Senior Leadership Spends a 'Day in the Life' at Cardiac Cath Lab 

WVU Hospitals East President & CEO Mark O'Hern recognizes employees

February 10, 2026
 

This year, WVU Hospitals East President and CEO Mark O’Hern is continuing his series of spending a “A Day in the Life” with employees from departments across Berkeley and Jefferson Medical Centers, starting with a visit to the WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center Cath Lab.

Through these visits, O'Hern is dedicated to gaining a new understanding of the real-life experiences of our different team members throughout the Eastern Panhandle. A posed photo of Mark O'Hern and Cath Lab employees dressed in PPE through the window of the observation booth.

“This team is truly doing lifesaving work every single day,” he  said of his day in the Cath Lab. “In fact, just 30 minutes before I arrived, they performed an emergent STEMI procedure, literally saving a patient’s life. That is a powerful reminder of what we offer our community at Berkeley Medical Center.” 

During his visit, O'Hern spent time with three outstanding team members including:  

  • Lead Cardiovascular Technologist Jacqueline Corbin, who has been with WVU Medicine for 13 years and in the Cath Lab for eight years. 

  • Registered Nurse Kristia Bard, who has 20 years of nursing experience. 

  • Cardiovascular Technologist Tori Ellard, a new addition to the WVU Medicine team.  

The group came together during a pacemaker implant performed by Cardiologist Dr. Ajay Virmani, inspiring O'Hern as he saw the value of teamwork become a reality as they prepped the patient, completed the time-out before the procedure, and aligned the plan for all.

"Watching these women work in such a coordinated way reminded me of why I went into healthcare in the first place. It’s about people, teamwork, and showing up for one another every day,” O'Hern said. "That teamwork key is when delivering complex care. No one does this alone — it takes trust, communication, and respect for each other’s roles.” 

During the procedure, a moment with the patient made a real impact on O'Hern. The patient was feeling uncomfortable and the team paused to help him. They explained what was happening and what he might feel next to help him feel more at ease. 

 “That simple moment captured what patient-centered care really looks like,” he said. 

During his visit, a device representative explained how pacemakers are monitored from a patient’s home and automatically alerted the WVU Medicine Heart & Vascular Institute if any abnormalities are detected.  

“This is truly incredible technology that allows us to intervene quickly and keep patients safe.” O'Hern said. "Thank you to this amazing team and to Dr. Virmani for his expertise. I’m grateful for the work you do every day to save lives and care for our community.”