Pittsburgh Review

Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) in Pittsburgh has been awarded the prestigious Gold-Level Center of Excellence designation by the International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS). This recognition places AGH among 14 other institutions across six countries acknowledged for their outstanding care in cardio-oncology.

The Center of Excellence designation is given to medical facilities that meet high standards in managing patients at risk of cardiotoxicity, a condition resulting from cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. Valentyna Ivanova, MD, a board-certified cardio-oncologist at Allegheny Health Network's Cardiovascular Institute, serves as co-medical director of AGH's Cardio-Oncology Center alongside Christie J. Hilton, DO.

Dr. Ivanova stated, "This recognition underscores the exceptional dedication of our clinicians in providing the highest level of care to cardio-oncology patients, many of whom are navigating complex and multifaceted health journeys." She praised the center's clinicians for their innovative work in advancing therapeutic strategies within this specialized field.

At AGH’s Cardio-Oncology Center, multidisciplinary teams comprising cardiac and cancer specialists manage and treat patients with existing heart disease or those at risk due to cancer therapies. Care plans may involve treatments for cardiovascular complications like hypertension or arrhythmia, lifestyle counseling to reduce cardiovascular impact, continuous monitoring through imaging, and medication management.

Dr. Ivanova highlighted the center’s approach: "Our heart specialists coordinate care with experts from the AHN Cancer Institute to minimize cancer treatment’s impact on the heart... It’s a multidisciplinary approach to care that treats each patient holistically."

The team includes cardiologists Indu Poornima, MD; Anita Radhakrishnan, MD; and Rachel Hughes-Doichev, MD. Consultations are available both in-person at AGH and AHN's Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion as well as virtually.

For appointments with an AHN cardio-oncology specialist or more information, individuals can contact 412-DOCTORS.

The International Cardio-Oncology Society was founded in 2009 with a mission to eliminate cardiovascular disease as a barrier to effective cancer therapy by fostering collaboration among global researchers and clinicians.