Morristown Medical Center’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute’s structural heart program recently reported it has reached a significant milestone of performing over 5,000 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures, the first in New Jersey and among the first to accomplish this in the United States. Image courtesy: Atlantic Health System.
June 3, 2024 — Morristown Medical Center’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute’s structural heart program recently reported it has reached a significant milestone of performing over 5,000 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures, the first in New Jersey and among the first to accomplish this in the United States.
Every year, approximately 300,000 cardiac patients in the United States are diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, with only 28% receiving a TAVR, leaving the majority untreated. There are more than 838 TAVR programs in hospitals across the U.S., however less than 1% perform more than 500 cases per year. A TAVR is a catheter-based procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve with a man-made valve without opening the chest.
Morristown Medical Center has the largest TAVR program in New Jersey and is among the top programs in the nation, according to a written statement. It further reported that, in 2011, Morristown Medical Center was the first in New Jersey to offer TAVR for severe aortic stenosis. Last year, Morristown Medical Center’s team performed 721 TAVRs and is projected to top that number this year. U.S. News and World Report consistently recognizes Morristown Medical Center as high performing in transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
Home to the largest cardiac surgery program in New Jersey and ranked one of the 50 best hospitals in the nation for heart and vascular surgery by US News & World Report, Morristown Medical Center’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute serves as the hub of Atlantic Health System Heart Care.
Philippe Genereux, MD, an interventional cardiologist, and a medical director of the nationally recognized Structural Heart Program at the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown Medical Center said, “To me, this number represents 5,000 people who were able to go back to enjoying life and being with their loved ones. This milestone is a testimony to our entire, multi-disciplinary team who work tirelessly to improve thousands of lives,” said Genereux. He added, “Our record of successful outcomes, combined with our reputation for exceptional care, brings more patients to our hospital every year. We are incredibly proud to offer patients this option that, 20 years ago, would not have been possible.”
For the fourth year in a row, Genereux was named one of the world’s most highly cited researchers by Clarivate Web of Science Group. Only one in 1,000 scientists receive this distinction and Genereux’s papers consistently rank in the top 1% of citations for clinical medicine, according to the statement recently issued on the achievement. It further noted that Morristown Medical Center was also among the first to receive the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Transcatheter Valve Certification, with only 10% of hospitals performing TAVR having achieved this elite recognition of best practices and quality care. The team has consistently held that distinction and its comprehensive structural heart multi-disciplinary team offers the latest in transcatheter valve technologies, is committed to clinical care, research, education, and publication.
Serving New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area, with a workforce of 20,000 team members and 5,440 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 14 counties and 7.5 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 550 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers, and also serves as the official health care partner of the New York Jets.
More information: www.atlantichealth.org
January 24, 2025 
