The UAB Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) has released its 2025 Annual Report – celebrating the institute’s accomplishments over the past year and highlighting milestones in patient care, quality recognition, and strategic growth.
Established in 2019, the CVI is among the largest cardiovascular centers in the country, aligning the clinical specialties of cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, and cardiothoracic anesthesia to provide comprehensive care. The program is consistently ranked in the top ten percent of all hospitals for cardiology, heart, and vascular surgery by U.S. News & World Report, and it continues to be at the forefront of advances in cardiovascular disease treatment. In 2025, the institute treated 108,745 patients, performed 1,926 adult open-heart surgeries, completed 7,947 cardiac catheterizations, and logged 97,366 clinic visits, while maintaining 107 active cardiovascular clinical trials.
Among this year’s most notable achievements, the CVI and the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery earned the highest level of quality accreditation from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), receiving three-star ratings in all six procedural categories, placing UAB in the top one percent of U.S. cardiothoracic surgery programs. Additional distinctions earned this year include the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline STEMI Silver Plus Award; the Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery Award; and a three-starting rating from the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI), which is the highest designation available for UAB’s Division of Vascular Surgery. UAB also remains the only hospital in Alabama with the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval as a Comprehensive Heart Attack Center, a certification reserved for institutions that prioritize a multidisciplinary team approach to cardiac care.
James Davies, M.D., Director of the Cardiovascular Institute
"These results reflect years of intentional investment in quality, innovation, and teamwork across every level of the CVI," said James Davies, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Institute and John W. Kirklin Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery. "Every member of our team plays a vital role in the outcomes we deliver. Our goal has always been to ensure that patients across the Southeast have access to the highest standard of heart care, and this annual report confirms we are delivering on that promise."
The report also outlines the CVI’s ongoing efforts to expand cardiovascular care throughout Alabama. Outreach clinics now serve multiple locations, including Baldwin, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Tallapoosa, and Tuscaloosa counties.
To learn more about the UAB Cardiovascular Institute, review the full annual report here.