Frederick Meine III, MD

When I give advice to patients, it is the advice I would give to my friends or family members. I want each patient to know that I care about them as a person, and I will be there to see them through any acute issues and any ongoing treatment. \n Earlier in my career, I worked with children taking part in research studies in the hematology/oncology division. I was able to follow patients through their entire time in those studies, and very much enjoyed developing those relationships and providing that continuity of care. I chose cardiology/electrophysiology because it, too, allows me to follow patients in clinic and develop a relationship with them. \n I am proud to have developed the atrial fibrillation clinic and to be the first physician to use radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. As the field of electrophysiology is rapidly changing, I will continue to help bring new technology and research to our community in my role as the electrophysiology division chair. \n Outside of work, I enjoy spending my time with my husband, our two children, and our dog and cat. We love being out on the water and camping. When I have time to myself, I like cooking for family and friends.

As the daughter of a cardiologist, I've wanted to be a heart doctor since age 10, when I figured out how the heart performed as a pump and how vital the organ is for the whole human body. \n Growing up in Washington, D.C., I thought anything was possible. But attending Georgetown University for both college and medical school made me realize how challenging my aspiration was - especially for a woman. \n Seeking to move to a city far from my hometown, I chose the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for my internship and residency. My love for cardiology was kindled further there and led me to a cardiology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, where I researched hypertensive heart disease and coronary artery disease. It was there that I found my greatest passion was in patient care. I also found that I missed North Carolina. \n When the opportunity arose in 1992, my husband and I moved to Wilmington, where I've been practicing cardiology ever since. I started Wilmington's first outpatient nuclear medicine lab and fueled the evolution of the echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography program, which has been a critical resource in treating stroke, endocarditis, valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation. \n In addition, I helped develop: \n - Wilmington's first Chest Pain Center \n - Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute's Heart Failure Clinic \n - Coronary CT angiography program \n - Structural heart program \n As each patient is unique in their response to treatments, I tailor a treatment plan to an individual patient's needs and goals. I strongly believe prevention of heart disease is preferable to treatment for heart disease complications. I work with patients on optimizing their lifestyle and addressing risk factors to avoid disease progression and complications such as heart attacks, heart failure, strokes and need for revascularization. \n I continue to do clinical research and always enjoy teaching residents, medical students, and physician assistant and nurse practitioner students. \n My clinical interests include preventive cardiology, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiac imaging and heart disease in women. There are important differences in how heart disease presents in women and in how we help them manage their cardiac issues.

My father was a family physician in a small North Carolina town for over 50 years, and my admiration for - and loving relationship with - him helped shaped my desire to pursue a career in medicine. \n So did my first personal exposure to medicine. As a 5-year-old-boy, I spent almost two weeks in the hospital receiving treatment for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. That experience not only helped develop my personal faith in God, but led to a strong belief that my purpose in life is helping others. \n I attended N.C. State University as a scholarship athlete and finished my swimming career as an NCAA All-American and ACC champion. After graduation from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and after further medical training in Charlotte and Chicago, I relocated to Wilmington in 2003 with my wife. \n I had visited the Wilmington area often as a child since both my parents were raised here and graduated from New Hanover High School. Those visits ultimately led to a desire to settle down here. My wife and I now call Wilmington home - as do our three children. \n Since 2003, I have been an attending physician at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in cardiology and electrophysiology. I am board-certified in cardiovascular disease and electrophysiology and an active member and recognized Fellow of the American College of Cardiology as well as a Fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society. \n My major clinical interest has always been direct patient care in electrophysiology. I consider it an honor to cultivate lasting personal relationships with my patients. \n When not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and children, coaching youth athletics, spending time outdoors - especially at the beach - and cheering on the N.C. State Wolfpack.