Kathleen Harper, FACC, FACP

Media Releases

Get to know Cardiologist Dr. Kathleen Harper, who serves patients in Augusta, Maine.

Dr. Harper is a highly trained cardiologist serving as the Chief of Cardiology at Togus VA Medical Center – VA Maine Healthcare System in Augusta, Maine. Over the course of her career, she revealed a particular interest in all facets of women’s heart health, including prevention of cardiac problems and heart failure.

Locally, she is affiliated with Central Maine Medical Center, Rumford Hospital, Northern Light Mayo Hospital, Northern Light Inland Hospital, and Millinocket Regional Hospital.

A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), she is a distinguished member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American Society of Heart Failure, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and the American Society of Echocardiography.

Throughout her academic career, Dr. Harper earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1987. She then went on to perform her internship at Human Medical Center, her residency in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, her fellowship in cardiology at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, and an additional fellowship in non-invasive cardiology at Baystate Medical Center.

Prior to her current endeavors, she served as the Director of Mayo Cardiology, the Owner of Cardiology Physicians PC (1999-2013), a Physician at St. Vincent’s Medical Center (1999-2013), and the Director of Noninvasive Cardiology at St. Vincent’s Health Services in Bridgeport, Connecticut (1995 – 2013). 

Helping patients maintain a heart-healthy life, Dr. Harper is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease by the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine (AOBIM). The AOBIM is an organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease in adults.

Furthermore, she is board-certified in echocardiology through the National Board of Echocardiography, and in nuclear medicine through the American Board of Nuclear Medicine.

Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with the disorders of the heart, as well as some parts of the circulatory system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and electrophysiology. Cardiologists are doctors who diagnose, assess, and treat patients with diseases and defects of the heart and blood vessels (the cardiovascular system).

Recognized for her exceptional performance in the field of non-invasive cardiology, Dr. Harper credits her success to her uncompromising perseverance. She dedicates her free time to photography.

Recommended Articles

• Arterial Disease is Constantly Undiagnosed in Women

  Many women in United States is having peripheral artery disease (PAD), out of which, many are not diagnosed. The American Heart Association has called for a ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign to have increased participation to identify and diagnose this disease in women. The association also invites...

• The Difference Between Arteries and Veins

  Through closed vessels the closed circulatory system transports blood. This includes the arteries, veins, and the capillaries. Blood vessels that start from the heart are arteries and vessels that carry blood back to the heart are veins.ArteriesArteries are located deep in the body and have thick...

• Who Should You Call if You Have a Congestive Heart Failure?

  Congestive heart failure does not indicate that your heart has stopped working; instead what it indicates is that your heart is pumping blood at a slower rate than normal.  Because the blood moves through the heart and the body at a much slower rate, the pressure in the heart builds up. Hence, the...

• What Is a Normal Heart Rate?

  What is heart rate?The heart rate is the number of heartbeats that occur per minute. The normal heart rate depends from person-to-person. As people get older, the heart rate changes and pulse regularity may change, which can signify heart problems or other medical conditions. Your heart rate may...

• What Is Raynaud’s Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

  What is Raynaud’s disease?Raynaud’s disease, also known as Raynaud’s syndrome or Raynaud’s phenomenon, is a rare blood vessel disorder described by a French physician named Maurice Raynaud in 1862. In this condition, the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the...

• What Are the Triggers of Atrial Fibrillation?

  What are the Triggers of Atrial Fibrillation?Atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) is a condition that affects the upper chambers of the heart, also known as the atria.In a healthy human heart, the electrical impulses pass through the atria through a contraction to the ventricles and fibers to complete a...