Piedmont Heart Institute performed a record-breaking 103 heart transplants in 2024, solidifying its position as a national leader in cardiac care and a cornerstone of the Buckhead community. This remarkable 29 percent increase from the previous year places Piedmont Atlanta Hospital among the top four busiest heart transplant centers in the entire country.
For more than a century, Piedmont Atlanta has been a pillar of the Buckhead community. The hospital has served generations of local families through every stage of life since moving to its iconic Peachtree Road location in 1957. From its comprehensive maternity and newborn services that welcome new residents into the world to its advanced specialty care, Piedmont is the trusted healthcare provider for countless Buckhead residents.
This level of success is built on a foundation of philanthropic trust and strategic investment, powerfully illustrated by the creation of the Marcus Heart Valve Center. Fueled by a transformative $20 million grant from The Marcus Foundation, led by Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, the center was established to be a “one-stop shop for patients with heart valve problems”. Mr. Marcus, one of Atlanta’s most influential philanthropists, expressed his confidence in the institution, stating, “Atlanta is the perfect place for this unique center, and Piedmont Heart Institute will make it happen”.
This investment established the nation’s first comprehensive center for care, training, and research for all four heart valves. Dr. Charles Brown, an interventional cardiologist at Piedmont, noted this generosity builds on a legacy of community support. “It started with the late J.B. Fuqua, after whom the Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta was named, and it grows with Bernie Marcus’ trust that we will build a valve center worthy of his name,” Dr. Brown said. This powerful backing has helped propel Piedmont to the forefront of cardiac medicine.
This latest milestone elevates the hospital’s reputation to new heights. The 2024 transplant volume places Piedmont in an elite group of U.S. hospitals that includes Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and Mayo Clinic. The institute’s success is built on more than just numbers; since its inception in 2012, the program has completed over 375 heart transplants, demonstrating a long-term commitment to saving lives.
“Our emphasis on equitable access, in combination with implementing a responsible assertive organ acceptance approach has led to superb post-transplant outcomes,” said Dr. Ezequiel J. Molina, Director of Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation at Piedmont. He noted this strategy results in “shorter wait times, lower mortality rates on the waitlist, and the highest one-year survival rates in Georgia.”
Piedmont’s innovation extends to complex, multi-organ procedures. In 2024, the team launched a dual heart/kidney transplant program, successfully completing 13 of these intricate surgeries. A new heart/liver transplant program has also been recently established, further expanding options for patients with complex conditions. Alongside this, the hospital remains the nation’s leader by volume for Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implants, a critical therapy for patients with advanced heart failure.
The achievement is a point of pride for the entire hospital staff and its partners. “Our team is passionate about finding new ways to serve our patients and it is reflected in the volumes we have seen the past two years,” said Dr. David Kandzari, Chief of Piedmont Heart Institute. He gave special credit to the crucial role played by LifeLink of Georgia, the state’s Organ Procurement Organization.
The need for such advanced cardiac care is growing, with over 6 million adults in the U.S. living with heart failure. As of today, nearly 4,000 Americans are waiting for a new heart. With this record-setting year, the world-class team right here in Buckhead is making a major impact on that national crisis.
“With the growth of our program, we hope to help more people with heart failure receive a new heart,” Dr. Molina added. For the Buckhead community, this means having one of the country’s absolute best heart transplant centers right in their own backyard.