Dear Patients,
It is with mixed feelings that I provide you this letter to inform you I will be leaving EmergeOrtho-Blue Ridge Region on August 16, 2024, to pursue the opportunity to be the Chief of Foot and Ankle Surgery at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). This is not an opportunity I sought out. Instead, UPMC approached me and expressed their desire to have me join their faculty and help teach the next generation of orthopedic surgeons. I have always had a strong desire to teach as well as pursue research initiatives and this position will give me the opportunity to accomplish those goals prior to my retirement.
It has been a great honor to be a member of the Western North Carolina medical community since 1999. I treasure the relationship I have with every patient I have treated over the last 25 years. Caring for patients is the reason I became a doctor. Providing excellent care will remain the focus of my professional life and is what I hope to convey to the young doctors I will be training.
What can you expect over the next 4 months?
- My plan is to continue to perform elective (non-emergent) surgeries until June 30, 2024. Until then I will be caring for patients daily as I have been and hopefully will be able to increase my operative availability time to perform additional surgeries. In July and August, I will mainly see clinic patients for post- surgery follow-up as well as any foot and ankle issues that need nonoperative care. I will still be able to take care of urgent operations if other EmergeOrtho physicians are not available.
- If you would like to proceed with surgery by me prior to June 30, 2024, then please contact my scheduler, Karen Roberts, at 828-281-7147 and she will work with me to get your surgery scheduled in the next 3 months.
- Once I leave, what will happen to your care? You have three options for your future orthopedic foot and ankle care:
-
- Continue your care with EmergeOrtho-Blue Ridge Region. I will leave you in the excellent hands of foot and ankle surgeons, Dr. Mark Hedrick and Dr. Andrew Butler, as well as our outstanding foot and ankle focused nurse practitioner, Jennifer Griffith. They are extraordinary professionals. I am confident they will provide outstanding care.
- You can choose to see me at the University of Pittsburgh. If you wish to see me in Pittsburgh, please contact one of the two following UPMC schedulers listed below. They will take your name and contact information and once my schedule is defined, they can contact you to arrange a date and time to see me in Pittsburgh.
- Daria George (412) 605-3370
- Anna Howell (412) 605-3207
- You can choose to transfer your care to another doctor who is not part of EmergeOrtho-Blue Ridge Region.
As a reminder, your medical records are confidential and will remain on file with EmergeOrtho. If you choose another physician within EmergeOrtho, you do not need to take any action concerning your records. If you choose a physician outside of EmergeOrtho (including if you decide to see me at the University of Pittsburgh), you will need to sign an authorization form for release of records. These forms may be found on emergeortho.com/blue-ridge-region under For Patients, then Medical Forms for Patients. You may also request a copy of your records for yourself by going to Medical Records Request on the site.
I truly appreciate the opportunity and privilege you gave me to be your orthopedic physician. I wish you and your family continued health and happiness!
Sincerely
Peter G. Mangone, MD