UTMB honored for leadership in advanced cardiac CT imaging

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) Cardiac CT team in Galveston has earned the HeartFlow CT Quality Award for excellence in coronary CT imaging for the fourth quarter of 2025, placing the program in the top 12% of institutions globally.

The award recognizes centers that demonstrate exceptional accuracy in identifying coronary artery disease using advanced, noninvasive imaging. It highlights a commitment to faster, more precise diagnoses that improve patient outcomes and may help patients avoid more invasive procedures.

The recognition by Heartflow Inc. followed the successful staged go-live of advanced coronary CT angiography (CCTA) services across all four UTMB campuses from October to November 2025-an achievement that reflects the team's preparation, precision, and collaboration.

"This award is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our cardiac imaging team, particularly our Cardiac CT technologists and cardiac resource nurses," said Dr. Esosa Odigie-Okon, assistant professor in the departments of Cardiology and Radiology. "Their commitment to building strong workflows and delivering high-quality imaging ensures that every patient receives the very best in coronary care."

Heartflow, an FDA-approved, AI-driven platform, analyzes coronary CT images using Fractional Flow Reserve derived from CT (FFR-CT) technology to assess blood flow and determine whether arterial blockages are limiting oxygen to the heart. By combining CCTA with FFR-CT analysis, clinicians gain detailed insights that transform how coronary artery disease is detected, understood, and managed.

This achievement reflects coordinated efforts across imaging physicians, technologists, nursing staff, and operational teams to establish foundational workflows designed to deliver consistent, high-quality CCTA imaging systemwide.

"We are looking forward to additional wins at [the Galveston] campus and across the UTMB Health System as the program continues to expand," Odigie-Okon said.

Patients interested in FFR-CT analysis can locate a UTMB site by visiting the HeartFlow Finder and searching by ZIP code or institution name.