While living in the Philippines during her high school years, Hanbi Hong volunteered at an orphanage. She was so impressed by the positive impact that the nurses had on the orphans and their community that she decided to pursue a career in nursing. Now a family nurse practitioner, Hanbi recently joined Georgia Heart Institute to provide cardiology care in Buford.

Hanbi, who is fluent in Korean as well as English, first worked as a staff nurse caring for heart surgery patients as they recovered in the hospital before earning her master's degree in Nursing from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. Her previous experience includes almost six years practicing at an internal medicine and geriatrics clinic in Suwanee.

"We have a large population in this area that is at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke," said Hanbi. "Thankfully, there are a lot of lifestyle changes and proactive steps we can help patients take to protect them from having a stroke or heart attack and ending up in the hospital. Having that opportunity to help patients manage their heart disease risk motivated me to join Georgia Heart Institute."

Hanbi says she focuses on keeping patients informed, setting clear expectations and preventing disease progression.

"I put patients at the center of care and make them a partner in setting goals," said Hanbi. "With their input, I develop care plans tailored to their unique needs. That could mean diet and exercise interventions, and of course medication can also play a role. I want to find the optimal path for them to follow for the long term."

Hanbi's dedication to health and wellness extends beyond the heart clinic. She is also a passionate yoga and Pilates instructor and practitioner.

"I love anything having to do with fitness and wellness and building a community around these practices. I encourage my patients in the heart clinic to take up wellness activities for their own health, as well."

For more information and to schedule an appointment with Hanbi, call 770-534-2020 or visit georgiaheartinstitute.org/hong.

Georgia Heart Institute is the most forward-thinking heart and vascular program in the state and includes one of the largest cardiology practices in the region, including more than 120 clinicians seeing patients at more than a dozen locations. With a multi-disciplinary team of experts treating nearly every type of heart and vascular disease and participating in leading national research, we're providing advanced care that ensures lasting heart health for generations. Request an appointment and learn more at georgiaheartinstitute.org.

The experts of Georgia Heart Institute also form the core of the cardiac care team at Northeast Georgia Medical Center's acute care hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. It's all part of Northeast Georgia Health System, a nonprofit which serves more than
1 million people across the region. Learn more at nghs.com.