Dr. John Mitchell performed EAMC’s first Heart Cath 40 years ago today

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – On July 10, 1985, Dr. John Mitchell performed East Alabama Medical Center’s first heart catheterization, marking the beginning of in-house cardiac diagnostic services at the hospital. In East Alabama chances are, you or someone close to you has been directly impacted by Dr. Mitchell’s care.

At the time, patients needing the procedure had to travel to larger cities like Birmingham, Atlanta, or Montgomery. Within a year of starting the program, EAMC performed more than 360 heart catheterizations—triple the initial projection of 120.

The procedure’s success led to further growth in cardiac services. By 1987, EAMC began performing open-heart surgeries after securing a certificate of need.

Diagnostic heart catheterizations remain the hospital’s most common cardiac procedure. In 2024, 1,417 heart caths were performed at EAMC, along with 800 related interventions such as angioplasties and stent placements.

Technological advances have followed suit. Today’s heart cath procedures are performed using 58-inch monitors, a significant upgrade from the 19-inch monitor used in 1985.

Dr. Mitchell, who continues to practice, said, “Since completing that first heart cath, we’ve progressed to doing complex procedures that were unheard of in 1985.”