Grand Rapids, Mich.-based BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan received a $8.8 million grant to improve and expand robotic-assisted coronary procedures in rural areas.

San Francisco-based UCSF Health's Heart and Vascular Center welcomed Sammy Elmariah, MD, as chief of interventional cardiology and medical director of cardiac catheterization labs.

Here are five heart center openings and upgrades since Aug. 30:

Cardiac rehabilitation improves long-term health outcomes for cardiac patients. However, the number of brick-and-mortar cardiac rehab centers is limited and can only serve about half of the patients who need cardiac rehab. Meanwhile, the number of cardiac patients is steadily rising.

Cleveland-based University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute hired Dr. Rakesh Arora as director of perioperative and cardiac critical care and research director in the division of cardiac surgery.

Hattiesburg, Miss.-based Forrest Health and Hattiesburg Clinic partnered to open Mississippi's first outpatient heart surgery center, CBS affiliate WJTV reported Sept. 28.

Here are nine heart study findings covered by Becker's since Sept. 15:

Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System launched an aortic program designed to provide both emergency and nonemergent care for aortic diseases.

Eric Choi, MD, has been appointed vice chairman of the department of surgery and a member of the division of vascular surgery at Paterson, N.J.-based St. Joseph's Health.

Drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is linked to longer lifespan and lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with non-coffee drinkers, Science Daily reported Sept. 26.

Dr. Martha Gulati was named director of preventive cardiology, associate director of the Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center and associate director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center in the Department of Cardiology at Los Angeles-based Smidt Heart Institute.

Minneapolis-based cardiologist Elizabeth Klodas, MD, created foods designed to fight heart disease, NBC affiliate KARE reported Sept. 27.

Here are six cardiologists who have stepped into new roles since Sept. 13: 

Mayo Clinic researchers found religious lifestyles and spirituality are linked to healthier heart outcomes in Black patients.

In vitro fertilization using frozen embryos may be associated with a 74 percent higher risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, the American Heart Association reported Sept. 26.

Stanford Medicine Children's Health successfully performed open heart surgery on a 26-week-old micropremie, completely removing the heart tumor in only six minutes, Stanford said Sept. 22.

U.K.-based researchers found that walking is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, cancer and dementia. Brisk walking has even more benefits.

Consistently not getting enough sleep can throw off immune cell production long term, increasing the risk of heart disease and inflammatory disorders, according to a study from researchers at New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Boston Children's Hospital researchers found heart muscles accumulate new genetic mutations starting in childhood.

Interventional cardiologists are the top earners among all cardiologist subspecialties, according to a new report from MedAxiom, an American College of Cardiology company.