Al_Turk_Ahmad
News

New procedure in Springfield provides options for high-risk patients

Published Date:

A breakthrough in cardiac care has arrived in central Illinois. SIU Medicine cardiologist Ahmad Al Turk, MD, assisted by Abdul Moiz Hafiz, MD and Abhishek Kulkarni, MD, recently performed the first BASILICA procedure at Springfield Memorial Hospital, bringing new hope to patients with complex heart conditions.

BASILICA is an innovative technique designed to make transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) safer. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace a failing heart valve, but for some patients, it carries a serious risk of coronary artery blockage. BASILICA helps prevent this by carefully splitting part of the old valve to keep proper blood flow during the procedure. This reduces complications and provides a safer option, especially for patients who have had previous open-heart surgery for valve replacement.

This first BASILICA procedure is a milestone for Springfield Memorial Hospital and a testament to SIU Medicine’s commitment to advancing cardiac care.

“We are excited to offer advanced procedures for patients in central and southern Illinois,” Al Turk said. “Our goal is to bring state-of-the-art treatments like this transcatheter surgery into our communities, to help heal our neighbors.”

Al Turk joined SIU Medicine’s cardiology team in 2023 as a structural heart disease specialist and interventional cardiologist. He completed an internal medicine residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He went on to complete three advanced fellowships in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology and structural heart disease at Tulane University School of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and Banner-University of Arizona.

For more information about our advanced cardiac services, please visit siumed.org/treatment/structural-heart-disease.

More from SIU News

Sophia Ran, PhD funding story

Science, scrutiny and staying power: Dr. Sophia Ran’s two decades of cancer research

The rules of scientific research have changed dramatically over the past two decades. Grants are more competitive. Expectations for rigor, repeatability and transparency are higher. And researchers
Iris Wesley

A heart for the mission, a mind for the work: Iris Wesley’s vision broadens care in Illinois

Over more than 40 years at SIU Medicine, Iris Wesley played a key role in expanding access to care across Illinois. Her collaborative leadership helped guide the growth of SIU’s Federally Qualified Health Center network, now one of the largest university-affiliated systems in the country.
Jessica Barney and Vistrit Choudhary

Forty Under 40 honors SIU Medicine professionals

The Springfield Business Journal celebrates 40 professionals under 40 in our local community each year. As part of the 2025 class, SIU Medicine’s Jessica Barney and Vistrit Choudhary have been honored