Nathan D. McGeathy, FNP-C, has joined the clinical care team of Northern Cardiology, a division of Northern Regional Hospital that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with both acute and chronic heart conditions, including chest pain, arrhythmias, palpitations, heart failure, valvular disease, and other forms of minor and major cardiac complications. McGeathy previously worked as a Nurse Practitioner for Novant Health Cardiology.
The 33-year-old cardiac specialist – who has years of experience assessing and responding to patients’ needs in such high-stress/high-tech clinical environments as emergency departments, critical care, and cardiology units – is eager to bring his energy and expertise to Northern and its cardiology clinic.
“I’ve always had a passion for cardiology and a personal goal to be an advocate for patients,” said McGeathy. “I enjoy taking time with my patients to explain the complexities of their particular problem, and then offer appropriate medical interventions that can help them feel better and extend or save their lives.”
“We are pleased to welcome Nathan McGeathy to our growing team of cardiac care providers,” said Brian Beasley, Vice President of Clinical Operations for Northern Regional Hospital. “His knowledge of cardiac issues and demonstrated skills and expertise in the care of patients with heart conditions will complement the existing medical expertise of Dr. Tamas Balogh and Dr. Jeffrey Clevenger at our hospital and the Northern Cardiology practice site.”
McGeathy’s motivation for pursuing a lifelong career in nursing was seeded while he was still a child, living with his parents and teenage sister.
“My father was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer when I was 10 years old, and that was my blunt introduction to healthcare,” he recalled. “I remember being scared, in shock, and confused. It was a year-long battle – with my father in and out of the hospital and eventually in hospice care – but I also recall the friendliness and compassion of the doctors and nurses, who lifted us up every day. Their care and concern for my father and our family had a lifelong effect on me – and I thought, ‘I want to be that rock for someone else someday,’ and nursing became my path to achieve that goal.”
After earning an Associate Degree in Nursing in 2010 from Forsyth Technical Community College, McGeathy jump-started his nursing career by diving into the deep end of the healthcare pool – which, in this case, meant becoming a Staff Nurse in the busy Emergency Department (ED) of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
“The ED was a wonderful experience, and a great way to gain exposure to patients with a full range of clinical problems, including cardiac conditions,” he said. “That experience also taught me how to triage patients and cope effectively in a high-stress scenario so you’re not reacting like a deer-in-the-headlights.”
McGeathy’s next step on the educational ladder took him to Winston-Salem State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 2013. He then moved on to his next learning milestone by earning, two years later, a Master of Science Degree (with Magna Cum Laude recognition) from the Family Nurse Practitioner program of Georgetown University. During the bulk of those five years of advanced studies, his day-to-day nursing responsibilities at Wake Forest focused on taking care of critical-care and cardiac patients.
“I developed my passion for cardiology during my Nurse Practitioner training – when I had the opportunity to work in a really rural area of North Carolina, where many of my patients had received little to no medical care throughout their lives,” explained McGeathy. “I was able to diagnose chronic conditions that they had endured for many years or decades, and work with them to implement a medical regimen that, within as little as six months, typically resulted in a very positive improvement in their physical health, energy, and outlook on life. It was very rewarding to watch this kind of positive transformation occur.”
While acknowledging that each patient must be treated individually, McGeathy said that his philosophy to patient care is based on building trust and includes many elements that apply to all patients.
“I believe in educating the patient and family on their healthcare condition, providing them with recommended treatment guidelines, and then making decisions together on how to proceed,” he said. “When patients understand their disease process and are informed of the things that can be done to either modify or stop that disease progression, it’s more likely to result in long-term positive change.”
“I also believe that patients ‘know’ their own bodies – so it’s important to listen carefully to what they say,” he added.
As a Nurse Practitioner with the cardiology team, McGeathy said that he will “see patients in the hospital for acute problems such as chest pain, atrial fib, and heart failure; and also see patients at the outpatient clinic for routine follow-up, medication management, and diagnosis and treatment.”
Given Northern’s extensive diagnostic capabilities – including heart ultrasound, detailed imaging, and cardiac stress testing — McGeathy hopes to enhance the in-house management of cardiac patients rather than transferring them to another facility farther away from their homes and families.
“When medically appropriate, we can keep patients in their own community – so they’re closer to their families and friends,” he said.
He is excited about working with colleagues at Northern Regional Hospital, some of whom he knows already through professional relationships developed during his prior employment with major medical centers in Winston-Salem.
“When I visited Northern recently, I was very impressed with their leadership teams,” he said. “They have a plan, they know where they’re going, and they’re unwavering in their commitment to quality care and patient safety. They also care deeply about their employees and the communities they serve.”
For McGeathy, who was born and raised in the small farming town of Clio, about 15 miles north of Flint, Michigan, the move to Mount Airy is a bit nostalgic.
“The hospital and community remind me of home, and it just feels right,” he said. “The vision of providing compassionate and trustworthy care to the community resonates with my own internal mission.”
During his non-nursing hours, McGeathy said he’s “an avid hunter and fisher, specifically trout and bass. My wife Kristina (who will graduate from nursing school in May) and I enjoy hiking, working out, traveling, and visiting family.”
Indoor activities may involve listening to Texas-style country music, watching action movies, listening to podcasts, and reading military books – with a current favorite being Unbroken – which, he said, is “a World War II book about survival and resilience.”
To schedule an appointment with McGeathy, call Northern Cardiology at 336-786-6146; visit the office at 708 S. South Street, Suite 200 Mount Airy, N.C., or visit online at choosenorthern.org.
