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March 17, 2026 — Stern Cardiovascular and Atria Health have announced a strategic partnership that will accelerate access to advanced, physician-led cardiovascular care across Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and surrounding regions. The collaboration brings together Stern's clinical leadership and Atria Health's operational expertise to support Stern's expanded services, new locations, and physician recruitment.
Stern Cardiovascular is one of the largest cardiovascular practices in the nation, with more than 100 years of delivering comprehensive heart care across Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. Under the partnership, Stern Cardiovascular will continue to operate as a fully independent, physician-led practice.
Atria Health partners with cardiovascular physicians to build and sustain independent, physician-led practices, providing the capital, expertise, and innovation to deliver patient-centered care, operate sustainably, capture the value they create, and achieve greater career satisfaction. The company provides an alternative private equity model that invests in — but does not have any ownership in — independent practices.
"This partnership allows us to expand what we do best —high-quality, patient-centered cardiovascular care — while remaining physician-led and independent," said Stern Cardiovascular Cardiologist and President Steven S. Gubin, MD, FACC. "With Atria's support, we can bring new technologies and services to our communities faster, recruit additional physicians and meet growing regional needs without compromising how we practice medicine."
Expanding Services and Access
Together with Atria Health, Stern Cardiovascular plans to advance a multi-phase growth plan focused on expanding access to advanced cardiac diagnostics, rehabilitation, and specialty care across the Mid-South, including:
- Introducing cardiac PET/CT imaging in Memphis, marking the first dedicated cardiac PET/CT offering in the market
- Opening new clinical locations, including planned expansion into Collierville, Tenn.
- Recruiting additional cardiologists and clinicians to meet growing patient demand
- Launching intensive cardiac rehabilitation in the Memphis area, a service not currently available in the market
- Expanding services in Mississippi, including:
- Rolling out cardiac PET/CT imaging in Oxford and DeSoto County – a first for the area.
- Adding new clinicians to Stern Cardiovascular's Mississippi practices
These initiatives are intended to improve early detection, continuity of care and long-term outcomes for patients with complex cardiovascular conditions, while keeping advanced care close to home.
"Atria Health partners with leading independent cardiology practices that want to grow thoughtfully and sustainably," said Atria Health CEO and Co-founder Matthew Eakins, M.D.. "Stern represents exactly the kind of physician-led organization our model was built to support. Together, we're expanding access to advanced cardiovascular care while reinforcing physician leadership and a practice that will lead cardiovascular care for another hundred years."
The Stern partnership builds on Atria Health's broader strategy to support independent cardiology practices nationwide by providing scalable infrastructure, operational expertise, and growth support, allowing physicians to expand services while maintaining control over clinical decision-making. Last year, the company announced a partnership with AMS Cardiology in Pennsylvania, where it helped the practice build a new ASC that performs low-risk outpatient procedures. The facility became the first ASC ever to perform a coronary angioplasty with stent placement in Pennsylvania.
February 18, 2026 
