At The Heart Of Philanthropy - Strengthening Cardiovascular Care For The Future

According to Ralph M. Levy, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Memorial Healthcare System and a member of the Memorial Foundation Board of Directors, Cardiovascular care is constantly evolving. “The field continues to change,” Dr. Levy said. “Our knowledge, our tools and our needs change with it. As new medications, procedures and technologies emerge, meeting those changes requires ongoing investment in equipment, infrastructure and innovation.”

When Dr. Levy assumed the role of Chief of Cardiology more than seven years ago, Memorial’s Cardiovascular program had not yet fully adopted an integrated institute model. One of Dr. Levy’s primary priorities was building a coordinated structure with defined subspecialties and a strong culture of collaboration. Today, the Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute operates as a fully integrated program, with physicians across multiple subspecialties working together to evaluate complex cases and determine the most effective course of care for each patient.

The Institute now includes 60 to 70 physicians specializing in areas such as Electrophysiology, advanced Heart Failure and transplantation, Cardiac Imaging, Interventional Cardiology and Clinical Cardiology. Dedicated teams support heart rhythm care, advanced Heart Failure services and sophisticated diagnostic imaging, while interventional and structural cardiologists perform procedures including stent placement and minimally invasive valve interventions. Cardiac, transplant and vascular surgeons work closely with the Institute as part of a comprehensive, team-based care model.

Each year, the Institute manages an estimated 120,000 patient encounters. Just as important as its size is how the program functions. Physicians meet regularly across disciplines to review complex cases and align on treatment plans. Weekly Cardiovascular rounds further support this collaborative environment, bringing clinicians together to share clinical advances, emerging research and insights from visiting experts.

The Institute has made a deliberate shift toward a more academic model of care. Its cardiology fellowship program now includes 15 fellows, with five trainees entering each year. The program has graduated its first two classes over the past two years, and Memorial has begun hiring fellowship graduates to join the medical staff.

“When you’re teaching fellows, everyone stays focused and accountable,” Dr. Levy said. “You have to explain your decisions and justify your approach, and that raises the level of care across the board.”

Training is also central to addressing long-term access to Cardiovascular care, as the specialty faces a national workforce challenge. Nearly a quarter of cardiologists are over the age of 60, while demand for Cardiovascular services continues to rise as the population ages and rates of Obesity and Diabetes increase.

“We’re seeing more patients, more complexity and fewer physicians entering the field at the same pace,” Levy said. “That makes it essential to invest not just in facilities and technology, but in training the next generation of Cardiologists so access doesn’t become a barrier to care.”

National projections reflect that concern. According to the American College of Cardiology, demand for Cardiovascular care is expected to outpace the cardiology workforce over the next decade as retirements accelerate and training capacity remains limited. The organization has also reported that more than 60% of U.S. counties have no cardiologists.

As demand for Cardiovascular care continues to increase, access is a central consideration for heart programs nationwide. Even as the Memorial system recruits new physicians, schedules fill quickly, reflecting the volume of patients seeking care. To meet that demand, the Institute must continue expanding capacity and updating the tools clinicians rely on every day.

Philanthropy plays a complementary role in supporting Memorial’s long-term goal by helping to address targeted needs that emerge as Cardiovascular care continues to evolve. In the past, philanthropic investment has supported community health screenings and specialized equipment such as a Cardiometabolic Stress Laboratory, which has strengthened diagnostic capabilities for patients with complex conditions.

One current area of focus is cardiac imaging. As imaging volumes grow, Memorial is evaluating advanced workflow technologies designed to improve efficiency and expand capacity. According to Dr. Levy, one proposed imaging platform could increase throughput by as much as 30% to 40%, allowing physicians to interpret studies more efficiently and enable more patients to be evaluated in a timely manner.

“New technology can standardize visualization and analysis, allowing physicians to interpret complex studies more efficiently and reduce delays in patient care,” Dr. Levy said. “It’s a very specific, measurable need, and we can clearly define the benefit.”

Memorial also continues to invest in Infrastructure that supports Cardiovascular care, including an approximately $15 Million retrofit of its Memorial Hospital West facility. This project will relocate Clinical Cardiology offices, house Memorial’s first dedicated Cardiac CT scanner, and expand capacity for adult heart transplant services, while the remainder of Memorial Cardiac & Vascular Institute services will continue to operate at Memorial Regional Hospital.

Dr. Levy recently joined the Memorial Foundation Board, where he hopes to help align philanthropic priorities with the evolving needs of adult cardiovascular care, which is central to the health system’s mission and long-term impact.

“Philanthropy allows us to move faster and be more precise in how we expand access,” Dr. Levy said. “It’s about investing strategically in capacity so we can meet the needs of our community over the long term.”

For Dr. Levy, the message is one of readiness. Cardiovascular Disease is not going away, and the responsibility of health systems is to be prepared. That means having the right people, the right tools and the right infrastructure in place not only for today, but for the future.