Proud of His Past and His Future…

Dr. Peter Farrugia is a proud first generation American, the third son of a Maltese immigrant. He was born on Long Island, graduating from high school as an AP scholar with distinction. Following high school he attended King’s College in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania where he met his loving wife, Erin. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a dual degree in Biology and Molecular Biology, having been successful in publishing research on advanced molecular techniques. Dr. Farrugia then pursued medical school at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

As a fourth year medical student, he married his college sweetheart. Dr. Farrugia began his post graduate medical education in the Internal Medicine Program at SUNY Stony Brook. Following this, he had the honor of working at St Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan for his Cardiovascular Fellowship. This experience fortified his drive to deliver the highest quality care to the people who needed it the most. He was trained in the most advanced techniques, becoming an expert in Radial Artery Catheterization and this is where he started his training in Endovascular techniques. After his general cardiology fellowship, Dr Farrugia pursued his Interventional Cardiology Training at Winthrop University Hospital on Long Island.

In July of 2011, Dr. Farrugia and his family moved to New Jersey to pursue his career as an Interventional Cardiologist and Vascular specialist. Dr. and Mrs. Farrugia have been blessed with 4 beautiful children. Dr Farrugia is a devoted husband and father. Dr and Mrs Farrugia are training in ballroom dancing, having been certified up to Bronze Level 3 in several dances. He coaches little league baseball, basketball, and softball.

Dr Farrugia spent 8 years working for Barnabas Health Medical Group, functioning as the Director of Outpatient Vascular Medicine and the Chief of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Monmouth Medical Center. That experience has led him to develop an improved concept for care delivery. Welcome to a cardiac and vascular practice that removes the corporate barriers to care, and focuses more on the physician patient relationship and puts the patient above all. This is the core principle that serves as the why behind the creation of our practice. We proudly welcome you home, to Advanced Heart and Vascular of Central Jersey.

Erin Farrugia RPA-C, MPAS, is the Director of the mid-level providers at Advanced Heart and Vascular of Central Jersey and a former adjunct professor at Monmouth University Physician Assistant Program also a current adjunct clinical professor for her alma mater Kings College Physician Assistant Program. Born in Brooklyn, NY (watch out, the accent comes out from time to time), she moved to Long Island when she was 10 years old and grew up in Massapequa Park. A graduate of Massapequa High with a Regents diploma, she was a varsity softball player. A proud member of a big Irish family, her father is one of 12 children, she has more than 35 first cousins. Mrs. Farrugia also has a firefighter family as her dad served in the FDNY and retired after Sept 11th. 

Mrs. Farrugia’s grandmother was a nurse which inspired her to have a career in healthcare. After being treated by a Physician Assistant (PA) multiple times as a young girl, her mother encouraged her to follow her desire to become a PA. Mrs. Farrugia graduated from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Studies and a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies with minors in Healthcare Administration and Neuroscience. 

While at Kings College, she met her soulmate and husband – Dr. Peter Farrugia. They work together at Advanced Heart and Vascular and have been blessed with four active children, two girls and two boys. Her fifth child is her 7-year-old labradoodle Private, who is a certified service dog. Mrs. Farrugia’s personal goal is to follow the golden rule. Her professional goal is to listen to her patients and provide well-explained answers to their questions to the best of her ability while taking the time to focus on prevention and patient education. Her hobbies include sports, as she is a devoted Mets fan, and she also loves horseback riding, hiking, cooking, traveling, and ballroom dancing. She is an animal lover and enjoys many volunteer opportunities in the community. Her favorite thing is spending time with her family.    

A woman who enjoys a challenge and the joy of helping others, Kerith Boyle is the Nurse Practitioner at Advanced Heart & Vascular of Central Jersey. A wife and mother to three daughters, two cats, and a dog, Kerri grew up in Bayonne and moved to Hazlet in 2001.

“As a nurse I can have a different type of relationship with the patient and families,” shared Kerri. “Not only do I provide healthcare to them, but I can be a support person. This creates a fulfilling bond. This relationship will allow me to improve their health through education and prevention since a trust has been established.”

Kerri has both a master’s in jurisprudence healthcare and in nursing. She is board-certified as an acute care nurse practitioner, a critical care nurse, and in cardiac medicine.

“The most challenging part of what I do is the responsibility that comes along with being a nurse practitioner,” said Kerri. “It is important to be continually educating yourself on the advancements in medicine. You always need to be up to date to ensure you are providing your patients with the highest quality care.” 

Kerri’s favorite quote is by Florence Nightingale, “Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses…we must be learning all our lives.” She lives those words for herself and for her children. Kerri has continued to advance her career because she wants to show her daughters there is nothing that can’t be achieved. She says she wants them to see by her example that with hard work, it is possible to set and accomplish goals. Kerri also volunteers her time to help improve nursing education and serves as an Ambassador to the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

When not working, Kerri likes to spend time with her family. Her daughter is a competitive cheerleader, so the family travels a few times a year for competitions. She also enjoys reading, doing puzzles, and playing games with her kids.