Five hospitals or health systems have recently expanded their heart centers or cardiology programs.

The Christ Hospital Health Network in Cincinnati has selected Deborah Kiser, RN, to serve as executive director of its heart and vascular institute. 

Heart centers across the nation continue to reach milestones in the use of a variety of procedures. 

Here are seven heart study findings related to COVID-19 infection or vaccination Becker's has covered since Jan. 19: 

Rock Island, Ill.-based Trinity Heart Center recently implanted its 100th Watchman device, ourquadcities.com reported Feb. 17.

Jae Hyung Cho, MD, PhD, has joined Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute in Los Angeles. 

Patients with COVID-19 vaccine-associated heart inflammation had less functional impairment and less extensive myocardial abnormalities than people infected with the virus, a study published Feb. 15 in Radiology found.

Here are four partnerships and affiliations centered on cardiac and cardiovascular care announced recently.

Recent cardiology studies have focused on myocarditis risk after COVID-19 vaccination, a rise in hypertensive crisis hospitalizations and more.

More than half of women between 20 and 44 who gave birth in the U.S. in 2019 had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, according to a study published Feb. 14 in Circulation. 

Cardiologists from Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Baptist’s Brenner Children’s Hospital and Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital are combining their efforts into a joint pediatric cardiology program, the Winston-Salem Journal reported Feb. 14. 

Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial Hospital is opening a heart hospital after a $45 million gift from philanthropist Neil G. Bluhm and the Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation. 

Heart disease, including heart failure and death, occured 4 percent more in COVID-19 patients than in other people, a study published Feb. 7 in Nature Medicine found.

RWJBarnabas named Richard Lazzaro, MD, its Southern region chief of thoracic surgery, the system said Feb. 9. 

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center recently reached a 19,000 open heart surgery milestone, the facility said this week. 

Nearly 20 percent of Americans in 2011 did not have timely access to acute stroke care. Since then, stroke care access has improved significantly, according to a research letter based on 2019 data published Feb. 9 in JAMA. 

Experts have identified more cases of a potentially fatal stress-induced heart condition known as "broken heart syndrome," particularly in older women, according to research cited by ABC News. 

Houston-based Baylor College of Medicine named Marc Moon, MD, its new head of cardiothoracic surgery, the system said Feb. 7.

COVID-19's effect on complications among stroke patients and on stroke risk has been the focus of three recent studies. 

Several cardiologist leaders have joined Becker's "Cardiology and Heart Surgery" podcast to discuss innovations in the field in light of COVID-19.