrates his commitment to rural medicine, and we’re very excited to welcome him to the Chenango County community we serve,” Genese said.
Abdirahman, who was raised in Canada, completed her medical degree at the DeGroote School of Medicine in Ottawa. She trained in internal medicine at The Ottawa Hospital, followed by a cardiology fellowship at Queen’s University’s Kingston General Hospital. She also pursued post-doctoral training at Baylor University Medical Center and St. Luke’s Medical Center.
In addition to her medical training, Abdirahman holds a master’s degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of Ottawa, as well as a dual master of public health and master of business sdministration from John Hopkins University, the release stated.
Her expertise includes advanced heart failure, transplant cardiology and pulmonary hypertension.
“Heart failure is one of the most common and serious chronic conditions we treat,” Genese said. “Having a physician with specialized training in advanced heart failure will have a meaningful impact on the care we provide to patients in more advanced stages of the disease.”
Abdirahman also has a personal connection to the hospital. Her aunt, Dr. Nadifa Ali, served as a longtime family medicine provider at UHS Chenango Memorial until her retirement in 2023, according to the release.
Chenango Memorial President and CEO Cecil Miller said the addition of the specialists “strengthens the Norwich hospital’s ability to provide expert, compassionate care close to home,” the release stated.
“This is yet another example of UHS Chenango Memorial’s commitment to enhancing its mission of providing comprehensive, compassionate care to the people of Chenango County and beyond,” Miller said.