Sanford Medical Center Fargo has been recognized as having one of the top heart programs in the country.
For the second consecutive year, Sanford Health Fargo was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2026 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Heart Programs list. Becker’s recognized the hospitals and health systems that are setting the standard for cardiovascular care, boasting exceptional clinical outcomes, life-saving technology and groundbreaking research.
“We are excited and honored to be named a top heart hospital in the country,” said Paul Burud, Sanford Fargo vice president for heart services. “Our dedicated heart team utilizes cutting-edge technology and a specialized approach to patient care, helping ensure successful patient outcomes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, making it even more important to provide world-class health care close to home.”
Sanford Fargo has a team of more than 400 professionals, including nearly 40 physicians and advanced practice providers. Sanford Fargo has led numerous state-first advancements, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement, cardiac PET imaging, TriClip tricuspid valve repair and renal denervation for resistant hypertension.
The program treats approximately 1,300 heart attack patients annually and has earned the American College of Cardiology “Chest Pain-MI Registry Performance Award” 10 times for consistently delivering guideline-based, high-quality care. Sanford Fargo has surpassed 2,000 transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures and has completed over 1,000 Watchman procedures. In January 2026, Sanford Fargo performed the first Evoque procedure in the Dakotas.
Sanford Fargo is expanding access through extensive rural outreach, providing cardiology care in 12 communities and diagnostic services at additional sites across the region. Sanford Medical Center Fargo was recognized in 2025 as one of Premier’s “Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals” in the nation, making it the only hospital in North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota to earn this distinction. Earlier this year, Sanford Fargo launched a cardiovascular disease fellowship with the University of North Dakota.
A list of all hospitals and health systems recognized with great heart programs can be found here.