Welcome from the Program Director
Welcome to VCU's Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation Fellowship training program. We have had an ACGME accredited fellowship program since 2011. I have been the program director since 2025, and we are excited for your interest. VCU has a long history of excellence in heart transplantation with Dr. Richard Lower performing VCU's first heart transplant in 1968. This was the first heart transplant in Virginia and the 16th in the world. VCU has the oldest heart transplant program on the East Coast and the second oldest program in the country.
In the fall of 2026, we will be looking for one fellow to start in July 2027. We have a robust program with 7 full-time board-certified heart failure cardiologist and 5 cardiothoracic surgeons. Our program performed 43 heart transplants in 2023, 36 in 2024, 27 in 2025, and have already implanted 8 HM3 LVADs in 2026. We provide advanced mechanical circulatory support, including both HM3 LVAD and total artificial heart implantation for biventricular failure, and maintain longitudinal management of patients supported with no only HM3, but also HMII and HVAD devices. We have a Hep C+/NAT+ heart transplant program. We perform dual organ transplants with heart/kidney and heart/liver and work in close contact with our abdominal transplant team. We also perform DCD (donation after cardiac death) heart transplantation.
Richmond is an amazing place to live. We are known for our James River Park system and exciting outdoor sports. Richmond has great restaurants and breweries and is frequently listed as one of the top regions for food, beer and relaxation. Richmond is located in the heart of Virginia with mountains, lakes, rivers and beaches within a short drive.
Krishnasree Rao, MD
Program Director, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation Fellowship
Associate Professor
E-mail: krishnasree.rao@vcuhealth.org