The Heart Institute of East Texas

01/30/2026

Dr. Ravinder Bachireddy honored Thursday night as the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce used its annual banquet to spotlight decades of medical leadership, volunteer-driven service and the collective impact of a community investing in its own future.

Bachireddy, who accepted the Chamber’s Angelina Award, was recognized for more than four decades of work expanding advanced cardiovascular care in East Texas, helping bring life-saving treatment closer to home for thousands of patients and helping establish Lufkin as a regional center for heart care.

“This was the best decision I have ever made in my life,” Bachireddy said of moving to Lufkin. “The community was very welcoming, and they trusted me so I could make a difference in this community.”

When he first arrived, Bachireddy said, many heart patients were regularly sent to Houston or Dallas, placing financial and emotional strain on families already facing medical crises.

“I quickly realized being the first cardiologist, that most patients were traveling long distances to Houston or Dallas,” he said. “That puts a tremendous burden on the families in addition to the difficult times — I decided something has to be done quickly.”

Working alongside colleagues and hospital partners, Bachireddy helped bring specialized procedures, advanced technology and nationally accredited programs to region. His goal was not only treatment, but prevention and longterm quality of life.

“We established excellent care, brought state-of-the-art technologies to this region and changed the lives of East Texans for the better,” he said. “We proved together we can make national excellence in a small rural town.”

Bachireddy also credited his family — particularly his wife, Aruna — for supporting his work throughout the years.

“Above all, I am incredibly blessed with a beautiful and love of my life, my wife Aruna, who has advised me, criticized me and was always there as a pillar of strength,” he said. “She was on my side for every challenge and for every success, so this honor belongs to her as much as it does to me.”

Cardiologist Dr. Ravinder Bachireddy and the Deep East Texas Resource Center were honored Thursday night as the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce used its annual banquet to spotlight decades of

01/25/2026

Office Update – Open Tomorrow (Monday 1/26)

Good evening! The Heart Institute of East Texas will be open tomorrow, Monday, January 26, during regular business hours.

If you have an appointment, please travel safely. Your health and safety are always our top priority.
If you need to reschedule, please call our office during business hours at 936-632-8787 and our team will be happy to help.

Thank you, and we look forward to caring for you!

01/23/2026

To promote safety for our patients and employees we are closely monitoring the winter storm and will provide additional updates should Monday hours be affected. Please stay safe and warm this weekend!

01/01/2026

11/14/2025

Patients who once faced life-threatening heart failure returned to St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Thursday afternoon to thank the physicians, nurses and technicians who helped them survive, and to celebrate second chances made possible by advanced cardiac technology. (Story and photos by RUBEN IBARRA JR./The Lufkin Daily News)

https://lufkindailynews.com/news/local/heart-surgery-survivors-reunite-with-care-team-at-st-lukes-health-memorial/article_aef70157-d549-5529-970e-4847ce37822c.html

11/11/2025

The Heart Institute of East Texas proudly salutes all the veterans and active-duty military members who have served our nation.

Your sacrifice, courage, and dedication have secured the freedoms we cherish. We are eternally grateful for your service, both in protecting our country and in enriching our East Texas community.

Especially to the veterans who are part of our healthcare team and those we are privileged to care for: Thank you for your service and for your strength!

11/10/2025

Excited to share our Heart Institute of East Texas Tree for Festival of Trees at Museum of East Texas

11/07/2025

From the Physicians of the Heart Institute of East Texas.n

10/10/2025

The Heart Institue or East Texas announces a significant advancement in cardiovascular care, becoming the first and only hospital in Deep East Texas to successfully perform a percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) using the innovative Abbott Amplatzer PFO Occluder. The groundbreaking procedure was led by main proceduralist Dr. Subramanya Venkata, with a team including Dr. Ilyas Khan, Dr. Harshil Patel, and Cath Lab Director Dr. Musa Khan.

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small hole in the heart's septum that can allow blood clots to pass from the right side of the heart to the left, where they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. This new, minimally invasive procedure provides a permanent solution by guiding a small, self-expanding device through a catheter to the heart to effectively seal the hole. This offers a much-needed local alternative for patients who previously had to travel hundreds of miles for this critical treatment.

Dr. Subramanya Venkata, the main proceduralist, spoke about the clinical significance. "The Abbott Amplatzer device is a remarkable technology that allows us to safely and effectively treat PFOs and reduce the risk of recurrent strokes," Dr. Venkata stated. "I am incredibly proud to have been part of the team that brought this capability to our community. This is a huge win for our patients and their families."

Dr. Harshil Patel, interventional cardiologist also a vital member of the team, added, "Our collaborative effort and dedication were crucial to the success of this procedure. We are thrilled to be at the forefront of structural heart interventions, bringing cutting-edge advancements directly to the people of Lufkin."

Dr. Ilyas Khan, a key cardiologist on the team, highlighted the patient benefits. "We can now address a common cause of stroke with a less invasive approach, offering peace of mind and a significantly improved quality of life," Dr. Khan said. "This is a game-changer for how we manage and prevent strokes in our region."

"This is more than just a new procedure; it's a new era of heart health for our community," said Dr. Ravinder Bachireddy, Chief of Cardiology. "Bringing this advanced PFO closure to St. Luke's Health-Memorial is a testament to our commitment to providing the highest level of care to our patients. It means our community members no longer have to leave their homes and families to receive a life-saving treatment, and that is a true win for all of Deep East Texas."

Dr. Musa Khan, the Cath Lab Director, emphasized the hospital’s readiness. "Our cath lab team has undergone rigorous training to master this complex procedure," Dr. Khan said. "This capability elevates our cardiac services and reinforces our role as a regional leader. We are ready to provide world-class heart care right here at home."


A Benefit to the Community
This new procedure provides a significant benefit to the community by offering a local solution for a critical health issue. Patients who would have previously had to travel to major metropolitan areas for this procedure can now receive state-of-the-art care right here in Deep East Texas. This not only eases the financial and logistical burden on patients and their families but also ensures timely access to care, which can be crucial in preventing strokes. St. Luke's Health-Memorial's commitment to providing this service highlights its ongoing mission to improve the health and well-being of the Deep East Texas population through innovative and compassionate care.

09/25/2025

Heart Institute of East texas- proud to support the Junior league of Lufkin - Little black Dress fundraiser