MUSC Heart & Vascular Center is considered among the nation's best.

South Carolina has one of the highest death rates from heart disease. Nearly one South Carolinian in two will die from heart and vascular problems.

To address this epidemic, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has developed a cardiovascular capability that ranks among the finest in America. In 2009, the American Heart Association recognized MUSC as a Gold Medal Winner for Heart Care.

The MUSC Heart & Vascular Center is the only comprehensive cardiovascular center in the state, offering the latest advances in pediatric and adult cardiology, interventional radiology, cardiovascular surgery and heart transplantation. The cardiac program also includes programs in disease prevention, research, professional teaching, public health, and community education. Each year, more than 14,000 patients each year are treated and according to the University Hospital Consortium, MUSC's outcomes are among the best in the country. The MUSC Heart and Vascular Center is the only one in the state that offers heart transplants, and ranks in the top 20 percent of heart transplant programs in volume with consistently excellent outcomes in adult and pediatric patients.

Cardiovascular research is a top priority. MUSC participates in national clinical trials, offering the newest therapies and translating basic research into applications that immediately benefit patients. Among MUSC's important research assets is the Gazes Cardiac Research Institute, one of the leading centers for heart failure research in the nation. Named in honor of Peter Gazes, MD, the Institute is focused on understanding the causes and creating the new therapies to address heart failure. Its researchers routinely attract millions of dollars in federal grants each year. Their discoveries translate into a brighter future for anyone at risk of heart disease.

Learn More about cardiac research studies available through MUSC.