2024 Gratitude and Impact Report
We can do more, together
2024 demonstrated more than ever the truth behind Inova’s philanthropic campaign: we can do more, together
We prove we can do more together when our community shows up to match every dollar of the Schar family’s transformational gift to invest in Inova’s innovation, clinical excellence and compassionate care And as a team, every day, we prove we can do more together each time we carry out Inova’s promise to care for the whole patient
To us, that means excellence in people, platforms and programs – all made possible by philanthropy.
Thanks to your generous support, we attract and retain people who represent the world’s top talent in heart and vascular care, who ensure we stay at the forefront of groundbreaking medicine and research
We invest in life-saving platforms and technologies, including new techniques to reopen arteries without a second stent and the Medtronic Affera Ablation system used by our Atrial Fibrillation team to treat complex arrhythmia
We fund programs to expand our specialist services and implement a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach across Inova Schar Heart and Vascular (ISHV) which has better served our patients, reduced costs and improved quality and safety
Your support allows us to conduct groundbreaking research and bring internationally recognized experts to participate in continuing education for ISHV team members through educational symposia and visiting professor/grand rounds series.
We’re proud of our accomplishments this year and excited to share them with you in this report.
Throughout it all, we’re grateful for a community that never loses sight of the urgency of this work.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and is responsible for one out of every five female deaths. But, because of your generosity, we are able to invest not only in compassionate care and clinical excellence for the patients that come through our doors, but also the innovation and research that has the power to advance the wider field of cardiovascular care
Thank you to each and every one of you for your commitment to this important work, and for helping ensure we can do more, together
With tit d ESC, FHSA, FHFA President, Inova Schar Heart and Vascular
The Schar Challenge
When longtime Inova supporters, Dwight and Martha Schar, made a transformational gift of $75 million to support our heart and vascular services, they challenged the community to match their giving within a year with a gift to any area at Inova.
In June 2024, the Schar Challenge not only met, but exceeded its goal.
More than 10,000 donors were inspired to give as a part of the match, raising more than $83 million and bringing the total to $158 million in just one year
Meeting the match
Building on momentum
Following this milestone, our goal is to raise a cumulative total of $500 million in impactful philanthropic support over the next five years
Fundraising efforts will focus on four initial key pillars:
Cancer Heart and Vascular Behavioral Health Inova’s Greatest Need
With this bold goal, in September we launched Do. More. Together., our first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, dedicated to elevating the highest quality care for every patient we have the privilege to serve
“This tremendous achievement is a reflection of a community that cares deeply about having world-class health care locally.”
J Stephen Jones, MD, FACS, President and CEO, Inova
PHILANTHROPY AT INOVA
Schar ‘big ideas’
Made possible by this generous gift from Dwight and Martha Schar, Inova is funding transformative projects, initiatives and process improvements submitted by team members. Proposals were selected by a committee of physician leaders appointed by Dr. O’Connor, representing subspecialty areas within ISHV.
In 2023, three of the most compelling projects were awarded funding, after being judged on contribution to wellness and/or patient care, novelty, scientific strength and likelihood of success.
WINNING BIG IDEAS
Optimal transition of care and patient experience
Submitted by Warren Levy, MD and Gautam Ramakrishna, MD, this project will enhance the patient discharge experience Patients will receive an Inova branded tote bag with health-related items and strategic communication the day following discharge to assure they understand discharge instructions and are able to get their medications, schedule follow-up and reach the appropriate care team members for questions
Using AI-assisted echo image analysis to improve diagnostic accuracy and disease phenotyping DA)
bmitted by Ana Barac, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, D’Aniello air, Cardio-Oncology, this initiative is implemented by a m spanning our heart failure teams, sonographers and nt of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) users.
ough a partnership with Us2.ai, the company that makes o AI software, the team has created an Inova-specific tem for echocardiographic images to be analyzed. This hnology has the potential to help with the diagnosis of conditions like amyloidosis and valvular disease
“A single act of generosity can spark a wave of transformation.”
Dwight Schar
Kate Markey knows firsthand how seriously Inova takes our promise to treat the whole patient
“I am a living testament to that,” Kate says.
In 2021, Kate was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a complex multifaceted condition in which abnormal proteins build up in organs Despite undergoing chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, Kate learned that amyloidosis had damaged her heart enough to require a heart transplant
A multidisciplinary team of cardiothoracic surgeons, transplant doctors and nurses, in addition to Kate’s existing care team, worked together to prepare Kate and her family for the transplant “The thorough pretransplant education was extremely reassuring as a patient,” Kate says
She spent less than a month in the hospital from preparation to recovery from the surgery – but her care didn’t stop once she went home
PHILANTHROPY AT INO
Healing mind, body and soul
PHILANTHROPY AT INOVA Headline goes here
“This is where I personally experienced Inova’s caring for the whole person,” says Kate.
Post-transplant patients face many complexities in their healing, and Inova was there to help Kate navigate every facet. Nutritionist consultations, virtual heart and lung transplant support groups, counseling, massage and acupuncture services, and personal fitness programs all offered Kate support in her journey towards full recovery.
“I was given the tools to heal my mind and soul,” says Kate. “Inova was there to make me feel safe as I recovered.”
Today, Kate’s family is proud to support Inova so that more patients can experience the compassionate care that made such a difference in her story The Markey family has raised over $60,000 to invest into the people, programs and services that make it possible for Inova to address the multifaceted needs of each patient as they heal
Philanthropy like this advances the cutting-edge care, clinical excellence and comprehensive patient services that make all the difference
PATIENT STORIES
“There is no one profile of what a cardiovascular disease patient looks like.”
Priti Langer Patient and Advocate
Priti’s story: Raising awareness for women’s heart health
Priti Langer had just gotten back to her Baltimore hotel room when her chest pain hit out of nowhere She and close friends had spent the evening at a Billy Joel concert, but the mood shifted rapidly as Priti’s friend, a nurse, recognized Priti’s excruciating pain and vomiting as a sign that she needed to call a cardiac ambulance
A healthy mother of three in her early forties, Priti didn’t fit the typical profile of someone at risk for a heart attack. In fact, the EMTs and some in the Baltimore ER wondered instead if the symptoms might be anxiety related, and asked if she might have drank too much alcohol at the concert
An EKG revealed the truth: Priti was having a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) - a tear in her heart’s arteries, which can happen in unusual circumstances in healthy women
Priti came to Inova Schar Heart and Vascular for her post-myocardial infarction (MI) care
Her heart capacity had dropped from 60% to 30%, a dangerous change that increased the chances of death within five years Over the next three months, the Inova Women’s Cardiovascular Disease Program team worked with Priti to heal her heart in every sense. A nurse navigator called her every week. Inova also provided long-term behavioral health care for the trauma of the night of her SCAD.
Today, Priti’s heart has recovered, and she works with the American Heart Association to advocate for women’s health At Inova, we continue to train for signs of SCAD, raising awareness, so that we can be there for patients like Priti when they need us most
Last year, Garima Sharma, MD shared Priti’s story at our Do. More. Together launch, inspiring even more of our community members to invest in women’s cardiovascular health, which remains at the forefront of our work
Leading the way on arrhythmia
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide, affecting an estimated 6 million Americans
This condition can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other serious complications, many of which can vary widely, requiring a careful, customized approach
Under the leadership of Brett Atwater, MD, D’Aniello Chair of Atrial Fibrillation and Director of Electrophysiology and Electrophysiology Research, the Inova AFib Center takes a comprehensive, team-based approach to AFib treatment, designed to meet the individualized needs of each patient
Philanthropy helps to advance this team’s work by enabling our providers to use cutting-edge technology that transforms patient care.
Thanks to the generosity of Inova donors like Win Sheridan, this year the Inova AFib Center has been able to acquire an Affera mapping system and ablation generator, cutting-edge technology for complex AFib procedures In the first month of 2025, the team performed a total of 57 ablation procedures using the system All cases resulted in efficient, safe and effective control of complex arrhythmia, with electrophysiologists noting they’re now able to accomplish things they could not before
Inova is only the 14th hospital system in the country to perform these procedures, and one of 20 sites worldwide invited to participate in research studies on Affera. These studies will allow the team to provide Inova patients with early access to the Affera system for treatment of PVCs and ventricular tachycardia, pushing the entire field forward.
The new technology, accelerated by philanthropy, provides hope for successful ablation treatment of complex arrhythmias that could not be treated previously
Early studies show that a comprehensive, team-based approach to AFib treatment has been associated with the following outcomes:
49% reduction in all-cause mortality
42% reduction in cardiovascular hospitalizations
50-82% reduction in emergency department visits
Shorter wait times to see an electrophysiologist
More cost-effective care
Fewer readmissions
Shorter hospital stay
INOVA’S CARDIOVASCULAR SHOCK PROGRAM
It takes a team
About one in 10 people who experience a heart attack will go into cardiogenic shock, in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
The condition can quickly progress to multi-organ failure and is the most common reason for in-hospital mortality following a heart attack in the United States
But at Inova, survival rates are consistently better than the national average.
The difference? A team-based approach that brings specialists together from across areas of expertise
The “Shock Team” treats each patient with a unified, systematic approach
This type of innovative approach is only possible because of philanthropic support, which strengthens our team members’ ability to innovate and pilot new ways of providing care.
Shock Survivor Clinic
Patients who have survived a hospitalization for cardiogenic shock are not out of the woods. They are often left with impacts from the illness and are at risk of significant morbidity and mortality. That’s why Inova opened a Shock Survivor Clinic.
This year-old initiative aims to bridge the gap between the heart attack and the return to routine care, identifying and treating any new or unaddressed issues that may arise
The Shock Survivor Clinic has proven a powerful way for Inova to further our commitment to longitudinal, multidisciplinary care for critically ill patients, long after the acute event
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
49 lung transplants
90
29 life-changing transplant procedures
38 heart transplants LVAD implantations
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Health System of the Year from Press Ganey Associates LLC, “for delivering the highest levels of care in quality, safety, and patient experience.”
The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) awarded the Fairfax Medical Campus Cardiac ICU their Beacon Award for Excellence, which recognizes exceptional, patient-first care in a unit.
Highest level rating from the American College of Cardiology’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry for discharge medications, with each metric above 99% This is an outstanding achievement in an important element of patient care
1,000 patients treated by our ECMO team, who hit this all-time milestone at the end of 2024
29,400+
Wound Healing Center visits, with an almost 50% decrease in time to appointment
The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) awarded our ECMO Program the Platinum Award for Excellence, for exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes, training, and patient satisfaction
The Washington Post profiled the ISHV’s team-based approach to care in an article that highlighted patient stories and outcomes.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation granted full accreditation to our Cystic Fibrosis Center in recognition of its ongoing efforts to provide exemplary care
Attracting Top Talent
Thanks to philanthropy, Inova Schar Heart and Vascular is able to attract and retain national leaders to join Inova
Philanthropic dollars cover salaries, protected time, and research expenses, allowing our doctors to complete groundbreaking research, contribute to the field, and lead Inova programs in delivering world-class care
A visionary in women’s health
Garima Sharma, MD, Director of Inova’s Cardio-Obstetrics and Cardiovascular Women’s Health Programs at ISHV has been named Director, Preventive Cardiology in addition to her existing roles Her work to spread awareness and address the specific ways that cardiac issues arise and present in women is urgent: while heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, 80% could be prevented knowing and managing risk factors and understanding early signs and symptoms
Care for high-risk pregnancies
For women with heart disease, pregnancy can bring particular challenges Dr Sharma leads a multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics team to provide personalized, compassionate care for mother and baby “Dr Sharma went out of her way to ensure I had a safe delivery,” said Lauren, an Inova Cardio-Obstetrics Program patient “Thank you from the bottom of my heart ”
Raising
awareness
In April 2024, Dr Sharma spoke at a women’s health event hosted by Inova Foundation Board members Rose Carter and Christina Co Mather, which invited women to learn about unique concerns and approaches in women’s cardiovascular care in perimenopause and beyond
She was joined by Inova colleagues Ana Barac, MD, PhD, D’Aniello Chair, Cardio-Oncology; Shawn Davis-Wilensky, MD, MPH, Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center; and Vanessa Blumer, MD, Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. The event was immensely popular and held again in spring 2025
Research and publications
In the past year, Inova team members authored or co-authored 92 publications, wrote 42 editorials or perspectives and served on the author panel for an additional 215 papers These contributions to advancing the field would not be possible without philanthropy, which provides crucial protected time for providers to research and publish findings
Published research covered everything from new therapeutics for heart failure, advances in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, treatment considerations in older adults, innovative systems to increase compliance with guideline directed therapies, and research aimed at preventing cardiovascular disease
HIGHLIGHTS
Racial and Regional Disparities in Trends in NICM-Related Mortality in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020, Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Olayinka Agboola MD, MPH, with Spitz, Shah, Kennedy, Blumer, Sinha, and Sharma, examined disparities in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), the leading indication for heart transplantation in the United States, accounting for more than half of all heart transplantation
Association between Polysocial Risk Score and CVH among Women of Reproductive Age in the SAFE HEART Study, Current Problems in Cardiology
Garima Sharma, MD, co-authored an analysis of the impact of social disadvantage on cardiovascular health, exploring the effect of socioeconomic stability, living situation, food security, transportation, utilities, and interpersonal safety had on women’s heart health
Cardiogenic Shock in Older Adults: A Focus on Age-Associated Risks and Approach to Management, Circulation
Vanessa Blumer, MD, with Abdulla Damluji, MD, PhD, and Shashank Sinha, MD, assessed therapeutic options in older patients and made recommendations in an American Heart Association scientific statement regarding how best to use a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach with a unique focus on older adults
Special Compendium: Insights in Cardiology from Caring for a Diverse Community: Perspectives from Inova Schar Heart and Vascular
A compendium of 20 review articles and 2 perspectives published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine this year illustrates the broad range of expertise and knowledge our doctors bring to patient care Illustrated articles on adult congenital heart disease, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, sex specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and more have attracted over 80,000 views and more than 20,000 downloads
Giving back: education and community
Each year, an important part of our work is reaching out to the community to provide opportunities for screenings, health education and awareness
In 2024, we were proud to offer several opportunities for students from underserved communities to participate in activities, simulations and roundtable discussions as part of Dream B!G, a workforce initiative conceived and designed by Cleveland Francis, MD, to encourage children from underserved areas to consider and aspire to a career in healthcare
As part of Dream B!G’s efforts to empower young minds in STEM and promote awareness of cardiovascular health, Inova Fairfax Hospital hosted the inaugural Young Hearts Go Red STEMinist event. Fifty young women from grades 7 to 12 attended the event, which included hands-on activities with our team members, panel discussions and time with mentors. One 10th grader reflected, “When I attended the STEMinist program, I gained perspective on what life would be like as a doctor and a feeling of support and security in my dream ”
791 participants COMMUNITY SCREENINGS IN 2024
180 biometrics
127 volunteers
Thank you
The programs and accomplishments outlined in this report would not have been possible without the support of you, our donors.
Your belief in Inova’s mission allows our patients to have access to the most innovative, state-of-the-art treatment options
We are honored by the trust you have placed in us, and we pledge to continue to provide compassionate, personalized care for every patient we have the privilege to serve
Thank you for your support, your generosity and for your ongoing commitment to Inova Schar Heart and Vascular.
