Mayo Clinic's approach
Mayo Clinic VAD team
A team of doctors and other staff discusses ventricular assist device (VAD) care.
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Mayo Clinic provides you with a wide range of possible ventricular assist devices.
Mayo Clinic doctors with training in a wide array of specialties work together to provide coordinated, comprehensive care. Cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons may work with nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, social workers and other medical specialists to provide collaborative care.
- Individualized approach. Doctors at Mayo Clinic provide care for you as a whole person. Doctors take the time to get to know you and work with you to provide exactly the care you need.
- Pediatric expertise. Sometimes a child may need to have a ventricular assist device implanted. Doctors trained in pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery care for children who have heart disease at Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota.
- Advanced treatment. Mayo Clinic provides many innovative treatments for people with advanced heart failure, including offering ventricular assist devices as a treatment option for complex heart problems such as restrictive cardiomyopathy, amyloidosis and other high-risk conditions.
- Accessible locations. Mayo Clinic's campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota each offer a Heart Failure Clinic staffed by a team of cardiologists and other specialists trained in evaluating and treating heart failure. Each of these three sites can be accessed by nearby international airports.
- Innovative research. Mayo surgeons have used their expertise to develop innovative designs of ventricular assist devices to use in specific cases.
The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories
Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.
A shared heart: Two families come together after tragedy, transplant
Around the 15th of every month, Christin Gigstad and Tina Haug think of each other. They pick up their phones and text. Even if they've already talked that week, they want to check in. It's an important date for them, one that no one else can fully understand. Four years ago, Christin and Tina were strangers. Their lives were brought together by crisis. And now they like to say they have a shared heart, thanks…
84-year-old patient reaches milestone on a left ventricular assist device
Gayle Wilkerson has lived for 10 years with a left ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that helps a damaged heart pump blood. The milestone is one not many patients reach. Gayle Wilkerson doesn't accept hero status. Her care team at Mayo Clinic disagrees. At age 84, Gayle, holds the honor of living on a left ventricular [...]
10 years, 2 brothers, 2 transplants: the Wilson brothers' story
The Wilson brothers' connection goes deeper than the average siblings. They both were in serious need of a heart transplant. The brothers now have new hearts, a new perspective on life, and a new purpose. On the surface, John and Mark Wilson are model brothers. Growing up, the two would playfully pick on each other [...]
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic cardiologists and cardiac surgeons have expertise in treating people who may need ventricular assist devices (VADs). Each year, more than 77 people have VADs implanted at Mayo Clinic.
Mayo Clinic VAD care team
A team of Mayo doctors discusses ventricular assist device care.
Nationally recognized expertise
Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:
- Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
- Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2022–2023 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.
- Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
Mayo Clinic care team
Mayo doctors and other staff collaborate as a team to care for people who may need ventricular assist devices.
With Mayo Clinic's emphasis on collaborative care, specialists at each of the campuses — Minnesota, Arizona and Florida — interact very closely with colleagues at the other campuses and the Mayo Clinic Health System.
Learn more about Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Surgery and Cardiovascular Medicine departments' expertise and rankings.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:
Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals, or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.
Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.
Clinical trials
Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.