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WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals successfully commences open-heart surgery program, expanding service to south and central West Virginia
WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals has expanded its advanced cardiac services to include open-heart surgery in partnership with the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute. Vinay Badhwar, M.D., executive chair of the Institute and chair of the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, and Nestor F. Dans, M.D., performed the first open-heart surgeries at Thomas Memorial Hospital on March 26.
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute first in state, region to use pulsed field ablation to treat atrial fibrillation
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute physicians are the first in the state and region to perform pulsed field ablation (PFA), a new minimally invasive technique to address atrial fibrillation (AFib) using the Medtronic PulseSelect™ PFA system.
Dr. Vinay Badhwar elected as senior officer of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The membership of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) yesterday (Jan. 29) elected Vinay Badhwar, MD, FACS, FACC, executive chair of the West Virginia University Heart and Vascular Institute, as a second vice president of the STS board at its annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. This puts Dr. Badhwar in line to assume the presidency of the STS in 2026.
WVU Medicine completes 100th transplant surgery
WVU Medicine and the WVU Medicine Transplant Alliance recently completed their 100th solid organ transplant surgery. This milestone marks a significant chapter in the history of the program, which has transformed lives and offered hope to patients facing organ failure across West Virginia and the surrounding region. The WVU Medicine Transplant Alliance was established in 2019, completing its first heart transplant in November 2019 and first kidney transplant in March 2020.
WVU Medicine launches Cardiothoracic Surgery APP fellowship program
Advanced practice professionals (APPs) now have a unique opportunity to train within the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute thanks to a first-of-its-kind fellowship program in West Virginia that launched this month.
Dr. Vinay Badhwar named to leadership position of program funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Vinay Badhwar, M.D., executive chair of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute and Gordon F. Murray Professor and Chair of the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, has been named vice chair for strategic development and scientific partnerships for the Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network (CTSN).
Drs. Nestor Dans and Nathaniel Kister to join WVU Heart and Vascular Institute
Cardiothoracic surgeons Nestor Dans, M.D., and Nathaniel Kister, M.D., are joining the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Dans will join the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals in South Charleston and WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg.
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute now offering access to novel heart failure therapy through clinical trial
The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute today announced that it is the first center in West Virginia to enroll patients in the RESPONDER-HF trial evaluating the effectiveness of the Corvia® Atrial Shunt, an investigational cardiac implant designed to address the frequent hospitalizations and symptoms that limit quality of life in people suffering from heart failure. The randomized trial will be offered to patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the most common type of heart failure, but one for which effective treatments are limited.
WVU Medicine surgeon develops device to improve visibility during surgery, another WVU Medicine surgeon first to use it in thoracic surgery
The device, called Endolumik, was tested at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital before receiving approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is the first device to be approved through the FDA’s Safer Technology Program, which is designed to expedite the development and approval of medical devices that have the potential to improve patient safety.
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute partners with Story Health to improve access to specialty care
The partnership combines the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute’s leadership in clinical quality and excellence with Story Health’s specialty care platform solution to extend access and improve health outcomes for an important population.
WVU Hospitals nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality cardiovascular and stroke care
WVU Hospitals has received five American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times, and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
Uniontown mom is able to enjoy outdoors again after unique robotic valve surgery
Heather Thompson, 45 of Uniontown, PA, first started having heart palpitations when she was pregnant 15 years ago. Her doctors discovered that she had a mitral valve prolapse. Heather and her doctors in Uniontown watched her condition closely over the years, and when her symptoms started to come on more strongly, she talked to her cardiologist, who ordered more tests and referred her to WVU Heart and Vascular Institute.
ECMO teams receive national awards
The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute and WVU Medicine Children’s received national recognition for their extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) teams at the annual meeting of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), the world’s leading ECMO organization with more than 20,000 users and members from more than 50 countries. The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute has been designated a Gold Level Center of Excellence, and WVU Medicine Children’s has been designated a Silver Level Center on the Path to Excellence in Life Support.
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute hosts regional meeting
The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute hosted the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) regional fall meeting for the Virginias Vascular Study Group (VVSG) on Wednesday (Oct. 11).The biannual regional meeting allows physicians, nurses, data managers, quality officers, and more from West Virginia and Virginia to meet in a supportive, collaborative environment to objectively review their procedure data with an end goal of delivering the best vascular care to the patients.
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute first in state to offer heart failure neuromodulation device
The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute is the first in the state to offer the Barostim™ Baroreflex Activation Therapy, the world’s first FDA-approved heart failure device to use neuromodulation, to improve the symptoms of patients with systolic heart failure who may not receive adequate symptom relief from medications alone and those who are not suited for treatment with other heart failure devices, like cardiac resynchronization therapy.
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital named top hospital in state by U.S. News & World Report
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital has retained its title of number one hospital in West Virginia and ranked 41st in the nation in Obstetric and Gynecological Care according to the 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital rankings. Nine WVU Medicine hospitals, including Ruby Memorial Hospital, were recognized as High Performing in one or more categories.
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute receives six Healthgrades’ national recognitions
The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital has received six national recognitions from Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients.
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital earns Blue Distinction Center Designation for Cardiac Care
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital has received a Blue Distinction® Center for Cardiac Care designation by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
Dr. Alper Toker named chief of Thoracic Surgery
Alper Toker, M.D., has been named professor and chief of Thoracic Surgery at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute and the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery in the WVU School of Medicine.
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute team leads national study on optimal treatment for mitral valve disease
A team of researchers led by Vinay Badhwar, M.D., professor and executive chair of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, and including J. Hunter Mehaffey, M.D., assistant professor in the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, and other cardiology and cardiac surgery leaders from across the United States, has provided important clarity on the safety and outcomes of an important surgical treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, or leakage, caused by mitral valve prolapse.
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute research provides clarity on choice of heart bypass surgery or stenting for coronary disease
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute clinical researchers presented results of a national study highlighting the benefits of coronary artery bypass graft surgery over the use of stenting in specific patients with coronary artery disease and blockages in multiple arteries.
Dr. Dhaval Chauhan to join WVU Medicine Children’s Heart Center
Dhaval Chauhan, M.D., pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, will join the team at WVU Medicine Children’s Heart Center and the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute on Jan. 30. He will also serve as an assistant professor in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.
HVI in the news
STS 2023: Risk assessment tool “sets a high bar” when considering alternatives to surgery in mitral valve repair
Cardiovascular News I Jan. 24, 2023
CABG bests PCI for multivessel CAD, large new study confirms
Cardiovascular Business I Jan. 20, 2023
An updated look at surgically repairing the mitral valve due to mitral regurgitation
Cardiovascular Business I Jan. 19, 2023