WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals successfully commences open-heart surgery program, expanding service to south and central West Virginia

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – 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.  

James Lovejoy of Madison in Boone County and David Atkins of Elkview in Kanawha County were the first two open-heart surgery patients performed by the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute surgeons. Both patients underwent triple coronary artery bypass grafting operations to treat severe blockages in the heart arteries, and both have done very well. Several other patients received successful operations last week, and more are scheduled as the program marks its robust beginning.

“Consistent with the mission of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute to bring our high-quality advanced care to our citizens as close to home as possible, I could not be more proud to participate in the seamless launch of open-heart surgery at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals,” Dr. Badhwar said. “The hospital leadership and the excellent staff exemplified teamwork at all levels for us to provide the same level of open-heart quality in Charleston as we would provide in Morgantown. The bright future of this program will be a clear advantage to our patients of central and southern West Virginia.” 

These first open-heart surgeries come just one year after the announcement that WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals, in partnership with WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg and the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, would expand its cardiac surgery services in response to the unmet needs and high demand for advanced cardiac surgery in the Charleston area and Southern West Virginia.

“We are pleased to strengthen and expand our renowned cardiac program, allowing patients who need this life-saving procedure to receive it right here in the Kanawha Valley,” Greg Rosencrance, M.D., president and CEO of Thomas Hospitals, said. “With increased access to specialty care – now including open-heart surgery – Thomas Hospitals is dedicated to saving lives and improving the health of patients throughout southern West Virginia.”

Dr. Dans’ areas of clinical expertise include coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic and mitral valve replacement, and thoracic procedures. Dans brings a passion for providing quality patient care to treat heart disease with a highly personal touch. It was announced in December 2023 that Dans would join the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals. 

“I feel privileged to join the excellent team at Thomas Hospitals as we rapidly grow the program with a quality first-and-always approach reflective of the excellent partnership with the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery in Morgantown,” Dr. Dans said. “It is particularly refreshing to see the genuine unity of all physicians, including cardiology, critical care, anesthesia, and others, that approach patient care as a team here at Thomas.”

The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute was named one of the top 50 cardiac surgery programs in the United States by Healthgrades. It is also the top-ranked cardiac surgery program in West Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.

For more information, visit ThomasHospitals.org.