Center for Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiothoracic Transplantation

Comprehensive care, all under one roof

Heart failure is a chronic, life-altering disease that requires constant attention and evaluation. When standard treatments are no longer effective and all other possibilities have been exhausted, the Center for Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiothoracic Transplantation at Jewish Hospital provides patients with an advanced level of care unlike any other.

Located on the tenth floor of the Heart & Lung Institute on the downtown Jewish Hospital Medical Campus and led by a team of dedicated physicians with Jewish Hospital and the University of Louisville, the Center offers patients suffering from all types of heart failure the most comprehensive care and latest treatment options, all in one convenient location.

The Center will focus on heart transplants, lung transplants and ventricular assist device (VAD) treatments for end-stage heart failure and lung disease patients, as well as develop new technologies, promote enhanced educational programs and provide the most advanced clinical trials in the region.

Transplant and VAD coordinators are assigned to each case, and research managers to multiple clinical trials, ensuring that patients have access to the latest medical advancements.

For example, the Center is doing groundbreaking work with cardiomyopathy patients. Using a specific protocol of medications in combination with the LVAD the elements work together to strengthen the patients’ hearts and lead to the removal of the LVAD device. Jewish Hospital is the second facility in the country to remove LVADs from patients using the protocol.

Physicians hold clinics and educational sessions for patients interested in learning more about heart failure and what they can do to lessen the effects of the disease. By offering a way for patients to understand their disease, the hope is that the healing and recovery process will be a smoother and quicker transition for all involved.

From initial referral to the clinic to evaluating treatment options to any needed rehabilitation, the team at the Center for Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiothoracic Transplantation walks patients through every step of the way.

For more information about the Center for Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiothoracic Transplantation call and select “heart” or “lung.”

Learn more about Treatments for Heart Failure

In late 2007, Phillip Groves was ready to serve his country. The 20-year-old Kentucky native was a marine. While at Camp Lejeune, he started noticing sudden changes in his health. From there Phillip was sent to several hospitals for treatment, but things got worse. He was finally referred to the Advanced Hheart Failure program at Jewish Hospital. Doctors told him there was one shot at getting better.

Leadership Team:

	Mark Slaughter, M.D., Chief of the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Louisville and Director of the Heart Transplant and Mechanical Assist Device program at Jewish Hospital.
	Kelly McCants, M.D., Director of Advanced Heart Failure/Medical Director of Cardiac Transplantation Jewish Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of Cardiac Transplantation and Assistant Director of Advanced Heart Failure at the University of Louisville.
	Emma Birks, Ph.D., FRCP, BSc, MBBS, medical director of the Jewish Hospital Heart Failure, Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support program and professor of Cardiovascular Medicine with the University of Louisville.
	Allan M Ramirez, M.D. , Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Disorders, University of Louisville, Lung Transplant Program Physician at Jewish Hospital.
	Victor Henry van Berkle, M.D., PhD, serves as Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Louisville and Lung Transplant Surgeon at Jewish Hospital.