St. Mary’s Health Care System invites the public to a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m. for the hospital’s new Center for Heart, Vascular and Neurosciences (CHVN).

The 15,000-square-foot center is being built above the Outpatient Surgical Center and the Emergency Department at the hospital, located at 1230 Baxter St., Athens. Expected to open in October 2027, it will expand St. Mary’s Hospital’s capacity for lifesaving treatment of stroke, heart attack, blood vessel disease and cancer.

“Our area’s population continues to grow and the need for life-saving and life-improving healthcare services continues to grow with it,” said Stonish Pierce, President and CEO of Trinity Health Georgia. “As part of Trinity Health, we are committed to meeting the needs of our patients and the communities we serve for top-quality, innovative and compassionate care.”

• The new center will feature:
  State-of-the-art 4D CT imaging, allowing physicians to see the inside of the body in motion, which enables higher precision for targeted treatments – vital for cancer treatment – as well as fewer invasive procedures, faster decisions, and better patient outcomes.
• Expanded rapid-response stroke services, helping to ensure that patients have 24/7/365 access to the technology needed to remove large-vessel blood clots that cause many of the worst strokes. The system can also treat aneurysm and other serious vascular conditions.
• A dedicated electrophysiology (EP) laboratory for the diagnosis and treatment of dangerous heart rhythm disorders. EP can help prevent sudden cardiac death, restore quality of life, and reduce the need for open-heart surgery.

Pierce noted that the CHVN represents a $34.6 million investment in the health of the community and is the most significant improvement to the hospital’s structure and services since the opening of a 4-story addition in 2005.

To further enhance the capabilities and services of the center, St. Mary’s Foundation has launched a $3 million community fundraising campaign, Expanding Access, Saving Lives. The campaign will enable St. Mary’s to make innovations in equipment, technology and services over and above the investment by Trinity Health.

“As a lifelong Athenian, I’ve seen just how much St. Mary’s means to this community and to the people I care about most,” said Charlie Upchurch, campaign cabinet chair.

“Supporting this campaign isn’t just about a building. It’s about making sure our families, friends, and neighbors continue to receive the compassionate, high-quality care that has always defined St. Mary’s.”

The groundbreaking event is free and co-hosted by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.

Attendees will enjoy brief comments, food, fun and giveaways. Free parking will be available; attendees will be directed to parking spaces as they arrive. Shuttles will be available.

For more information or to donate to the CHVN Campaign, please visit www.stmarys-health.org/foundation/st-marys-chvn or contact Jennifer Messer, Chief of Development, at [email protected]. For more information about the CHVN and progress updates, visit at www.stmarys-health.org.