University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Heart Associates Acquires the Heart Center of Northern Anne Arundel County

The merger brings together two leading cardiology practices, making comprehensive heart care services more accessible across the region.

GLEN BURNIE, Md. – The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC), a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), announced the acquisition of the Heart Center of Northern Anne Arundel County (the Heart Center), effective April 1, 2025. 

With nearly 40 years of experience serving the community, the Heart Center will join University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Heart Associates (UM BWHA), the employed cardiology medical group affiliated with UM BWMC. The integration will align comprehensive cardiology care across the region, with leading cardiac specialists collaborating more closely and expanding the benefits of academic medicine to a private practice setting. 

"The Heart Center has been a trusted provider of exceptional cardiology care for many years, and we are excited to welcome them into UMMS,” said Kathy McCollum, President and CEO of UM BWMC. “This partnership enhances our ability to deliver outstanding heart care by combining the strengths of both organizations, ensuring that our patients continue to receive the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve."

As part of the acquisition, the Heart Center will formally change its name to the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Heart Associates at Madison Park. The cardiologists and staff will continue to see patients at the Madison Park location in Glen Burnie, Maryland, as well as offer care at UM BWMC. Patients at the practice will have access to UM BWHA’s new state-of-the-art outpatient care facility on the UM BWMC campus, featuring a CT scanner and exercise stress testing lab, as well as the hospital’s newly renovated cardiac catheterization procedural suite that will open later this month.

"We are excited to join the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Heart Associates, which will help us provide even better care for our patients," said Jay Penafiel, MD, cardiologist with the former Heart Center. “We’ve been proud to serve the Glen Burnie area for nearly four decades. Joining UM BWHA and UMMS gives us the opportunity to continue providing outstanding heart care, while benefiting from the academic resources and support of a leading health system."

"This partnership represents a natural evolution of our commitment to high-quality, comprehensive heart care,” said Jorge Ramirez, MD, cardiologist and president of University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Heart Associates. “This merger will provide the residents of Anne Arundel County with more convenient heart care locations and a wider array of cardiac expertise and treatment options. Together, we’ll continue serve our community with the same level of excellence our collective patients have come to expect and rely on."

The Heart Center’s patients will experience no disruption in care during the transition. Both practices will continue to schedule new and established patient appointments and diagnostic testing in their offices Monday through Friday, with urgent same day and next day appointments available for those who need it. To schedule an appointment at either location or to learn more about cardiology services available through UM BWHA, visit umbwmc.org/heart. 

About the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center

The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC) is a 307-bed medical center committed to improving the health outcomes of the communities it serves. A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), UM BWMC is located in Glen Burnie (Anne Arundel County) and has more than 3,100 team members and 1,000 medical providers on staff. The medical group provides primary and specialty care services to individuals throughout the region. Together with community providers and faculty from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, UM BWMC offers a wide range of clinical programs including cancer, critical care, emergency, heart, lung, neurosciences, orthopedics, pediatric, primary care, vascular, and women’s health. For more information, visit umbwmc.org.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high-quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. As one of the largest private employers in the state, the health system's more than 29,000 employees and 4,600 affiliated providers offer primary and specialty care at 11 hospitals, 5 standalone emergency rooms and more than 150 locations and through a network of UM Urgent Care locations. For more information, visit umms.org.