Post 1
January inspires a variety of lifestyle goals, but for individuals living with valve disease, atrial fibrillation or cardiomyopathy, broad resolutions aren’t enough. High-risk patients benefit most from targeted, measurable plans that support long-term cardiovascular health.
As we begin 2026, it’s a perfect moment to revisit prevention through Take Time for Your Heart, St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s free prevention and wellness program designed to help individuals make sustainable lifestyle changes that reduce cardiovascular risk.
If one of your 2026 goals is to stop smoking, St. Elizabeth Healthcare offers Freedom From Smoking, a free 7-week tobacco cessation program designed to support long-term success.
🔗 stelizabeth.com/care/freedom-from-smoking/
At the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, we’re committed to helping patients make meaningful, sustainable changes, one achievable step at a time.
Post 2
Advancing robotic cardiac surgery means smaller incisions and greater precision, and in 2026, that technology is helping the next chapter of minimally invasive cardiac care unfold at the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth.
In 2025, our cardiac surgery team completed two major robotic milestones:
✅The first robotic-assisted surgical AFib procedure at St. Elizabeth Healthcare using the EPi-Sense ST system as part of a hybrid therapy approach.
✅The first robotic-assisted MIDCAB procedure performed in both St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Northern Kentucky.
These advancements mark a meaningful step toward treating more complex cardiac conditions through less invasive techniques, a focus that continues to guide our work in 2026.
Post 3
At the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, exceptional outcomes begin long before a patient enters the operating room.
Our cardiac surgery model is built on a unified team approach that supports every stage of care, from the first phone call to recovery.
“Our surgery team is vast. I would say there are three facets to it,” says Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang, Medical Director of Cardiac Surgery at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. The office staff ensures a confident start to the journey; the operating room team delivers precise and coordinated surgical care; and the ICU provides care in what Dr. Castillo-Sang describes as “the best ICU in the city for cardiovascular recovery.”
Each group plays a critical role, and together they form one of the most skilled and collaborative cardiac surgery teams in the region. They’re proof of our commitment to delivering exceptional, coordinated care for every patient we serve.
🔗 Get to know our cardiac surgery team: stelizabeth.com/care/medical-services-2/heart-vascular/heart-surgery/
Post 4
January brings a notable shift in cardiovascular risk as colder temperatures, seasonal illness and delayed care decisions converge. While holiday-related cardiac events are well documented, the weeks that follow carry their own set of challenges for patients with underlying heart disease.
Cold weather can elevate blood pressure and increase myocardial oxygen demand. Influenza and other respiratory infections can worsen heart failure symptoms or unmask previously silent cardiovascular disease.
At the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, our team emphasizes early assessment, especially during this seasonal transition. Timely evaluation of chest discomfort, shortness of breath, palpitations or unexplained fatigue helps prevent serious complications and supports better outcomes.
Awareness, early action and preventive care remain key to protecting heart health during cold winter months.
🔗 Learn more at stelizabeth.com/care/medical-services-2/heart-vascular/
Post 5
At the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, excellence in cardiac surgery is defined not only by advanced techniques but by the trust patients place in our team. Each review, each expression of gratitude and each successful recovery reflects the dedication of our surgeons, nurses and support teams who deliver the same high standard of care every day.
As we begin the new year, we are honored by patients who share their experiences and by the consistent recognition of our cardiac surgery program as a regional and national leader.
New year. Same expertise. Same commitment to cutting-edge cardiac care.
Post 6
Our expert cardiothoracic surgeons specialize in treating diseases of the heart and major blood vessels, including the coronary arteries, aorta and heart valves. While every procedure is unique, the goal is always the same: restore healthy blood flow and improve how the heart functions.
As our surgeons explain, cardiac surgery often requires addressing multiple conditions in a single operation. A patient may need valve repair, coronary bypass, aneurysm treatment or rhythm surgery—sometimes during the same procedure. This level of complexity demands precision, experience and a highly coordinated team.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare is nationally ranked in cardiac surgery and remains the only center in Kentucky that performs high-volume, high-quality minimally invasive valve surgery, an approach that can reduce pain, shorten recovery and improve outcomes.
🔗Read more about heart surgery at St. Elizabeth Healthcare:
stelizabeth.com/care/medical-services-2/heart-vascular/heart-surgery/
Post 7
At the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, patients have access to a full spectrum of advanced surgical treatments, from minimally invasive endoscopic procedures to complex open-heart operations.
Our team is a regional leader in endoscopic cardiac surgery, enabling surgeons to repair valves, remove tumors and close atrial septal defects through small incisions using specialized instruments and a high-definition endoscope.
We also perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to restore blood flow in patients with blocked or narrowed coronary arteries along with a broad range of advanced procedures, including AFib surgery, complex aortic repair and LVAD placement in collaboration with our heart failure specialists.
Across every approach, our mission remains the same: to deliver expert, individualized surgical care that meets each patient’s unique needs.
Post 8
Dr. Juan Penaranda Canal, a Cardiac Surgeon at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, is helping lead the region in advanced minimally invasive and totally endoscopic heart surgery.
“We’re one of the few centers in the country performing advanced totally endoscopic valve surgeries,” he says. “From valve repair to multi-valvular replacements, we are right here in Northern Kentucky.”
St. Elizabeth Healthcare performs 99% of our mitral valve operations using totally endoscopic approaches, offering patients less pain, shorter recovery and a faster return to daily life. Dr. Penaranda also highlights other innovative capabilities, including the Ross procedure, LVAD surgery, 3D 4K endoscopic technology and robotic-assisted techniques.
When choosing a cardiac surgeon, he emphasizes “expertise, compassion and positive outcomes,” all of which define the care delivered at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.