Oconee Heart & Vascular CenterIn April 2008, St. Mary's and cardiologists John W. Layher, MD, and L. Steven Lowman, MD, joined forces to create Oconee Heart and Vascular Center. They soon were joined by Charles B. Neckman, MD, James Y. Kim, MD, Amit D. Shah, MD, PhD, Harvey G. Ouzts, MD and Rohit Tongia, MD. Together, they provide a complete continuum of heart and blood vessel care, including:

  • heart attack care
  • heart failure treatment and monitoring
  • cardiac catheterizationOconee Heart & Vascular Center
  • pacemaker implantation and follow-up
  • echocardiography
  • nuclear cardiac stress testing
  • Coronary CT angiography
  • Interventional cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • ICD implantation and follow-up

For most patients, treatment is provided by referral from your primary physician. For more information, talk to your doctor or call OHVC at 706-389-3440.

OHVC is located at The Exchange, 2470 Daniells Bridge Road – Bldg 200, next to St. Mary's Outpatient Diagnostic, Rehab and Wellness Center. The office is conveniently located just off Ga. 316 less than a mile from the Athens Perimeter, with plenty of free front door parking. Diagnostic capabilities include on-site EKG, stress testing, nuclear medicine and more.

OHVC also offers appointments at satellite offices in Monroe and at Barrow Medical Center in Winder.

Phone: 706-389-3440
Fax: 706-389-3441
In case of emergency call: 911


John W. Layher, MD

Dr. Layher received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1986 from Indiana State University and Master of Science degree in 1987 from Indiana State University. He received his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1991. Dr. Layher completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University in 1994. Dr. Layher went on to complete his fellowship training in Cardiology at Indiana University School of Medicine/Krannert Institute of Cardiology in 1997.

Dr. Layher is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Layher is also a Fellow of the American College of Cardiologists.

Dr. Layher was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1966. He is married and has two children. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising and spending time with his family.

L. Steven Lowman, MD

Dr. Lowman received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia in 1988. Afterwards, he went to the Medical College of Georgia where he earned a degree in medicine in 1992. Dr. Lowman then attended the University of Kentucky and completed an internship in Internal Medicine in 1993. He returned back to the Medical College of Georgia and completed his residency and chief residency in 1996.

Following residency, Dr. Lowman was employed as an internist with the Toccoa Clinic in Toccoa, Ga., until 1999. He then returned to the Medical College of Georgia for further training and pursued a fellowship in Cardiology, which he completed in 2002.

Dr. Lowman is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease, as well as Nuclear Cardiology. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Cardiologists.

Dr. Lowman was born in Atlanta in 1965. He is married and has two children. In his spare time, Dr. Lowman enjoys reading, swimming, traveling and spending as much time as he can with his family.

Charles B. Neckman, MD

Dr. Neckman received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1977 from the University of Florida. He graduated with high honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine in 1981. Dr. Neckman completed his residency in internal medicine at Emory in 1984 and went on to complete his cardiology fellowship at Emory in 1987.

Dr. Neckman lived and practiced in Atlanta and Gainesville, Ga., before joining Drs. Layher and Lowman in Athens in June of 2008.

Dr. Neckman specializes in coronary interventions (angioplasty and stents) and practices general and invasive cardiology. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. Dr. Neckman is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

Dr. Neckman was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1956. He is married and has three children. In his spare time, he enjoys bicycling, sport shooting, jet skiing and spending time with his family.

Harvey G. Ouzts, MD

Dr. Ouzts received his AB degree from the University of Chattanooga in 1967. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1971. Dr. Ouzts completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Grady Memorial Hospital in 1972. He went on to complete his residency training in Cardiology at Emory University Hospital in 1976. Dr. Ouzts was an instructor in medicine at the Emory School of Medicine from 1977-1978.

Dr. Ouzts has practiced Medicine in Athens for over 30 years. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease and is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Cardiologists.

Dr. Ouzts was born in Manchester, Ga. He and his wife, Lili, have six children and two grandchildren. In his spare time, Dr. Ouzts enjoys woodworking and outdoor activities.

James Kim, MD

Dr. James Kim received his bachelor's degree in 1988 from the University of California Irvine. He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois in 1997 under the US Army Heath Professions Scholarship Program and completed his Internal Medicine Training at DD Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta Georgia in 2000. His cardiology fellowship was completed at Brooke Army Medical Center in 2004. Dr. Kim then practiced cardiology at DD Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta Georgia from 2004 to 2007. After a brief stop as a civilian cardiologist at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon from January 2008 to October 2008 he joined Oconee Heart and Vascular Center in November 2008.

Dr. Kim is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Raised Southern California, Dr. Kim and his wife Jane consider Georgia their adopted home. The Kim's have three children Adam, Dylan and Justin.

Rohit Tongia, MD

Dr. Tongia has been practicing in Athens since 2005. Prior to his arrival here, Dr. Tongia completed fellowships in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular disease at Maimonides Medical Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

Dr. Tongia is certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in cardiovascular disease and by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine. He holds multiple certifications from the Institute for Nuclear Medical Education, including medical radiation instrumentation and principles of radiation physics.

Amit D. Shah, MD, PhD

Dr. Shah is currently practicing at Oconee Heart and Vascular Center. He provides EP services at St. Mary's Hospital. Dr. Shah is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiac Electrophysiology.

Dr. Shah completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Clinical Cardiology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark.

Dr. Shah was named "Most Distinguished Fellow of the Year" for 2005 by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He is the Former Director of Electrophysiology at Henry Medical Center, Stockbridge, Ga.