Bassett Healthcare Network Expands Access to Heart Care in Oneonta and Cooperstown

Dr. Robert Leon Joins Network with Decades of Experience in Cardiology

Bassett Healthcare Network has welcomed a new cardiologist to its nationally-recognized Heart Care Institute. Robert Leon, MD, FACC, is now seeing patients at the Bassett Heart Care Institute at FoxCare Center in Oneonta and Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

Dr. Leon brings decades of experience to the area. After earning his medical degree at The State University of New York at Buffalo in 1990, completing his residency at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, and completing his cardiology fellowship at The University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY, Dr. Leon pursued an academic medicine career, working with fellows and residents at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine within the Montefiore Einstein Health System in the Bronx, New York. During his time there, he developed a passion for seeing patients that went beyond his scholarly pursuits. This led him to open his own solo-private practice in Hoboken, New Jersey - the community where he grew up. He was a consultant in Cardiology at the Hackensack University Medical Center, the leading cardiovascular hospital in New Jersey with their own medical school and cardiology fellowship program.

"Some of my patients I saw over many years, and over the course of that time I enjoyed getting to know them as well as their families," said Dr. Leon. "As time passed, I developed a large practice with two offices and had medical students rotate with me that I mentored. After that, I became Chief of Cardiology at Carepoint Health, a small, three-hospital system in the Hudson County, New Jersey area."

After a successful career in New Jersey and with his sons settled in at college, Dr. Leon was looking for a new chapter.

"I had been to Cooperstown multiple times. I'm a big baseball fan and my sons loved going to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Howe Caverns, and other area attractions. I would play golf at The Otesaga and my playing partners would rave about Bassett and tried to convince me to relocate to Cooperstown. I always had that in the back of my mind, thinking that maybe one day the opportunity would be there and the timing would be right," said Dr. Leon. "There's a proud history at Bassett. The quality of care is excellent, the facilities are modern state of the art, and working with my colleagues has been a pleasure. There is a dedication of teaching and mentorship for the next generation of doctors. I can both learn from my colleagues and they can learn from me. Everyone has been very welcoming. My only complaint is that I wish my beloved New York Mets would be doing better but alas there is always next year."

Dr. Leon is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. He sees patients dealing with a variety of cardiovascular conditions, including angina (chest pain), atrial fibrillation (AFib), congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart valve problems, high blood pressure/hypertension, and high cholesterol. This care includes performing echocardiograms, electrocardiograms (EKGs), exercise stress tests, and nuclear stress tests.

"Dr. Leon brings a wealth of experience and skill to our team of cardiology experts and I am so pleased he decided to make Cooperstown his home. The Bassett Heart Institute is dedicated to achievement and continued growth through the provision of the highest quality care to our patients. I am confident Dr. Leon will fully embrace that mission in his new role on our team," said Michael Holmes, MD, Chief of Cardiology for Bassett Healthcare Network.

Dr. Leon sees patients by appointment or by referral. To schedule an appointment, call 607-547-3180 or visit Bassett.org/OneontaCardiology.