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Renown Announces Promotion of Dr. Bradley Nelson as New Division Chief and Director of Cardiovascular Services

November 12, 2024
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Dr. Nelson embraces a patient-centered approach to delivering comprehensive cardiac and vascular care.

Renown Health is proud to announce the promotion of Bradley C. Nelson, MD, MBA, FACC, FSCAI to the position of Division Chief and Director of Cardiovascular Services, effective immediately. In this important physician leadership role within Renown Medical Group and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Dr. Nelson will support clinical medical staff, community physicians and administrative leaders to drive operational performance, provider engagement, recruitment, strategic planning, analysis, and implementation of clinical care, education, and research across Renown Health and UNR Med.

The Division chief also serves as the Director of Cardiovascular Services at Renown Health. In this role, Dr. Nelson will focus on the growth and alignment of Vascular and Cardiothoracic surgery and will help develop and oversee General Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Heart Failure, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cardiac Imaging, and the Women’s Heart Center. Dr. Nelson has served as Interim Administrative Medical Director of Cardiology for the Renown Institute of Heart and Vascular Health since Dr. Jayson Morgan relocated in June.

“Dr. Bradley Nelson is a collaborative physician, researcher and mentor who cares deeply about improving the health of our community,” said Samuel K. Weller, MHPA, who serves as CEO for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital and oversees the Cardiovascular service line. “We are pleased to promote an extraordinary physician like Dr. Nelson to lead and further develop cardiovascular services to serve the needs of our growing community. This is an exceptionally exciting time for Renown Health’s Heart and Vascular Services and Dr. Nelson’s leadership will be key in crafting our vision to offer more efficient and affordable care, elevate the patient experience, and advance health equity across northern Nevada. We are excited to have Dr. Nelson at the helm of our cardiovascular program.”

Dr. Bradley Nelson is a highly regarded interventional cardiologist and physician leader. With over 12 years of experience in the field, Dr. Nelson specializes in interventional cardiology, focusing on minimally invasive procedures to manage heart conditions and has a particular focus on treating chronic total occlusions (CTOs) of the coronary arteries. Dr. Nelson earned both his Medical Degree and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Colorado and completed his medical training at Stanford University, the University of California San Diego, and Oregon Health & Science University.

He holds an academic appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Dr. Nelson is Board Certified in four specialties including Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Computerized Tomography, and Nuclear Cardiology. He is a fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

Dr. Nelson’s previous translational research focused on gene therapy strategies for the management of rare genetic disorders, and he has patented technology for treating Danon disease that is now in FDA pivotal clinical trial stage. He currently participates in clinical research trials focused on hypertension, lipoprotein(a) reduction, atherosclerotic plaque regression, and early treatment of non-obstructive coronary artery disease. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Early Career Advocacy Work Group and has served as a State Representative for the ACC Legislative Conference for the past three years. Dr. Nelson is nationally recognized for his expertise in managing complex cardiac conditions and maintains active involvement in speaking and publishing.

To make an appointment with a provider at Renown’s Institute for Heart and Vascular Health, request that your primary care provider make a referral. For more information visit renown.org/Health-Services/Heart-Care.

As the region’s only Level 2 Trauma Center for adults and children, Renown serves over 1 million people and 100,000 square miles. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 Hospital for the State of Nevada for 2024, 2023 and 2022.


About Renown Health

Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,500 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. For more information, visit renown.org.

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Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health Named on "Great Heart Programs" List

Renown Health is proud to announce that its Institute for Heart & Vascular Health has been named to the 100 Hospitals & Health Systems with Great Heart Programs by Becker’s Hospital Review. This recognition reflects Renown’s dedication to delivering exceptional heart and vascular care and advanced and innovative services for patients in northern Nevada and the 100,000 square rural region it serves. Renown’s Institute for Heart & Vascular Health, located at both Renown Regional Medical Center and Renown South Meadows Medical Center, is known for its leading-edge treatments, advanced surgical techniques, and comprehensive care for patients with heart and vascular conditions. In their announcement, Becker’s highlighted that Renown Health (Reno, Nev.) was named once again by U.S. News & World Report as the top heart center in the state of Nevada. The Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health serves over 69,000 patients in the Mountain West, offering care across 11 cardiovascular specialties via more than 50 cardiovascular specialists. Specialties include general cardiology, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, structural heart, women’s heart, heart failure management and cardiac rehabilitation. All of these are supported by advanced diagnostics and minimally invasive therapies. The institute’s physicians, nurses and other clinicians, and specially trained support team all maintain a 4.9/5-star patient rating, underscoring strong patient satisfaction and community trust. Renown Health’s structural heart team has performed approximately 130 transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures, exceeding the national averages for innovative valve therapies. The institute continues to expand access to vital and essential services, including the region’s first extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program to support critically ill heart and lung patients. In addition to heart care, the vascular medicine and anticoagulation services include diagnosis and treatment for conditions affecting blood flow, as well as personalized medication management and monitoring to reduce risks of stroke, heart attack and clotting complications. With advanced testing, same-day monitoring, and coordinated care across specialties, the Renown team helps patients achieve better circulation and long-term heart health. Anna Falvey of Becker's announced its list of 100 Hospitals & Health Systems with Great Heart Programs, stating, “These hospitals and health systems are known for their exceptional cardiovascular care, strong patient outcomes and their use of life-saving technologies. These heart programs also lead the way in cardiology research, driving discoveries that are shaping and advancing the field.” “We are proud to be the region’s leader for cardiac health, heart and vascular care with the most advanced medical, surgical and minimally invasive specialty care, technology and research,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Renown Health. “On behalf of the Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health team, our patients and our community, we are humbled to be nationally recognized for the cardiovascular care we provide and to be considered a destination for heart care.” Many of the institutions on this list consistently earn top honors from U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, Healthgrades and other respected ranking organizations. Dedicated to clinical excellence and continuous growth, they deliver world-class heart care to thousands of patients each year while expanding and strengthening their cardiovascular services. “Being honored as a top-tier heart and vascular program is a testament to what’s possible when exceptional people work together with a shared commitment to patients,” said Bradley C. Nelson, MD, MBA, FACC, FSCAI, Division Chief and Director of Cardiovascular Services. “I am incredibly grateful to our cardiology and vascular teams, nursing leaders, and the many colleagues across surgery, anesthesia, imaging, critical care, trauma and emergency services, and administration who have made this possible. This achievement reflects their expertise, collaboration and unwavering focus on delivering the highest level of cardiovascular care for our region. We are honored to be acknowledged for our commitment to excellence in care and for improving the lives of the people we serve.” The ranking by Becker’s Hospital Review acknowledges programs that demonstrate excellence in clinical outcomes, research, patient satisfaction and access to advanced treatment technologies. The Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health has also been awarded the HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence by the American College of Cardiology, holds accreditation for Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, Heart Failure with Outpatient Services and Transcatheter Valve Certification. Renown Regional Medical Center is also recognized as the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in northern Nevada. Renown is grateful for the philanthropy that supports Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health. Thanks to a generous grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Renown is also home to northern Nevada’s first and only comprehensive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program. ECMO is a life support technology for patients with the most severe heart and lung illnesses, who formerly needed to be transported to facilities outside the area for this type of advanced care. “At Renown Health, we are constantly investing in our clinicians, essential services, and medical innovations to help keep care local,” said Chris Nicholas, MHA, FACHE, CEO of Renown Regional Medical Center and Chief Operating Officer for Renown Health. “We are deeply grateful for our dedicated physicians and healthcare professionals, patients, donors and the northern Nevada community for their support. This national recognition serves as an inspiration to continue delivering world-class cardiac and vascular care so that people can stay close to home and loved ones and no longer need to leave Nevada for advanced care or treatment.” For more information about Renown’s Institute for Heart & Vascular Health, visit renown.org/heart. Patients with a referral can schedule their first cardiology visit online at renown.org; those needing a primary care provider can also book appointments online. Note: Becker’s Healthcare developed this list based on nominations and editorial research. Organizations do not pay and cannot pay for inclusion on this list. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement of the organizations mentioned. Organizations are presented in alphabetical order.
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