History & Vision

The Center for Venous Disease was founded by James A. Heinz, M.A.H.A., Thomas L. Pester, M.D., and Joseph M. Smith, M.D. in 2005 to bring excellence in Total Vein Care to the Southwest United States.  Our doctors, hold multiple degrees, board certifications, ultrasound credentials, and continue to log many educational hours at specialty courses and national meetings, are the best in the area.  The strong collaboration between CVD physicians, medical staff, and our business office offers every patient an integrated experience and superior outcomes.  As a high volume center, CVD is offered National Account pricing on our supplies which help us to manage costs while improving the patient experience.  Our managing partner, James Heinz, brings 30 years experience in Healthcare, including four years with VNUS Medical Technologies (Covidien/Medtronic) and ten years as the Founder and CEO of the Center for Venous Disease.  Under his leadership, CVD has won numerous awards, maintains a high patient satisfaction rating, achieves 98.7% vein occlusion rates, and receives national accolades from our colleagues and doctor peers across the US and abroad. In addition, Mr. Heinz was a former Foundation Board Member of the American College of Phlebology.  Dr. Pester and Dr. Smith serve as Medical Directors for CVD and continue to drive the quality improvement process for the Center.  At each CVD location, our board certified doctors are well trained in venous disease and treatment modalities, and follow a distinct and reproducible patient treatment algorithm.  Our already high outcomes continue to improve while we strive to further contain costs.  In-house diagnostic ultrasound labs accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission are in place or being established at each CVD location further allowing us to provide standardization across our platform and more importantly convenience to our patients.  CVD actively looks at expansion opportunities, great doctors, and skilled support staff.

Our mission statement is simple: “We’ll treat your symptoms and touch your Heart.”  The patient is our #1 concern.  And our doctors stand apart from the rest.  CVD maintains very high standards for physicians and staff.  All new physicians interested to become part of CVD undergo a rigorous process, including background checks, board complaint reviews, and malpractice case reviews, before receiving approval to join from our Medical Advisory Board and Managing Partner.