9/24/2026
WASHINGTON, Pa. – UPMC Washington has expanded access to advanced heart failure care with the addition of a Heart Transplant and Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Evaluation Clinic at UPMC Washington Outpatient Center – Neighbor Health located at 95 Leonard Ave.The new clinic enables people with advanced heart failure to receive much of their transplant-related care closer to home. Patients can complete evaluations, pre-surgical assessments and post-operative follow-up appointments in Washington, with transplant surgery performed at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. The clinic builds on the recent addition of local kidney and lung transplant evaluation services in Washington County, further increasing access to specialized transplant care.
"When someone is facing advanced heart failure, access to care should not be another challenge they have to overcome. Being closer to home, family, support systems and familiar caregivers can make a meaningful difference during a difficult journey," said Brook Ward, president of UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene. "This clinic allows people to begin a complex treatment journey with the support of one of the nation's leading heart transplant programs while receiving much of their care locally. It’s another example of our commitment to bringing advanced specialty care to the communities we serve.”
People referred to the clinic receive comprehensive evaluations from transplant specialists who determine whether heart transplantation or VAD therapy may be appropriate treatment options. A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a mechanical pump that helps the heart circulate blood throughout the body and may be used as a bridge to transplant or as a long-term treatment option for certain people with advanced heart failure.
"We are delighted to expand access to advanced heart failure care for the Washington community and surrounding areas through the opening of the UPMC Washington Heart Transplant and VAD Evaluation Clinic,” said Mary E. Keebler, M.D., medical director, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant, Heart and Vascular Institute, UPMC Presbyterian. “At UPMC Presbyterian, our world-class advanced heart failure and transplant team saves lives every day. Our mission is to reach as many patients as possible living with advanced heart failure by delivering expert care close to home, within their own communities.”
The UPMC Heart Transplant Program is one of the nation's most recognized and experienced centers for advanced heart failure and transplantation. According to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), UPMC's heart transplant outcomes consistently exceed national averages and, according to data released in July 2026, the program ranked first in Pennsylvania for 90-day survival following adult heart transplantation.
Improving access to care continues to be a community health priority in the Washington region. Since affiliating with UPMC in June 2024, UPMC Washington has continued to expand local access to advanced specialty services, including breast surgery, transplant care, women's health, pediatric specialty services and other advanced clinical programs.
The additions of kidney and lung and now heart transplant evaluation services reflect a continued commitment to ensuring residents of Washington County and surrounding communities have access to increasingly complex care within their own region.
