UPMC in Central Pa. Bolsters Structural Heart Program with New Co-Director

June 5, 2023

The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. is among the most elite cardiac surgery programs in the United States and Canada.

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Paul D. Mahoney, M.D., a leading structural interventional cardiologist, has joined the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) in Central Pa. as co-director of the structural heart program alongside esteemed interventional cardiologist, Hemal Gada, M.D., and acclaimed cardiothoracic surgeon Mubashir Mumtaz, M.D.

Board certified by American Board of Internal Medicine in interventional cardiology, Dr. Mahoney’s primary focus is on the diagnosis and treatment of structural heart disease. He performs advanced interventions such as the latest transcatheter aortic valve replacement, Mitra-Clip, left atrial appendage closure, balloon valvuloplasty of the aortic and mitral valves, and non-surgical closure of atrial and ventricular septal defects. During his 23-year career, he has been the principal investigator for dozens of clinical research trials, for which he is nationally renowned.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Mahoney to the UPMC HVI team,” said Lou Baverso, president, UPMC in Central Pa. “Dr. Mahoney’s expertise and experience further bolster our program as one of the best structural heart programs in the country. Our recent achievements in heart and vascular care prove how people-focused health and highly skilled physicians with access to cutting-edge technology and clinical trials produce the highest quality patient outcomes.”

As one of the largest and most experienced cardiovascular programs in the region, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. recently earned the distinguished three-star rating, the highest rating possible, from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in four out of five total categories for patient care and outcomes. This three-star rating places UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. among the most elite cardiac surgery programs — the top 1% — in the United States and Canada.

Last year, the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in central Pennsylvania provided more than 130,000 patient appointments. As pioneers in cardiovascular health since 1956, physicians at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in central Pennsylvania were the first in the region to perform open heart surgery and the first to perform coronary artery balloon angioplasty. Other firsts include the implantation of a drug-eluting coronary stent, percutaneous (minimally invasive) aortic valve procedures (TAVR) and the implantation of an FDA-approved percutaneous mitral valve repair device. UPMC’s vascular surgeons are experts at providing exceptional care through both vascular and endovascular techniques.

Historically, open-heart surgery has been the common method for treating valvular and structural heart disease; however, percutaneous valve replacement now provides a viable alternative to patients for whom conventional surgery is considered too risky — and offers the potential benefits of less scarring, less blood loss, less pain and a quicker recovery.

Patients receiving care at UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute facilities across Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Juniata, Franklin, Adams and parts of Snyder counties, benefit from groundbreaking research and have local access to more than 100 clinical trials. UPMC experts lead trials in multi-institutional studies, enabling the team to bring the treatments of tomorrow to UPMC today.

For more information or to schedule an appointment at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, visit UPMC.com/CentralPaHeart.