Well-known local heart surgeon rejoining Erlanger

In a surprise move, well-known veteran heart surgeon Dr. Richard Morrison, who only months ago announced that he and fellow members of his Alliance of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgeons would no longer work with Erlanger hospital, is heading back to Erlanger to join its newly-formed Heart and Lung Institute.

Both Erlanger and CHI Memorial have been engaged in a highly visible public relations campaign to emphasize the quality of their heart surgeons. Erlanger has been running television commercials showing its fleet of five Life Force helicopters flying five heart surgeons from all over the U.S. to land on the banks of the Tennessee River here to join its Heart and Lung Institute, while CHI Memorial has purchased several full-page newspaper ads to tout its own team.

When the new heart and lung facility was announced in November, Erlanger CEO Kevin Spiegel praised Morrison and his Alliance surgeons in a letter to area cardiologists for "their years of service." But he added a rejoinder: "We believe to take patient care to the next level for Chattanooga and our patients, we need to recruit new and innovative technology and talent."

In an announcement Wednesday, Dr. Judy Tingley, CEO of the Heart and Lung Institute, touted Dr. Morrison as a surgeon who "is known throughout this region for his commitment to the highest quality of care, the ability to perform highly complex cardiac procedures, great outcomes, and improving the quality of life for his patients. This makes Dr. Morrison an ideal partner."

For his part, Morrison seemed happy to be back at Erlanger.

"The heart team members that Erlanger is gathering together to execute their vision is impressive," he said in the news release. "The most important factor, besides training and the latest technology, is achieving the best outcomes for every patient. That's what we are focused on here at Erlanger, and I am proud to be part of this team."

Morrison has practiced in Chattanooga for more than four decades.

Contact staff writer Steve Johnson at 423-757-6673, sjohnson@timesfreepress.com, on Twitter @stevejohnsonTFP, and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/noogahealth.

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