The Terre Haute Heart Center first came into being as a solo medical practice of Dr. Primo A. Andres on June 30, 1980 shortly after uprooting his family from Detroit, MI where he had his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases at the Wayne State University Affiliated Programs. After six years of a progressively growing practice at the Terre Haute regional medical office building, it moved to its own office building at its current location at 455 Hospital Lane, Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1986.

The practice is accentuated by several "firsts" in Medicine in the Wabash Valley. The first heart catheterization was done by Dr. Andres in November, 1980. The first coronary angioplasty was done in September, 1986. Dr. Andres was instrumental in bringing the open heart surgery program to Terre Haute. More recently he performed the first endovascular intervention for abdominal aortic aneurysm. The first computerized treadmill exercise machine, the first two dimensional echocardiogram, the first color flow Doppler, the first transesophageal echocardiogram, and the first dual head dedicated heart scanner are but a few of the innovative advances that the Heart Center had initiated.

In November, 1996, the first free standing outpatient cardiac catheterization laboratory in the valley opened. The Heart Center is now capable of doing diagnostic angiography on coronary arteries and peripheral circulation including those of the brain, carotids, kidneys, aorta and legs. Simpler coronary angioplasty especially with stenting is also done at the Heart Center, although the majority of the more sophisticated interventions are still being done by Dr. Andres at the two area hospitals.

Our Physician

Dr. Primo Andres, graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, the oldest university and medical school in the country. He finished cum laude with a grade of meritissimus in a highly competitive class of 300. He held positions of leadership through out his career. Dr. Andres went through Internship at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, New York before heading to Detroit, Michigan where he completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases at the Wayne State University Affiliated Programs.

Dr. Andres started his practice on June 30, 1980, the last day of this training. He is the first fully trained Cardiologist to settle in Terre Haute, and has not left the area since then. As a "pioneer" in the area, Dr. Andres has a lot of "first procedures" to his credit. He performed the first cardiac catheterization in Terre Haute in November, 1980, the first angioplasty in 1986, the first directional coronary atherectomy in 1990 and the first stent-grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysm in 2002 to name but a few.

Dr. Andres is certified by the American Board of Internal medicine in the specialities of Internal medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Interventional Cardiology, and by the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. He is a Volunteer Faculty member of the Indiana University School of medicine teaching medical students in the Terre Haute campus.

Dr. Andres holds active positions at both Union Hospital and Terre haute Regional Hospital. He served as the President of the medical staff of Terre Haute Regional Hospital from 2001 to 2002. He also is a consultant at Sullivan County Community Hospital, St. Vincent Clay Hospital, Putnam County Hospital, Green County Hospital and West Central Community Hospital.