Allegheny Health Network’s Cardiovascular Institute Opens Clinic Dedicated to Congenital Heart Disease in Adult Patient Populations

PITTSBURGH (March 6, 2026) - AHN Allegheny General Hospital today announced the launch of its comprehensive Adult Congenital Heart Center, a regional resource for patients with abnormal heart chamber structures, holes in the heart, malformed valves and other heart defects.

The Center is led by Allegheny Health Network's Nael Aldweib, MD, board-certified cardiologist specializing in congenital heart disease and heart failure.

Up to 2.4 million Americans have some form of congenital heart disease (CHD), and that number continues to grow, according to the American Heart Association.

"Congenital heart defects are structural problems that arise from an abnormal formation of the heart or major blood vessels and are usually diagnosed in the womb or during the newborn stage," said Dr. Aldweib. "In the United States, it's estimated that about 40,000 children are born with some form of heart disease annually, many of whom will go on to lead full, long lives - but should do so under the guidance of a specialized care team."

Heart defects are recognized as the most common birth defect in the United States - impacting one in every 110 births - and while they can present serious complications, advancements in modern medicine mean the prognosis for this patient population has significantly improved over the last few decades. About 97% of CHD patients now live into adulthood.

As a result, adults living with heart defects increasingly require dedicated, multidisciplinary care teams to serve as a CHD patient's primary point of care, helping them to navigate the long-term complications and challenges associated with congenital heart issues.

CHD adult patients visit emergency rooms, hospitals and intensive care units at a rate that is up to 4 times higher than other adults. Heart defects can lead to complications including valvular dysfunction, ventricular dysfunction, and arrhythmias.

There are at least 18 distinct types of congenital heart defects.

AHN's new Center provides services which span routine wellness exams, medication management and advanced cardiac imaging (cardiac MRIs and echocardiograms), as well as eased access to more intensive therapies like pacemaker implantation, defibrillator implantation, cardiac catheterization, ablation and valve surgery.

"Our Center also works extensively with the network's cardio-obstetrics, maternal fetal medicine, pediatrics and electrophysiology teams to help ensure our patients are wrapped in coordinated, tailored care that meets their health goals - from adolescence to family planning and beyond," continued Dr. Aldweib. "We are taking a strategic, multidisciplinary approach to their care."

The CHD team includes surgeons and cardiologists who specialize in both pediatric and adult CHD, anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, internists, geneticists, dentists, obstetricians and gynecologists, psychiatrists, radiologists, cardiac rehabilitation, and physical and occupational therapists.

The Center also works with referrals to cardiologists and maternal fetal medicine physicians specializing in heart disease during pre-conception, pregnancy and postpartum periods, as well as from clinicians throughout the AHN Pediatric Institute, to ensure warm handoffs take place between pediatricians and adult CHD specialists when the patient is at the appropriate age.

In 2025, the AHA and American College of Cardiology Task Force on Practice Guidelines recommended that all patients with adult congenital heart disease have a primary care physician and that they be evaluated by a specialized cardiologist with advanced training, and noted that "patients with complex CHD have generally better outcomes when cared for in an integrated, collaborative, and multidisciplinary program."

"Allegheny Health Network's Cardiovascular Institute is deeply committed to providing specialized care, backed by evidence-based guidelines," said Akshay Khandelwal, MD, interventional cardiologist and Chair of AHN Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. "Today's announcement marks the latest in on our ongoing mission to provide remarkable, tailored and compassionate care to cardiac patients throughout western Pennsylvania and beyond."

In February, the AHN Cardiovascular Institute launched the AHN South Asian Heart Clinic to prevent, diagnose, and manage heart disease in a patient population facing up to four times the risk compared to the general population.

The Center is now accepting new patients older than 16 years of age. For more information on the Center or to make an appointment at the AHN Cardiovascular Institute, call 412-DOCTORS or visit ahn.org.

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Media Contact:
Nikki Buccina
Allegheny Health Network
412-596-2679 (cell)
[email protected]