Saint Francis Heart Team

Paul K. Davis, MD, a third-generation surgeon, was the first physician in the Philadelphia area to perform the revolutionary beating heart surgery.

He has performed over 3,500 open-heart cases in his 17-year career, specializing in off-pump cardiac surgery, mitral valve repair and complex aortic reconstructions.

Dr. Davis is Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgery, Delaware Medical Society, Philadelphia Academy of Surgery, and the Pennsylvania Association for Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Davis is also a member of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs and American College of Angiology.

A graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, and Jefferson Medical College, he completed his residency and postdoctoral fellowships (Artificial Organs, Cardiothoracic Surgery) at Pennsylvania State University. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. An avid martial artist, Dr. Davis holds a second-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do.

Cardiothoracic Surgery Nurse Practitioner

Mary Ellen Kopp, RN, MS, CCRN, APN, Nurse Practitioner, is responsible for pre- and post-operative management of cardiothoracic surgery patients. Mary Ellen evaluates new patients requiring cardiac or thoracic surgery, and manages patients after surgery.

Mary Ellen has a Masters Degree in Cardiopulmonary Nursing from the University of Delaware. She also holds a post-masters certificate as an adult nurse practitioner and is certified as an acute care nurse practitioner. Mary Ellen is a basic life support and advanced cardiac life support instructor, and is a certified critical care nurse. Mary Ellen has over 20 years caring for cardiothoracic patients.

Cardiothoracic Physician Assistants

Laurie Focacci, PA-C
Scott Yoder, PA-C
Timothy Leicht, PA-C

Mindy Haenn, PA-C, Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant, graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She obtained her Physician Assistant Certification from Philadelphia University. Mindy is a captain in the United States Army Reserves and served 18 months in Operation Eagle.

At Saint Francis she is a first assistant during cardiothoracic cases as well as radial artery harvesting and endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting. In addition, she is responsible for pre- and post-operative management of cardiac surgery patients.

Certified Clinical Perfusionists (CCP)

Jennifer LaBossiere, BS, CCP, graduated from Howard Community College in Columbia, MD, in 1998 and 1999 with degrees in General Studies, Pre-Allied Health, and a Certificate of Proficiency in Cardiac Monitoring and Analysis. She continued her health care education at Hahnemann University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Certificate in Cardiovascular Perfusion Technology in 2000.

Jennifer left Temple University Hospital and joined Saint Francis shortly after the program opened. Working with the Cardiac Team at Saint Francis has allowed her to experience the special relationship held between people who share a compassion for their work.

Certified Operating Room Nurses (CNOR)

Joanne M Epstein, BSN, RN, CNOR is a 1976 graduate of Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing. She is also a graduate of Immaculata University. Joanne has worked in all areas of surgical care, but has been part of various cardiac surgical teams since 1976. She was also the Unit Specialist for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Jefferson. At Saint Francis since 2003, she is a member of the cardiac team, the Clinical Educator for Surgical Services, and in conjunction with the surgical staff and senior perioperative team she developed and established the first Robotic Surgery program in Delaware.

Joanne has published in both the nursing and medical literature various articles on clinical care, and has been a speaker for a number of national meetings. She enjoys the collaboration between providers to integrate care in a critical perioperative setting and ensure excellent patient experiences and outcomes.

Schimm Gangloff, RN, CNOR, is a cardiac operating room nurse of almost 40 years, except for a seven-year window as a nurse practitioner on Smith Island. She graduated from nursing school in Australia and continued her education in the United States at the University of Maryland and York College. Schimm has worked as a member of the Saint Francis Cardiac Team for two years where she prides herself by giving comprehensive spiritual, emotional, physical and nutritional care to patients and their families.

William C. Robinson, BSN, RN, CNOR, RNFA has been a perioperative nurse since January, 2006. Bill has worked in all areas of surgical care, but specializes in neurosurgery and cardiovascular surgery and assists as an RNFA in the robotics program at Saint Francis Hospital. A 1994 graduate of Wesley University in Dover Delaware, Bill enjoys the challenge of providing care for a critically ill patient population.