WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital has expanded its cardiovascular services, bringing comprehensive vascular diagnostic testing to Fayette County residents through a generous $50,000 gift from the Ptak family, which was made on the WVU Day of Giving in March.
Longtime Uniontown residents John and Bernadette Ptak and their family have deep roots in the community. John Ptak comes from a family known for its local menswear business, while Bernadette dedicated more than 30 years to education as a teacher in Uniontown-area schools. Together, the Ptaks have maintained a longstanding commitment to supporting the community they have always called home.
The Ptaks said their decision to support Uniontown Hospital was inspired by the care available locally and the Hospital’s continued growth through its partnership with WVU Medicine.
Their contribution funded a new vascular testing platform that allows the Hospital’s clinical team to evaluate blood flow in the legs and feet without surgery or invasive procedures.
The system performs two complementary tests: an ankle-brachial index, which compares blood pressure measurements at the ankle and arm to detect narrowing in the arteries, and pulse volume recordings, which measure blood flow through the vessels to identify where circulation may be compromised.
Together, these tests provide a detailed, non-invasive assessment of a patient’s peripheral vascular health. These are services that previously required many local residents to travel to Morgantown or Pittsburgh.
“This investment represents exactly what community healthcare should be: innovative and close to home for the people we serve,” Karyn Wallace, president and CEO of Uniontown Hospital, said. “The generosity of the Ptak family allows us to expand access to important cardiovascular services locally, helping patients receive earlier diagnoses and treatment without the burden of traveling outside the community.”
The expansion comes at an important time for Fayette County, which has high rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking — all major risk factors for peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. If left undetected, PAD can lead to chronic non-healing wounds and, in severe cases, limb loss.
“Having this capability here changes the equation for our primary care team,” Ziad Dimachkie, M.D., chief medical officer at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital, said. “We can now detect vascular disease earlier, act on it faster, and keep patients connected to specialty care without asking them to travel. That’s what community medicine should look like.”
Patients who require additional evaluation or intervention also have direct access to vascular surgery expertise through the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI), with specialists already seeing patients in Uniontown.
“Our united mission across WVU Medicine and the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute is to advance care and provide it at a high degree of expertise close to home for all the patients we serve,” Pamela Zimmerman, M.D., chief of Vascular Surgery at HVI, said. “We sincerely appreciate the Ptak family’s support of this mission at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital.”
The expanded services will help physicians identify circulation issues sooner, allowing patients to receive timely follow-up care and intervention when needed.
“Early detection is critical when it comes to vascular disease,” Matthew Cunningham-Hill, M.D., vascular surgeon with the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, said. “By offering this testing locally, we’re improving access to care and helping patients receive timely evaluation and treatment before more serious complications develop.”
The Ptak family’s gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities.
About WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital
WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital is a full-service community hospital dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care to residents throughout Fayette County and surrounding areas. As part of the WVU Medicine system, the hospital offers access to advanced resources, specialty services, and a network of expert providers. For more information, visit WVUMedicine.org/Uniontown.