With the evolution in the treatment of cancer, more and more people are cancer survivors. While these treatments have improved outcomes for cancer patients, some treatments cause damage to the heart. This is especially true for patients who are already at risk for heart disease prior to undergoing cancer treatment.
We designed the Froedtert & MCW Cardio-Oncology Program to meet the needs of these patients and for patients who are found to be at high risk for cardiovascular disease during cancer screening or evaluation.
Our program provides the full range of services, including:
- Evaluation for and risk-reduction planning for cardiovascular disease before cancer treatment
- Coordination of a cancer regimen that reduces cardiovascular risk during treatment
- Monitoring cardiovascular health for changes during and after treatment
- Advanced treatments for heart issues that may occur during, or years after, cancer treatment
Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence
The International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) recognizes our Cardio-Oncology Program as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence. ICOS certification is awarded to institutions and practices that demonstrate superior expertise in the care of patients who have heart disease, are at high risk or experience heart complications with cancer treatment. The ICOS awards bronze, silver and gold certification. Of the two ICOS-certified programs in Wisconsin, we are the only one that meets the stringent requirements needed to be recognized as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence.
Team Approach
Our Cardio-Oncology Program brings together a multidisciplinary team of specialists from cardiology, cardiac imaging, cardiothoracic surgery, hematology, medical oncology and radiation oncology. These experts work together to minimize the effects of your current or past cancer treatment on your cardiovascular health.
Care plans may involve diagnostic testing, medication management and interventional and surgical procedures for patients, if it is possible to include these elements without changing or interrupting your cancer treatment regimen.
Treatments Designed Around You
No two patients are the same. That’s why our team takes a personalized approach when considering the optimal plan for you, including identifying your risk for heart disease even before you start cancer treatment.
To identify your risk and develop a treatment plan, our team reviews your medical history and may perform diagnostic testing on your heart, including stress tests and imaging. We have access to the latest, non-invasive diagnostic technology including 3D echocardiograms and cardiac MRI, which often eliminates the need for invasive diagnostic procedures.
If surgical care is needed, you will be in the hands of one of the most experienced cardiac surgery teams in the Midwest. Our cardiac surgery team provides patients from across the region with the latest cardiovascular treatments, including non-invasive treatments for heart valve disease, arrhythmia and heart failure.
Care Before, During and After Cancer Treatment
In addition to working with patients to identify cardiovascular risk before cancer treatment, we partner with patients who are currently receiving cancer treatment or those who had undergone treatment for cancer in the past. Through diagnostic imaging, our team can detect abnormalities in the heart and track any changes during or after treatment. This includes monitoring side effects that can occur from chemotherapy or radiation therapy during or years after treatment.
By tracking changes in your heart’s health during and after treatment, our team can more quickly identify concerns and provide treatment recommendations before problems progress.
Advancing Care Through Research
As part of an academic medical center, we are continuously involved in cutting-edge cardio-oncology research to develop new methods for identifying patients at increased risk of developing cardiac events and researching strategies to decrease cardiac risk during cancer care.
Our cardio-oncology research program is multi-faceted and includes basic science, translational, clinical and population health components, with collaborative innovation that includes artificial intelligence and machine learning. Learn more about cardiovascular research.
Our Cardiovascular Program continues to receive recognition as one of the top programs nationally. We are honored to provide high-quality, effective care for even the most high-risk patients.
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Check Out Our Heart and Vascular Program Awards and Recognition
The Froedtert & MCW health network has built a reputation for clinical excellence and our research draws patients from around the world. Our Heart & Vascular program recognitions include:
- Premier recognized Froedtert Hospital in 2025 as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® according to its independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard. The hospitals recognized in the top 50 operated at lower cost and had better outcomes, recording significantly higher inpatient survival rates, fewer patients with complications, lower readmission rates and up to nearly $7,000 less in total costs per patient case. Froedtert Hospital was ranked in the category of top teaching hospitals with a cardiovascular residency program. No other hospital in Wisconsin was recognized with this national distinction.
- The International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) recognizes our Cardio-Oncology Program as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence in 2025. ICOS certification is awarded to institutions and practices that demonstrate superior expertise in the care of patients who have heart disease, are at high risk or experience heart complications with cancer treatment. The ICOS awards bronze, silver and gold certification. Of the two ICOS-certified programs in Wisconsin, we are the only one that meets the stringent requirements needed to be recognized as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence.
- Healthgrades recognized Froedtert Hospital in its 2024 Specialty Excellence Awards, including one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery, one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention, as well as other specialty achievements in various areas.
- Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Froedtert Hospital within its 2024 list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Heart Programs. Hospitals featured on this list are renowned for delivering superior heart and vascular care that results in high-quality outcomes. As part of a health network that includes eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center, our heart and vascular specialists treat a high volume of patients with a wide variety of heart diseases.
- The Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI) recognized Froedert Hospital as a Carotid Care Quality Champion by the SVS VQI‘s clinical registry recognition program in 2024. The VQI recognizes select centers across the country as Carotid Care Quality Champions for their dedication to improving the safety and effectiveness of vascular care through participation and engagement in VQI’s carotid artery stenting and/or carotid endarterectomy registries.
- The American Heart Association recognized Froedtert Hospital with the following awards that show our commitment to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks.
- Get With the Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus Award
- Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
- Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
- Get With the Guidelines® AFib Gold Award
- In addition, the hospital was recognized on the AHA’s Target: Heart Failure(SM) Honor Roll and received the AHA’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award.
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