MaineHealth HCM program earns top national recognition

MaineHealth’s hypertrophic cardiomyopathy program in Scarborough has been named an HCMA Recognized Center of Excellence, making it the only such program in Northern New England and one of four in New England. The designation signals expanded regional access to specialized care for a heart condition that can be hard to diagnose and treat. Why it matters: - MaineHealth now has the only Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association-recognized Center of Excellence in Northern New England. - The designation strengthens access to specialized care for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, across Maine and the broader region. - HCM is the most common inherited heart condition in the U.S. and can lead to heart failure or sudden cardiac death. What happened: - The MaineHealth Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy program received formal recognition as an HCMA Recognized Center of Excellence. - The program is based at MaineHealth Cardiology in Scarborough, Maine. - MaineHealth became one of just four programs in New England to receive the distinction. - The recognition was announced June 18, 2026. The details: - HCMA awards the distinction to programs that demonstrate advanced, coordinated care for patients living with HCM. - The MaineHealth program includes advanced cardiac imaging, diagnostic evaluation, genetic testing and counseling, catheter-based therapies, surgical treatment options and advanced heart failure management. - The care model brings together specialists in cardiac imaging, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, heart failure care, genetics, behavioral health and exercise testing. - MaineHealth says the program launched in 2017 under Joseph Wight, MD, in collaboration with clinical and academic partners. - Since then, the program has expanded to include advanced surgical therapies led by Scott Buchanan, MD, and catheter-based alcohol septal ablation procedures performed by Jay Shah, MD, and David Butzel, MD. - The HCMA review process evaluates clinical expertise, multidisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered care. - The application process took about 18 months and included an onsite evaluation involving more than 40 members of the HCM care team. - MaineHealth serves 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire through its health system, according to the release. Between the lines: - The recognition gives MaineHealth a stronger regional referral position for complex heart cases. - The award also reflects a broader push to move highly specialized cardiovascular care closer to patients who might otherwise need to travel farther for treatment. - HCM can vary widely in symptoms and severity, which makes expert diagnosis and long-term management especially important. What’s next: - MaineHealth is positioned to continue expanding access to advanced HCM care for patients in Maine and Northern New England. - The HCMA recognition may draw additional referrals from across the region as awareness of the program grows. - MaineHealth is likely to continue using its multidisciplinary model for diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of HCM. The bottom line: - MaineHealth has turned its Scarborough HCM program into a regional specialty destination with one of the highest designations in the field.