Spectrum Health Performs Its First Heart Transplant

50-Year-Old Grand Rapids Man Receives New Heart Thanksgiving Weekend

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., November 30, 2010 — Spectrum Health surgeons performed the first heart transplant in West Michigan on Saturday at the Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. Rahn Bentley, 50, of Grand Rapids emerged from surgery late Saturday night and is in good condition.

A team headed by internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Asghar Khaghani, MD, performed the transplant. He was assisted by cardiothoracic surgeon Robert Hooker, MD.

“Everyone involved with Mr. Bentley’s care, from the team managing his heart failure, to the teams performing his surgery and postoperative care, has done a tremendous job,” said Khaghani.

The heart transplant and heart surgical teams make up the Richard DeVos Heart & Lung Transplant Program. The program, along with a heart failure program, is part of the Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute. The institute, created this summer, brings together cardiovascular expertise in clinical care, research and education.

Spectrum Health has one of three adult heart transplant programs in Michigan and received state approval in February. Khaghani was formerly a consultant in cardiothoracic surgery at the largest heart transplant program in Great Britain, where he performed more than 1,000 transplants and more than 5,000 cardiothoracic surgical procedures.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of eight hospitals and more than 170 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, mmpc® and West Michigan Heart—physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 600,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,700 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,350 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $115.9 million in community benefit during its 2010 fiscal year. In 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.