WVU Heart & Vascular Institute celebrates 10th anniversary
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The WVU Heart & Vascular Institute celebrated its 10th anniversary Friday afternoon - as leaders and staff gathered to enjoy refreshments and reflect on what they’ve accomplished.
Emcee Hoppy Kercheval talked about how HVI has grown. "You had humble beginnings, but in a relatively short period of time, you’ve become a world leader in heart and vascular care."
West Virginians don’t have to leave the state to get care now, he said. "You are making a difference, not only in the lives of individuals, but in the collective well-being of our state and our region."
Albert Wright, WVU Medicine president and CEO, looked at the history of HVI. He came aboard in August 2014, followed shortly after by Clay Marsh, WVU Health Sciences executive dean. Together, they worked to figure out how to meet WVU’s two part mission: improve the health trajectory of the state and region, and meet WVU’s teaching objectives.
They worked on the concept of signature programs combining people programs and physical plants, he said. HVI became one of the institutes that emerged from those talks.
The building was not originally intended to house HVI, he said. The building’s purpose was not clearly defined. It included an elevator to pediatrics on the Ruby sixth floor, several floors of support services, some patient care floors. So they refined the focus, and redesigned it to house HVI.
"When you look back at what this building was going to be, and what it became, it’s a pretty cool story." The people and the programs make the difference - here and across WVU Medicine’s footprint.
Marsh said, "This celebration is really not about the HVI, the technical capabilities we have. It is really about the people. People always make a place great, or not, and we have great people."
Numbers provided by HVI show that it employs more than 300 physicians, advanced care practitioners and scientists, along with 1,600 dedicated nurses, perfusionists, technologists and staff.
Marsh noted that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death across the nation and in West Virginia. More than 6,400 West Virginians die from heart disease and stroke each year.
"What matters is that we’ve given people another birthday, we’ve given grandparents an opportunity to learn the names of their grandchildren, we’ve given people another day outside."
And the mission of the next 10 years is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in West Virginia.
Vinay Badhwar, executive chief of HVI, said, "Over the last 10 years, you have transformed an idea into an institute."
Following the celebration, we asked WVU President Michael Benson about HVI’s next 10 years. He echoed the focus on prevention, but also viewed it from a university perspective.
"An institute like this exists to improve the health of all West Virginians," he said. "I think the next 10 years are going to be really exciting."
And, "from the point of the university, the more education one attains, the better informed will be health decisions." That means better quality of life and better health outcomes. Research, clinical trials, residencies, medical students all play a role in the mission of HVI.
We asked Badhwar the same question. He said HVI has won quality-of-care awards across the spectrum. And its led in innovation, creating first-in-world procedures.
"The next chapter - it’s not written yet - needs to not only focus on continuing to innovate and hopefully lead the world in new research efforts, but also work on prevention," he said.
West Virginians are hard workers, and care for the needs of others, but they also need to focus on their own health needs, he said.
Part of that is detecting disease early, and part of that will be outreach, he said. It’s not just about the transaction of healthcare but a focus on mission. And HVI has facilities across the state and in neighboring states. "Our goal is to elevate care and keep patients in their communities."