Full name: Peter M. Farrugia MD, FACC, RPVI.
Where to find him: CEO of Advanced Heart and Vascular of Central Jersey (AHV) located in Colts Neck.
Family: Married to Erin, a Physician Assistant who is his partner at AHV. They have four children, Samantha, Vincent, Brianna, and Thomas, and an energetic Labradoodle named Private. The family moved to N.J. from Long Island in 2011 after Dr. Farrugia finished his Interventional Cardiology Fellowship.
Why cardiology and vascular medicine: Dr. Farrugia believes the heart and vascular system to be the most important and basic aspects of medicine. He works with his patients to focus on lifestyle changes through exercise and dietary modification as the core principles of prevention. When necessary, he excels at the ability to perform procedures to improve blood flow to critical arteries in the heart and legs.
What he loves about being a doctor: “Developing long-lasting relationships with my patients, walking with them through their healthcare journey is what drives me to provide the highest quality of care,” Dr. Farrugia said.
What sets him apart from other doctors: His practice is focused on the individual patient with sincere conversation and time spent listening and learning about what the patient wants and needs.
Giving back to medicine: “I’ve had the opportunity to be an educator within my field, working with medicine residents, cardiology fellows, and interventional cardiology fellows for the last 11 years,” Dr. Farrugia shared. “I work with the Monmouth University PA program, educating their students during clinical rotations. I was named a Global Expert in Endovascular Arterial Therapy at LINC, a Global Vascular Conference. I have had the opportunity to present information at a variety of regional, national, and international conferences including live case streaming throughout the world to educate other physicians on advanced techniques from my lab.”
Best advice for all seeking a healthier lifestyle: “You cannot pour from an empty glass,” Dr. Farrugia said. “Before you take care of, or help, another person, you have to make sure you have taken care of yourself. Stop putting your well-being last, exercise, eat well, and live the dream. Remember, as Louis Pasteur said, chance favors the prepared mind.”
What he does when not working: He loves spending time with his amazing family. He coaches several sports teams for his four children and is an avid strength and conditioning trainer. He’s also a big Yankees and Jets fan.
Message from the doc: “If you want to be helped, I’m here to help you. There are plenty of physicians who will gladly rubber stamp the typical lifestyle, add medication, and move on. I focus on helping you identify where you can make real changes that may allow you to not need medication or even come off if appropriate. I can’t make you change, but I can help you along the way if you desire to make the better choices on your healthcare journey.”
