Dr. Sunita Mahabir had an experience in medical school that led her to pursue a career in cardiology. She met a patient who had a history of rheumatic valve disease and underwent a successful mitral valve replacement. This patient went on to have a successful pregnancy.

“I was deeply moved by the new lease on life a valve replacement gave her, and I knew cardiology was the right field for me. I wanted to have that kind of impact on my patients’ lives,” says Dr. Mahabir.

“Cardiac physiology has always appealed to me because it just makes sense. Cause and effect are tangible and measurable in a way few other specialties offer.”

Dr. Mahabir attended medical school at the University of West Indies and completed residencies at San Fernando General Hospital in West Indies and University of Miami School of Medicine. She completed fellowships at Allegheny General Hospital Department of Medicine in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Medicine. She joined WVU Medicine at Wheeling Hospital in 2025 as an advanced heart failure specialist.

Dr. Mahabir’s specialties include advanced heart failure, transplant care, Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) and pulmonary hypertension. She also has a special interest in cardio-obstetrics.

Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped. Rather, it is a chronic condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the oxygen needs of the body. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, sudden weight gain, and fluid buildup in the lungs or legs. This condition requires medical intervention to keep the heart working effectively. Risk factors that can lead to heart failure include high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Early intervention is key for heart failure, and it can often be managed with medication.

Dr. Mahabir treats advanced heart failure. Advanced heart failure occurs when, despite optimal medical therapy, the heart continues to deteriorate, and symptoms become debilitating and life-threatening. At this stage, medications are no longer effectively treating the condition. The primary treatment at this point is heart transplant.

“Heart transplant is the ultimate medical intervention that we have to offer, and to be able to make that possible for patients is an indescribable privilege,” says Dr. Mahabir.

“I was drawn to the field by the sheer complexity and severity of these patients – and how meaningful our impact can be on their lives, the bond that we create with them and their families as we walk them through their most vulnerable moments from diagnosis to mechanical support to transplant, or even just towards improving their quality of life. It is rare to find that in any other field of medicine or even cardiology.”

Advanced heart failure is not a hopeless diagnosis. Advancements in medical innovation and technology, like LVAD, improve survival rates and can act as a bridge to getting a heart transplant. LVAD is a medical device that helps the heart pump blood to the body. The left ventricle is the major pumping chamber of the heart. Doctors implant the device into the heart and connect it to machinery outside of the body. The device can reduce hospital admissions and dependence on IV medication while the patient waits for a heart transplant.

Dr. Mahabir also has a special interest in cardio-obstetrics. Cardio-obstetrics is a subspecialty at the intersection of cardiology and obstetric medicine, focused on managing cardiovascular disease in pregnant women, before, during and after pregnancy.

“Pregnancy places enormous demands on the cardiovascular system. For a healthy woman, these changes are manageable. But for a woman with underlying heart disease, they can be life-threatening,” says Dr. Mahabir.

Cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of maternal mortality in the developed world and more women with congenital heart disease, valve disease, and cardiomyopathies are reaching reproductive age.

“Without specialized care, outcomes for mother and baby can be devastating,” she says.

Dr. Mahabir is passionate about preventing heart disease as well.

“Heart disease is entirely preventable,” she says.

She recommends moving your body at least 150 minutes per week, in the form of moderate exercise. Even simple exercise like walking can make a huge difference in your health. She advises prioritizing a healthy diet with protein, whole foods, fruits and vegetables, while reducing salt, processed food, and added sugars.

“The choices made daily–what you eat, how you move, how you manage stress–are quietly writing the story of your heart’s future. The goal is not perfection, but consistent, informed choices that add up over a lifetime,” she says.

Dr. Mahabir is proud to offer this kind of advanced cardiology locally in Wheeling.

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