Insights from the Operating Room and Beyond
From complex heart procedures to public health conversations, Dr. Bhama shares trusted insights, surgical expertise, and reflections on compassionate care.
Insights from the Operating Room and Beyond
From complex heart procedures to public health conversations, Dr. Bhama shares trusted insights, surgical expertise, and reflections on compassionate care.
The “Pioneer Man” Surgery — Then and Now
This story originally appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In December 2013, William Shoenberger underwent one of the most complex heart surgeries ever performed at the time—a marathon operation lasting more than ten hours. The intricacy of the procedure and the...
The Gift of Life: How Heart and Lung Donors Save Lives
For patients with severe heart or lung disease, a transplant can mean the difference between life and death. But these life-saving procedures are only possible because of one thing—organ donation. Every year, people across the country receive a second chance at life...
Understanding Heart Procedures and When They’re Needed
When you hear medical terms like “bypass” or “ECMO,” it can feel overwhelming. Knowing the basics—and the symptoms that might lead to these procedures—can help you feel more informed as you research your care options. Heart Valve Surgery Why it’s done: To fix a valve...
Honoring Dr. Michael E. DeBakey: A Lasting Influence on My Career
When I think about the people who have shaped my career as a heart surgeon, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey stands at the very top. A world-renowned pioneer in cardiovascular surgery, Dr. DeBakey’s influence on my professional development began early, during my nine years as a...
Honored to Be Named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Dr. Jay K. Bhama is proud to share that he has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2024, an honor featured in the Arkansas Times “Top Docs” special section. Castle Connolly has over 30 years of experience researching, reviewing, and selecting the nation’s...
A Breakthrough Option for High-Risk Heart Patients Now Available in Northeast Arkansas
Patients with severe mitral valve disease who were once considered too high-risk for surgery now have a new, less invasive option—thanks to a recent milestone at St. Bernards Medical Center. In a first for the region, the cardiovascular team successfully performed a...
A Life Restored: Randall Glenn’s Story of Hope and Healing
Some moments change everything. For Randall Glenn, that moment came when his heart health took a sudden, frightening turn. Faced with a life-threatening condition, he turned to Dr. Jay K. Bhama for help—and the experience not only saved his life but gave him the...
What to Know About Your Heart Health | Dr. Jay K. Bhama Explains
Your heart is at the center of everything you do—every breath, every step, every moment of your life. Understanding how it works and what can go wrong is an important step toward keeping it healthy. In this video, Dr. Jay K. Bhama takes to the whiteboard to explain...
Celebration of Life Highlights Patients With Heart Pumps
St. Bernards in Jonesboro hosted the LVAD (left ventricular assist device) Celebration of Life event on Friday. The LVAD is a small, implantable device that helps move blood throughout the body. This is for patients who have and are dying from bad heart failure so...
Patients Celebrate Life-Saving Medical Care
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - St. Bernards hosted a celebration Friday afternoon in honor of its patients who received life-saving medical care with help from the Impella 5.5 heart pumps. The event took place at the St. Bernards Medical Center community room from 12 p.m....
The Best Christmas Present: The Gift of Life
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A Northeast Arkansas heart patient got the best Christmas gift he could ask for: the gift of life. St. Bernards announced on Tuesday that Randal Glenn was the region’s first patient to receive an artificial heart pump. Jay Bhama, MD, performed...
Iowa Hospital Uses State’s First-of-its-kind Surgery
For years, 29-year-old Melisa Coburn of Vinton struggled to do even the simplest of tasks without gasping for air. “I was completely out of breath just going up and down my steps,” Coburn said. “I could walk maybe ten steps in the store, and I was completely winded.”...
Rosie Coleman’s Journey: Living Life to the Fullest After Life-Saving Heart Surgery
(This story originally appeared on Abiomed’s website, UAMS News, and UAMS Health.) For Rosie Coleman, life took an unexpected turn when a sudden and severe heart condition put her future in jeopardy. A retired educator with a passion for helping others, Rosie found...
Little Rock Santa Gets a Life-Saving Tune-Up from UAMS Heart Surgeons
(This story originally appeared on UAMS News.) Every year, families in Little Rock look forward to visiting Santa Claus and sharing their Christmas wishes. But this holiday season, Santa himself needed a special gift: life-saving heart surgery. Thanks to the expertise...
Courage, Innovation, and a Second Chance at Life: Gretchen Warner’s Lung Transplant Story
This video originally aired on WTAE in 2012 and highlights a remarkable story of medical innovation and hope. Watch the full feature here. When 30-year-old Gretchen Warner from Campbellsville, Kentucky, was diagnosed with scleroderma—a rare autoimmune disease—it...