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The Christ Hospital Health Network in Cincinnati has performed over 50 heart transplants since starting its program in November 2022. The milestone was reached in less than three years, establishing the hospital as a regional center for heart transplantation.
"In just a short amount of time, The Christ Hospital Health Network has become a destination for heart transplant in the Midwest," said Debbie Hayes, President & CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. "For years, patients would have to travel elsewhere to get this life-saving procedure done. Now, thanks to our team at The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute, our cardiovascular program is complete and will continue to provide exceptional care."
The program reports a one-year survival rate of 97% for transplant recipients, which exceeds the national average. It also offers shorter wait times and reduced hospital stays compared to other centers. The combined experience of the transplant team spans more than five decades.
"The Christ Hospital Heart Transplant Program continues to grow and change the lives of the patients we care for," said Dean Kereiakes, MD, FACC, MSCAI Chairman of The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute. "When we embarked on this journey, we knew we had a winning team by bringing on Dr. Geetha Bhat as Medical Director of The Christ Hospital Heart Transplant Program and Dr. Rob Dowling, the Chris and Trey Heekin Family Endowed Chair for Cardiac Transplantation and Surgical Director of The Christ Hospital Heart Transplant Program."
In April 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certified the hospital’s heart transplant program due to its strong clinical outcomes and experienced staff. This certification enables patients with government insurance plans or private insurance requiring CMS recognition to access transplant services.
"This is a tremendous milestone accomplished by our experienced heart transplant team that continues to provide exceptional outcomes for advanced heart failure patients," said Dr. Dowling. "Our success has allowed us to grow our team by recruiting nationally recognized physicians and surgical leaders in the field such as Michael Javorski, Ramesh Emani and Rachel Garcia."
The hospital's transplant initiative builds upon its established heart failure and LVAD (left ventricular assist device) program led by Greg Egnaczyk, MD, PhD; that unit recently surpassed 400 LVAD implants.
"Being Cincinnati’s heart hospital, we pride ourselves on the work done at The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute with the advancements in procedures, clinical trials and cutting-edge technology," said Dr. Egnaczyk. "Our LVAD program was an integral part in supporting a robust heart transplant program. This is not possible without the entire cardiovascular care team and the work they put in every day at our network."
The health network operates an acute care hospital in Mt. Auburn along with another facility in Liberty Township plus multiple outpatient centers across Greater Cincinnati. With more than 1,300 physicians and over 7,200 employees serving local communities for more than 135 years, it was named #1 hospital in Cincinnati by U.S News & World Report and included on Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list for 2025.
