On Feb. 19, 2018, Southwestern Medical Center announced that it had been certified a Center of Excellence by the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA) – one of less than 30 Centers of Excellence nationwide and the first certified center in North Texas.

HCMA Centers of Excellence are recognized for providing comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, education, and research programs for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic disease that leads to thickening of the heart muscle and causes shortness of breath, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms, and even sudden cardiac death, but can be difficult to diagnose.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the heart’s ventricular walls have become excessively thick, making it difficult for the heart to pump out blood. HCM is usually asymmetrical, meaning that one side of the heart is thicker than the other.

Also known as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) or idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS), it is estimated to affect 1 in 500 people – at least 600,000 – in the U.S.

Today, UT Southwestern is one of four certified Centers of Excellence nationwide. HCMA Centers of Excellence are recognized for providing comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, education, and research programs for HCM.