WVU Medicine Announces Launch of Open-Heart Surgery Program at Berkeley Medical Center

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. — WVU Medicine is taking a bold step forward in expanding access to advanced cardiac care in the Eastern Panhandle. The organization, in partnership with the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, has announced it will develop an Open-Heart Surgery Program at Berkeley Medical Center. Implementation is already underway.

“This Program is a direct response to the needs of our community,” Mark O’Hern, president and CEO of WVU Hospitals East, said. “We’re proud to bring this level of care to Berkeley Medical Center and ensure our patients have access to life-saving procedures close to home.”

The Open-Heart Surgery Program is part of a broader strategy to expand specialty services across the region. Key milestones in the program’s development include staff training, equipment installation, and mock surgeries, with the first open heart procedure anticipated by the end of 2026.

“At the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, we are proud to deliver some of the nation’s best outcomes in cardiac surgery, driven by a team of world-class clinicians and a relentless commitment to excellence,” Vinay Badhwar, M.D., executive chair of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute and Service Line, said.

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to bring that caliber of care to the Eastern Panhandle through the launch of our Open-Heart Surgery Program at Berkeley Medical Center. This investment reflects our belief that every patient, regardless of geography, deserves access to lifesaving, high-quality heart care close to home.”

This initiative is part of WVU Medicine’s over $400 million capital investment in the Eastern Panhandle over the next several years. As part of this vision, Berkeley Medical Center is evolving into a regional tertiary hub and academic medical center, equipped to deliver high-acuity care and serve as a destination for specialty services across West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia.

For more information on Berkeley Medical Center, visit WVUMedicine.org/Berkeley. For more information on the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/Heart.

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For media inquiries:

Jennifer Simmons, WVU Hospitals East Senior Marketing Strategist, [email protected]

25 – October

JDS: 10-16-25