Piedmont Athens Regional celebrates procedure milestone
Athens, Ga. (August 18, 2026) -- Piedmont Athens Regional has reached a major milestone in cardiovascular care, successfully completing its 1,000th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure.
Structural heart cardiologists Khan Pohlel, MD, and Benjamin Holland, MD, performed the milestone procedure today, along with cardiothoracic surgeon J. Trent Magruder, MD, and a multidisciplinary team of support staff.
Piedmont Athens Regional launched its TAVR program in 2010, becoming one of the first hospitals in the region to offer the minimally invasive procedure for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Before the program was established, many patients had to travel to Atlanta to receive the advanced treatment. Today, patients throughout Northeast Georgia can access the specialized care close to home.
"Reaching 1,000 TAVR procedures is a remarkable achievement that reflects the expertise, dedication and collaboration of countless team members across our organization," said Lindsay Griffeth, director of cardiovascular services at Piedmont Athens Regional. "For more than 15 years, our team has worked to ensure patients in Northeast Georgia have access to advanced cardiovascular care without having to leave their community."
TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve without the need for traditional open-heart surgery. It has transformed the treatment of aortic stenosis, offering many patients shorter recovery times and improved quality of life.
A single TAVR procedure requires the coordination of numerous specialists, including structural heart cardiologists, a cardiothoracic surgeon, anesthesia providers, cardiac sonographers and Cath Lab technologists.
The collaboration extends well beyond the procedure itself. Patients are supported throughout their TAVR journey by the Structural Heart team, including a dedicated structural heart navigator who helps coordinate evaluations, testing and follow-up care. Patients also undergo advanced cardiac CT imaging as part of the comprehensive pre-procedure assessment.
"This milestone represents the commitment of physicians, nurses, technologists and support staff across multiple departments who work together every day to provide exceptional care," Griffeth said. "Most importantly, it represents 1,000 patients who have benefited from life-changing treatment close to home."Connect with our media team
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