MDTH Medcath Corp. (MM)

Jacque J. Sokolov, M.D., Elected to MedCath Corporation Board of Directors CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedCath Corporation , a national provider of cardiovascular services, announced today that Jacque J. Sokolov, M.D., one of the nation's leading physician executives, has been elected to the MedCath board of directors effective March 15, 2004. With his election, MedCath's board grows to 10 members. As chairman of Sokolov, Sokolov, and Burgess (SSB), a national health-care management consulting, development and investment firm, Dr. Sokolov brings health-care consulting-advisory services to clients in 150 U.S. and international markets. Prior to SSB, he served as chief executive officer and founder of Advanced Health Plans,a health-care development firm that he sold in 1994 to PhyAmerica. He then served as chairman of PhyAmerica/Coastal Physician Group, a physician practice management company. Dr. Sokolov received his BA in medicine from the University of Southern California and his M.D. from the USC School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and his fellowship in cardiovascular diseases from the University of Texas- Southwestern Medical School. He has held or holds academic appointments and advisory board responsibilities in the Schools of Medicine, Business and Public Health at Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California, Los Angeles, andthe University of Southern California. "Jacque's background as a cardiologist and a business strategist/adviser to multiple health-care sectors gives him a unique perspective into our physician partner model," said John Casey, MedCath president and CEO. "Over the past five years, Dr. Sokolov has worked extensively with physicians and non-profit hospitals on partnerships to develop next generation cardiovascular programs - an experience that fits will with MedCath's strategic direction." As MedCath's business model evolves to include more expansive partnerships with non-profit hospitals and their physicians, Dr. Sokolov's vision and experience will bring MedCath an added dimension. "I am very pleased to join the board of a company with such high standards for delivering quality cardiovascular care," Dr. Sokolov said. "MedCath's strong reputation in the health-care industry and proven track record of superior clinical and business models makes it a company with excellent growth opportunities." MedCath Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., develops, owns and operates hospitals in partnership with physicians, most of whom are cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons. While each of its hospitals is licensed as a general acute care hospital, MedCath focuses on serving the unique needs of patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. Together with its physician partners who own equity interests in them, MedCath owns and operates 12 heart hospitals with a total of 727 licensed beds,located in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. MedCath is developing its 13th hospital, which will be located in Lafayette, Louisiana. In addition to its hospitals, MedCath provides cardiovascular care services in diagnostic and therapeutic facilities located in various states and through mobile cardiac catheterization laboratories. MedCath also provides consulting and management services tailored to cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons. DATASOURCE: MedCath Corporation CONTACT: John Casey, President-Chief Executive Officer, or James Harris, Chief Financial Officer, both of MedCath Corporation, +1-704-708-6600 Web site: http://www.medcath.com/

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