Friends of the Heart Institute

Friends of the Heart Institute is a nationally recognized, award-winning, all-volunteer community organization 400 members strong. Over the last four decades, Friends has raised more than $3.5 million in support of the top priorities of award-winning cardiovascular care at Doylestown Health, now embodied in the Woodall Center for Heart and Vascular Care.
Contributions to Friends foster investments in community education and outreach, cutting-edge technology and equipment, and exceptional facilities. Friends relies on community support to help ensure that patients of Doylestown Health receive the very best cardiovascular care available, in a hospital close to home.
Friends was launched in 1978 by Herman Silverman as the $100 Heart Club. Silverman, along with Dr. Bruce Applestein, Elmer Cates, Frank Galinski, John Knoell, and Dr. Joseph F. X. McGarvey, Sr., worked to raise funds for a much-needed heart program at Doylestown Hospital.

In the 43 years since its inception, Friends has:

• Raised $3.5 million to advance heart and vascular care excellence at Doylestown Health
• Raised over $2 million in support of the new Cardiovascular and Critical Care Pavilion
• Funded nationally recognized exercise program Walk With A Doc for the community
• Purchased cutting-edge technology and exercise equipment for cardiac rehab in Doylestown
• Written and sent educational letters to cardiovascular patients for the last 15 years

Today, through the tireless commitment of its members and the ongoing support of the community, Friends continues to work toward greater goals for the cardiovascular program.

• Sara Moyer & Scott Moyer, Co-Chairs
• Bill Lieser, Membership Co-Chair
• Ephe Olliver, Membership Co-Chair
• Jim Bishop
• Carol Counihan
• Louis Della Penna
• Krista Harper, Esq.
• Kevin Lax, MD
• Jean Leister
• Joy Levy
• Terri Long, RN
• Dave Martens
• James B. McClurken, MD
• Jeffra Nandan
• Steve Novello
• Garrett Owen
• Atul Rao, MD
• Renee A. Sangrigoli, MD
• J. Doyle Walton, MD
• Ron Watson
• MaryAnn Williamson, MD
• Marilyn Winfield
• Laura K. Wortman

In 2017, the American Hospital Association selected Friends of the Heart Institute as the winner of its Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence (HAVE) in Fundraising. The HAVE Awards are designed to:

• Highlight volunteer services that are engaged in improving health care.
• Encourage service that exceeds expectations as a result of innovation, creativity and leadership.
• Promote visibility and goodwill toward the hospital or health care system.
• Promote collaboration among provider organizations and community service entities to improve the quality of life of local citizens.