Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Children's Hospital implanted its first artificial heart into a 5-month-old girl with severe heart failure.

Rock Island, Ill.-based UnityPoint Health-Trinity Heart Center celebrated its 1,500th graduate from the Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program, ourquadcities.com reported Oct. 4. 

Here are five cardiologists who have stepped into new roles since Sept. 27: 

Mineola, N.Y.-based NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island has named Mohammed Imam, MD, chair of its department of cardiothoracic surgery, effective Oct. 1. 

A Cleveland Clinic trial found the salt intake of heart failure patients may not be as harmful as previously thought.

A study published in Circulations found gene abnormalities may make some people more susceptible to myocarditis, the American Heart Association reported Sept. 26.

Here are the top 10 cardiology stories Becker's covered in September:

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan received a $8.8 million grant to improve and expand robotic-assisted coronary procedures in rural areas.

San Francisco-based UCSF Health's Heart and Vascular Center welcomed Sammy Elmariah, MD, as chief of interventional cardiology and medical director of cardiac catheterization labs.

Here are five heart center openings and upgrades since Aug. 30:

Cardiac rehabilitation improves long-term health outcomes for cardiac patients. However, the number of brick-and-mortar cardiac rehab centers is limited and can only serve about half of the patients who need cardiac rehab. Meanwhile, the number of cardiac patients is steadily rising.

Cleveland-based University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute hired Dr. Rakesh Arora as director of perioperative and cardiac critical care and research director in the division of cardiac surgery.

Hattiesburg, Miss.-based Forrest Health and Hattiesburg Clinic partnered to open Mississippi's first outpatient heart surgery center, CBS affiliate WJTV reported Sept. 28.

Here are nine heart study findings covered by Becker's since Sept. 15:

Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System launched an aortic program designed to provide both emergency and nonemergent care for aortic diseases.

Eric Choi, MD, has been appointed vice chairman of the department of surgery and a member of the division of vascular surgery at Paterson, N.J.-based St. Joseph's Health.

Drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is linked to longer lifespan and lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with non-coffee drinkers, Science Daily reported Sept. 26.

Dr. Martha Gulati was named director of preventive cardiology, associate director of the Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center and associate director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center in the Department of Cardiology at Los Angeles-based Smidt Heart Institute.

Minneapolis-based cardiologist Elizabeth Klodas, MD, created foods designed to fight heart disease, NBC affiliate KARE reported Sept. 27.

Here are six cardiologists who have stepped into new roles since Sept. 13: