Lourdes Health System, which last year acquired Associated Cardiovascular Associates and South Jersey Heart Group, has now partnered with another important Delaware Valley cardiology practice: Franklin Cardiovascular, announced health system President and CEO, Alexander J. Hatala.

Franklin Cardiovascular, the practice of Nicholas DePace, MD, FACC, a highly regarded non-invasive cardiologist and co-author of the well-received and widely published book, The Heart Repair Manual: The Philadelphia Formula Program for Preventing and Reversing Atherosclerosis, brings over 30 years of medical expertise to Lourdes.

"We welcome Dr. DePace and his team at Franklin Cardiovascular to Lourdes," said Hatala. "His experience and leadership in heart care fits seamlessly with our mission to deliver the most advanced cardiac medicine to our patients with an emphasis on quality and value. We look forward to building upon this relationship."

With offices located in South Philadelphia, Cherry Hill and Sewell, New Jersey, Dr. DePace is well known throughout the Delaware Valley. The main focus of Dr. DePace's practice is direct patient care and consultative services with an emphasis on communication and availability. He specializes in valvular heart disease management and coronary artery disease prevention and regression. He is also a specialist in lipid management and specialized testing of the autonomic nervous system which can be the underlying cause of certain cardiac disorders. In addition, Dr. DePace is sought out for his individualized approach to care and his use of homeopathic principles in his practice.

"I am delighted to be affiliated with a health system that has such a great reputation for heart care and embraces a patient-centered philosophy," said Dr. DePace. "Our synergy with Lourdes is created by an undeniable passion and dedication to providing patients with the best cardiac care possible."

His reputation as a distinguished cardiologist is well earned. By integrating a high level of patient care along with the latest technology and most effective techniques, Dr. DePace and his team have helped hundreds of patients go on to lead active lives since the Franklin Cardiovascular practice was founded in 2007.

A native of New Jersey, Dr. DePace attended Seton Hall University as an undergraduate. He graduated from the prestigious Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1978 receiving his M.D. degree. Dr. DePace came to Philadelphia in 1979 and did his internal medicine residency at Hahnemann University. He was chief medical resident in 1981 and completed his cardiovascular training at the Likoff Cardiovascular Institute in 1983.

Dr. DePace obtained the rank of full clinical professor at the Medical College of Pennsylvania at the age of 33, becoming the youngest professor in Philadelphia at the time to receive such status. He currently is a faculty member at Drexel University School of Medicine.

Dr. DePace has five board certifications including Cardiology, Echocardiology, Lipidology, Nuclear Cardiology and Internal Medicine. He has been a prolific publisher and clinical researcher since early on in his career and has authored and co-authored over 100 articles, abstracts and textbook chapters.

He has published leading articles on aortic and mitral valve disease and has been published extensively in the field of noninvasive cardiology, specifically echocardiology and nuclear cardiology. Dr. DePace has also presented at national and international medical conferences in China, Africa, Israel and England.

"Dr. DePace is an exceptional cardiologist," said Reginald Blaber, MD, FACC, Executive Director and Vice President of Cardiovascular Services for Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. "His affiliation with our cardiac team at Lourdes will allow us to further expand our capabilities in understanding and treating patients with heart disease and other cardiac-related issues."

Note: Dr. DePace currently resides in Haddonfield, New Jersey. He is married with one child, Nicholas Jr., who attends the University of Pennsylvania.