St. Mary’s Health Care System and its parent ministry, Trinity Health, announced on May 14 plans for a major expansion at St. Mary’s Hospital to increase capacity for treating stroke, heart attack, blood vessel disease, and cancer. The new Center for Heart Vascular and Neurosciences (CHVN), a 15,000-square-foot facility at the Baxter Street campus, is expected to open in October 2027.
The nearly $35 million project aims to address growing demand for specialized medical services as the region’s population increases. Construction will take place atop the existing Emergency Department and Outpatient Surgical Center on the hospital’s west side. Patient care will continue during construction though access to some areas may be restricted at times.
“As our area’s population continues to grow, we must enhance access to vital services now and in the future,” said Stonish Pierce, President and CEO of Trinity Health Georgia. “The team at Trinity Health agreed that our region needs better access to these critical services. This investment in our communities is vital for the continued health and well-being of those we serve.”
Pierce also said: “Medical science has advanced tremendously in recent years, and we can now do more than ever to protect and restore the health of people at risk of heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, cancer and many other conditions. This addition expands our capabilities in these life-saving specialties.”
The CHVN will include several new features such as the region’s first 4D CT scanner allowing doctors real-time imaging of organs in motion; expanded rapid-response stroke services providing specialists with around-the-clock technology needed for removing large-vessel blood clots; and a dedicated electrophysiology laboratory enabling precise diagnosis and treatment of dangerous heart rhythm disorders.
“The CHVN will continue the growth of St. Mary’s Hospital as a thrombectomy-capable stroke center – the first to be designated as such in the state of Georgia,” said Whitney Barfield, St. Mary’s stroke coordinator. “The CHVN is the only facility in Athens that provides advanced neurovascular treatments in an emergency, for monitoring, and for elective procedures which leads to stronger recoveries and healthier futures.”
“This expansion will double our capacity to detect and treat cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death and disability in our nation,” said Dr. Erick Avelar, St. Mary’s Chief of Cardiology. “It will enhance access to state-of-the-art facilities and technologies so that we can save more lives and improve quality of life for more people all across Northeast Georgia.”
This initiative is part of what officials describe as St. Mary’s largest-ever expansion project totaling nearly $100 million across multiple sites including recent radiology department upgrades; acquisition of additional MRI equipment; opening wound healing centers; expanding pharmacy services; establishing new medical group practices; with further developments planned.
