Allegheny General Hospital, part of Allegheny Health Network (AHN), has announced the opening of its Adult Congenital Heart Center. The new clinic will serve as a regional resource for adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), offering specialized care for conditions such as abnormal heart chamber structures, holes in the heart, and malformed valves.
The Center is led by Dr. Nael Aldweib, a board-certified cardiologist who specializes in congenital heart disease and heart failure. According to the American Heart Association, up to 2.4 million Americans are living with some form of CHD, and this number continues to rise.
“Congenital heart defects are structural problems that arise from an abnormal formation of the heart or major blood vessels and are usually diagnosed in the womb or during the newborn stage,” said Dr. Aldweib. “In the United States, it’s estimated that about 40,000 children are born with some form of heart disease annually, many of whom will go on to lead full, long lives — but should do so under the guidance of a specialized care team.”
Heart defects are identified as the most common birth defect in the country, affecting one in every 110 births. Medical advances have improved outcomes for these patients; about 97% now live into adulthood. However, adults with CHD require ongoing care due to potential complications such as valvular dysfunction, ventricular dysfunction, and arrhythmias. These patients visit emergency rooms and hospitals at rates up to four times higher than other adults.
There are at least 18 different types of congenital heart defects recognized by medical professionals.
The new Center offers a range of services including routine wellness exams, medication management, advanced cardiac imaging like MRIs and echocardiograms, and access to therapies such as pacemaker or defibrillator implantation, cardiac catheterization, ablation procedures, and valve surgery.
“Our Center also works extensively with the network’s cardio-obstetrics, maternal fetal medicine, pediatrics and electrophysiology teams to help ensure our patients are wrapped in coordinated, tailored care that meets their health goals — from adolescence to family planning and beyond,” continued Dr. Aldweib. “We are taking a strategic, multidisciplinary approach to their care.”
The multidisciplinary team includes specialists from several fields: surgeons and cardiologists trained in both pediatric and adult CHD care; anesthesiologists; nurse practitioners; internists; geneticists; dentists; obstetricians and gynecologists; psychiatrists; radiologists; cardiac rehabilitation experts; physical therapists; and occupational therapists.
The Center coordinates referrals between pediatricians at AHN Pediatric Institute and adult CHD specialists to ensure smooth transitions when patients reach adulthood. It also collaborates with maternal fetal medicine physicians for patients needing specialized care before conception or during pregnancy.
In 2025 recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology Task Force on Practice Guidelines advised that all adult CHD patients should have both a primary care physician and regular evaluations by specialized cardiologists with advanced training. The guidelines noted that “patients with complex CHD have generally better outcomes when cared for in an integrated, collaborative, and multidisciplinary program.”
“Allegheny Health Network’s Cardiovascular Institute is deeply committed to providing specialized care, backed by evidence-based guidelines,” said Dr. Akshay Khandelwal, interventional cardiologist and Chair of AHN Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. “Today’s announcement marks the latest in on our ongoing mission to provide remarkable, tailored and compassionate care to cardiac patients throughout western Pennsylvania and beyond.”
Earlier this year AHN Cardiovascular Institute launched another specialty clinic focused on South Asian populations who face higher risks for heart disease compared to others.
The Adult Congenital Heart Center is now accepting new patients over age 16. For more information or appointments at AHN Cardiovascular Institute call 412-DOCTORS or visit ahn.org.
