For over 15 years, Southcoast Health Heart & Vascular has been there for Bob Heron. It all began back in 2010, Bob was 50 and athletic, working full time and enjoying his family when he suffered a heart attack.

An avid golfer and cyclist, the Swansea resident was on his usual 15- or 20-mile ride after work at National Grid. Just a few miles out, he was not feeling like himself; he was tired, sweating and nauseous.

“I just wasn’t feeling right,” he said.

He decided to go home, and the next morning went to see his physician, who put him in an ambulance and sent him to Charlton Memorial Hospital.

That is where he first met Dr. Peter Cohn, a cardiologist and Chief of Southcoast Health Heart & Vascular. Dr. Cohn told Bob he needed cardiac catheterization, a medical procedure that involves threading a thin catheter through a blood vessel into the heart, allowing doctors to determine whether a patient has a clogged artery.

The procedure showed a blockage in Bob’s right coronary artery, and Dr. Cohn told him he needed a stent to reopen the artery and get blood flowing.

“He told me I had had a small heart attack,” he said. After a short hospital stay, Bob began cardiac rehabilitation at Southcoast Health Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in Fall River. He went through the standard 36 sessions designed not only to rebuild cardiac fitness but to restore patients’ confidence in their abilities.

“I was in good hands,” Bob said. “They are a hard-working, high-spirited group who know their jobs and enjoy working with patients.”

Overseeing the program and Bob’s care since 2010 was Exercise Physiologist Kurt Simon. He was later assisted by nurses Martha Pacheco and Denise Gregoire in 2025.

“We became friends. They really look out for you,” Bob said.

One of the services the cardiac team provides is counseling patients on changes they should consider making in their lives, such as getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet with fruits, grains, vegetables and lean meats. Bob was disciplined about the dietary changes — for a while.

“You make all these promises to yourself, but over time your energy wanes,” he said, adding that he has a special fondness for meats that are high in sodium and fats, like sausages and hot dogs. Not the ideal diet for someone with coronary artery disease,” he admits.

In 2018, Bob was on the golf course, walking up a fairway when suddenly he felt “an overwhelming concern that something was wrong.” He was sweating profusely and had a feeling of dread but managed to finish the round before heading back to Charlton Memorial for another cardiac catheterization. Bob had a blockage in a second artery that required another stent.

He said he probably inherited his risk for high cholesterol from his parents and is now taking a beta-blocker, a blood thinner and a baby aspirin to inhibit the formation of arterial blockages and blood clots.

During the summer of 2024, Bob developed a severe COVID-19 infection and was sick for almost a month. The following November he developed chest pains and weakness and sent a MyChart message to Liz Tivnan, NP who, along with Dr. Cohn, had been managing his cardiac care for many years. After evaluating Bob, Liz arranged for another cardiac catheterization to be performed by Southcoast Health Structural and Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Benjamin Zorach.

Based on the findings, Dr. Zorach conferred with Dr. Cohn and decided two more stents were needed in Bob’s right coronary artery. These were implanted successfully by Dr. Zorach with an intravascular lithotripsy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses sonic pressure waves to break down calcified plaque in coronary and peripheral arteries to facilitate stent placement.

However, after the stents were implanted, Bob again had pain in his chest and contacted Liz. Dr. Cohn reviewed his symptoms and the imaging from the procedure. He reassured Bob that all indications showed the new stents were functioning. Dr. Cohn recommended that Bob proceed with 36 more sessions of cardiac rehabilitation to rebuild his cardiac fitness — and his confidence.

“Cardiac rehab got me through some of the scariest moments of my life. In both 2010 and 2025, it wasn’t just about healing my heart — it was about calming my mind. The support and structure helped ease the anxiety and fear that come with recovery.”

Together these measures worked, and Bob is again leading an active life, golfing and spending as much time as possible with his two daughters and his grandchildren. Now 65, he retired several years ago and spends a lot of his time as a landscape photographer who “loves crawling around” in search of subjects to photograph, and running the Charlton Memorial Golf League, where he and his friends play.

“I feel great,” he said. “I have always considered Dr. Cohn, Liz Tivnan, NP, Dr. Zorach and their staff, and the team of professionals at Southcoast Health Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services my personal team. They have been by my side for the last 15 years and I look forward to continuing our trusted relationship for a long time.”

For more information on Southcoast Health Heart & Vascular services, visit Home | Southcoast Health Heart & Vascular.