Renowned interventional cardiologist and academic leader Dr. Hani Jneid named Inaugural Chair of the new department
The University of
Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is proud to announce two major advancements in
cardiovascular health: the establishment of the Sealy Heart and Vascular
Institute and the launch of a new Department of Cardiovascular Medicine.
Together, these initiatives represent a bold and unified commitment to
elevating cardiovascular care, research and education for the region and
beyond.
A $30 million
grant from the Sealy & Smith Foundation will establish the Sealy Heart and
Vascular Institute on the UTMB Galveston Campus, expanding access to advanced
cardiac services, groundbreaking research, and educational opportunities.
“The Sealy &
Smith Foundation is continually looking for ways to provide cutting-edge
technology and support to raise the availability and level of health care that
UTMB provides,” said John Kelso, board president of the Sealy & Smith
Foundation. “This grant will establish a premier cardiovascular
institute—positioning UTMB as a destination center for care and ensuring it
ranks among the nation’s best for quality and service.”
Institute to
Expand Advanced Cardiac Services, Research and Community Health Initiatives
The Institute
will serve as a hub for advanced clinical services, including interventional
cardiology, advanced heart failure and heart transplantation, arrhythmia
management, advanced cardiovascular imaging and rehabilitation programs in
addition to a myriad of niche clinical offerings, and expanded patient access.
It will also support robust community outreach efforts, host grand rounds with
national thought leaders, partner with UTMB primary care teams to improve
community health outcomes, and serve as a regional, state and national referral
center for cardiovascular care.
The Sealy &
Smith Foundation grant will provide $30 million over the first five years to
cover early setup and operating costs with UTMB supplementing the philanthropic
contribution to bring the total investment in the Sealy Heart and Vascular
Institute to $45 million. In addition, the Foundation is making significant
investments in capital projects on the Galveston Campus, including facility
enhancements, the latest technological advancements in cardiac imaging, cardiac
catheterization and cardiovascular surgery equipment, and enabling access to
co-located, high-volume specialists essential to comprehensive heart care.
“Generous and
continuous support from the Sealy & Smith Foundation throughout our rich
history has transformed health care on Galveston Island for well over a
century,” said Dr. Jochen Reiser, UTMB President and CEO of the UTMB Health
System.
“This latest
initiative will position UTMB as a nationally reputed Heart and Vascular Center
of Excellence that is recognized for excellent clinical care, strong research
work, and premier cardiology fellowship programs. UTMB is grateful to the
Foundation for this funding, as it will further enhance the efforts by our
clinicians to provide life-saving care.”
New Department
of Cardiovascular Medicine Unifies Research and Clinical Excellence
Simultaneously,
UTMB has launched a new Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, which will
consolidate and accelerate efforts in cardiovascular science and clinical
excellence under a unified academic and operational structure.
Dr. Hani Jneid, a nationally and
internationally recognized interventional cardiologist and academic leader, has
been named the Inaugural Chair of the new Department of Cardiovascular
Medicine, Director of the Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute, and Vice
President of Cardiovascular Operations, in addition to holding the John Sealy
Distinguished Centennial Chair in Cardiology.
“Dr. Jneid brings
a unique combination of clinical expertise, scholarly achievement, and
visionary leadership,” said Dr. Antonio Bianco, interim Senior Vice President
and Dean of the John Sealy School of Medicine and Chief Research Officer.
“Since his arrival in May 2022, he has doubled the size of the cardiovascular
team, expanded services, enhanced both academic and clinical performance, and
advanced UTMB national ranking in cardiovascular care. His leadership is
helping UTMB advance as a national destination for cardiovascular care,
research and education.
“This is not
simply an administrative reorganization,” Bianco added. “It’s a transformative
platform for institutional growth. With Dr. Jneid’s leadership, UTMB is poised
to lead the future of cardiovascular medicine—locally, regionally and
nationally.”
Fellowship
Programs Expand to Train Next Generation of Cardiologists
Under Jneid’s
direction, UTMB has markedly expanded its cardiovascular fellowship programs,
doubling its General Cardiovascular Medicine fellowship size—now at 10 fellows
a year, expanding its interventional cardiology and heart failure fellowships,
and is poised to launch a new subspecialty fellowship in Electrophysiology over
the next year.
“We are steadfast
in our commitment to building a nationally recognized cardiovascular center of
excellence—one that not only delivers world-class, patient-centered care, but
also serves as a training ground for the next generation of cardiologists,” Jneid
said. “Our vision is ambitious yet rooted in UTMB’s long-standing tradition of
clinical excellence and academic rigor.
“Our greatest
asset is our people—an extraordinary team of clinicians, educators,
researchers, and staff,” Jneid added. “This is why we are deeply committed to
fostering an environment of excellence, support, and collaboration, with a
focus on creating the best possible working conditions and advancing robust
recruitment and retention efforts to ensure long-term success.”
Wayne Keathley,
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the UTMB Health System,
who has been working closely with Jneid on launching the Sealy Heart and
Vascular Institute, said it will be the first at UTMB to combine the strengths
of all mission areas to vastly improve clinical care for patients.
“We are grateful
for Sealy & Smith Foundation support which allows us to establish this
first-of-its-kind Institute at UTMB in a progressive model that will leverage
the best of innovation and research and clinical care in service to benefit our
patients," Keathley said.