A program that helps heart patients rebuild both strength and confidence now has a space designed to match its impact. UPMC Williamsport recently celebrated the completion of a major renovation and expansion of its Cardiac Rehabilitation gym with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The upgraded space provides a safer, more efficient environment for patients recovering from heart attacks, surgery, and other cardiac conditions. The program offers personalized, medically supervised exercise plans led by nurses and an exercise physiologist.

“We see how much this program means to people,” Robyn Diakite, unit director, Non-Invasive Cardiac and Vascular Testing, UPMC Williamsport, said. “Now we have a space that reflects that and allows us to continue growing and caring for our patients the way they deserve.”

Improvements include expanded exercise space, new equipment layout, a private consult room, education space, and renovated locker rooms. The larger footprint improves patient flow and eliminates previous safety concerns.

Demand for the program drove the expansion, allowing the team to grow while remaining close to the hospital’s cardiac care services. Many patients continue beyond the typical 12-week program for long-term maintenance.

The nearly $1 million project was fully funded by donors to the Susquehanna Health Foundation. Construction was completed in phases over the past year, allowing services to remain uninterrupted.

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the leading centers for cardiovascular care in the United States. To learn more about the experts and services available for diagnosis and treatment in northcentral Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/HeartNCPA.