We are proud to celebrate our 500th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure, an important milestone for our heart program and our community.
TAVR provides a life-saving, minimally invasive treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not candidates for traditional open-heart surgery. For many patients, often of advanced age or with complex medical conditions, TAVR offers a safer alternative with shorter recovery times and meaningful improvements in quality of life.
This milestone reflects the skill, dedication, and teamwork of our multidisciplinary heart team, as well as the trust our patients place in us. Most importantly, it represents 500 lives touched by compassionate, innovative care, helping patients return to what matters most.
We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals and teams whose dedication and collaboration help make the TAVR program possible:
- Shekar Kumar, M.D. – Interventional Cardiologist
- Claudio Guareschi, M.D. – Cardiothoracic Surgeon
- Paul Velky, M.D., and Kelley Watson, M.D. – Cardiac Anesthesiologists
- Michelle Pretot, MSN, RN – TAVR Coordinator
- Cardiac Cath Lab Team
- Heart OR Team
- Echocardiography Technologists
- Radiology – CT Team
- CICU/PACU Teams
- Advanced Cardiology Associates Team