UConn Health

July 10, 2025 | Jennifer Walker

UConn John Dempsey Hospital Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Stroke and Heart Attack Care

UConn John Dempsey Hospital has once again been nationally recognized for delivering high-quality, lifesaving care—earning three major 2025 awards from the American Heart Association.

UConn Emergency Entrance

UConn Health Emergency Entrance (Ethan Giorgetti/UConn Health)

UConn John Dempsey Hospital continues to earn national honors for delivering lifesaving care to patients experiencing strokes and heart attacks. The hospital has once again received multiple American Heart Association (AHA) awards for excellence in stroke and cardiovascular treatment, continuing a longstanding tradition of high performance and commitment to quality.

These honors reflect the hospital’s sustained excellence in treating both stroke and heart attack patients, including those with complex conditions such as Type 2 diabetes.

    • Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Award (9th consecutive year)
    • Mission: Lifeline® – STEMI Receiving Center Gold Award (11th consecutive year)
    • Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Silver Award

Gold Plus Award badge from American Heart Association The Stroke Gold Plus Award celebrates the hospital’s ninth consecutive year of delivering stroke care that aligns with the latest, research-based national guidelines. The recognition also includes the Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award, which highlights UConn John Dempsey Hospital’s commitment to caring for stroke patients with Type 2 diabetes, who face an increased risk of complications.

Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the U.S. The AHA’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke initiative helps hospitals improve outcomes by ensuring consistent, timely care that reduces disability and improves survival rates.

Stemi Award badge from American Heart Association In cardiovascular care, the hospital once again earned high marks for its treatment of both ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI) a severe form of heart attack caused by a full blockage of a coronary artery and non-ST elevation myocardial infarctions (NSTEMI), which are more common and require complex clinical management.

The STEMI Receiving Center Gold Award, earned for the 11th straight year, recognizes hospitals that provide 24/7 rapid response care and coordinate closely with emergency medical services to restore blood flow as quickly as possible. The NSTEMI Silver Award highlights the hospital’s continued focus on guideline-driven care and recovery support for patients experiencing this more frequent, yet still dangerous, type of heart attack.

NSTEMI award badge from American Heart Association UConn John Dempsey Hospital also earned another Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll distinction in cardiovascular care—recognizing its integrated care approach for patients who are at higher risk due to diabetes and other chronic conditions.

These recognitions reaffirm UConn John Dempsey Hospital’s role as a regional leader in emergency stroke and heart care.

“These national honors are a direct reflection of the talent, dedication, and teamwork of our clinical staff,” said Dr. Andy Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health. “We are proud to provide Connecticut residents with access to exceptional, evidence-based care that continues to improve outcomes and save lives.

With its continued streak of national honors, UConn John Dempsey Hospital remains at the forefront of evidence-based, time-sensitive care that saves lives and supports long-term recovery.