By Liz Torrey

VCU Medical Center is home to an exceptional team of heart specialists whose expertise is unparalleled in the commonwealth, but don’t just take our word for it.

Out of nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide, U.S. News & World Report ranked VCU Health’s flagship medical center No. 29 in the nation and No. 1 in Virginia — for the fifth consecutive year* — in cardiology, heart surgery and vascular surgery.

Cardiology and cardiothoracic and vascular surgery services at the medical center are delivered by VCU Health Pauley Heart Center.

“I’m incredibly proud that the VCU Health Pauley Heart Center has been recognized as one of the nation’s very best heart hospitals,” said Greg Hundley, M.D. director of VCU Pauley Heart Center. “Our entire Pauley team works with unwavering dedication to our mission, 365 days a year: to improve cardiovascular care for all. We are honored to be recognized for this work, and excited to increase access to our outstanding clinical care in the years to come.”

"This U.S. News & World Report ranking represents a personal best for Pauley Heart Center and is a testament to our unwavering commitment to patient-centered care, community engagement, access to advanced cardiovascular services, and a growing international research presence,” said Keyur Shah, M.D., interim chief of the Division of Cardiology. “It reflects the collective efforts of generations of team members whose commitment has established Pauley as a leader in cardiovascular care for Virginia and the nation."

Consistent quality and excellence in patient care matters across a health system, too. The national publication’s 2026-2027 Best Hospitals list also named VCU Medical Center as the No. 1 hospital in Virginia overall, as well as the No. 1 hospital in Richmond for the 16th consecutive year.

VCU Health Pauley Heart Center uses innovative technology like cardiac MRIs to get a better picture of a patient’s heart structure, which can lead to a more accurate diagnosis. (Tyler Trumbo, MCV Foundation)

What makes Pauley Heart Center the best place for heart care in Virginia

To be recognized among U.S. News’ 2026-2027 Best Hospitals for heart care, Pauley Heart Center had to excel in 41 different areas that matter most to patients and their families, such as:

• Patient survival rates
• Patients discharged to home
• Prevention of prolonged hospitalization, complications, infection and readmission

The Pauley Heart Center’s mission is to improve cardiovascular care for all Virginians. This national recognition highlights Pauley’s impact on heart disease patients and their families in Central Virginia.

"This recognition reflects the remarkable growth and expertise of our cardiovascular program and the strength of our collaborative approach to care,” said Patricia Nicolato, D.O., chair of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. “Together, we have expanded our capacity to treat the most complex cardiac conditions and underscores our commitment to delivering world-class, patient-centered cardiovascular care for the communities we serve."

“Pauley Heart Center is always reaching to provide the best surgical and clinical care in the region, in the commonwealth and in the nation,” said Mark Levy, M.D., chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery. “Our institutional expertise in vascular surgical care has developed over 50 years of practice, and our team continues to grow and push frontiers for best patient outcomes for the patients we serve.”

The center also stood out as the highest scoring hospital in Virginia for cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery. Hospitals earning a “High Performing” designation in a procedure or condition must demonstrate excellence in caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients.

U.S. News recognized Pauley Heart Center for providing ‘High Performing’ care in the following heart procedures and conditions:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
• Heart arrhythmia
• Heart attack
• Heart bypass surgery
• Heart failure
• Pacemaker implantation
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

Comprehensive cardiovascular care for Virginia

Headquartered in Richmond with outpatient centers throughout central and southeast Virginia, Pauley Heart Center offers a full spectrum of cardiovascular services — from noninvasive cardiology to heart transplantation.

As part of an academic medical center connected to Virginia Commonwealth University, Pauley Heart Center also leads groundbreaking cardiovascular research and trains the next generation of healthcare workers who specialize in heart health.

*VCU Health Pauley Heart Center and Inova Scar Heart & Vascular were jointly recognized as Virginia’s top-rated heart hospital in 2024-2025.*

VCU Health Pauley Heart Center celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2026. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

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