Saint Joseph Health Cardiologist Honored for Innovation in Heart Failure Care

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 31, 2025) – Steve Lin, MD, FACC, RPVI, FASE, an interventional cardiologist and heart failure specialist with Saint Joseph Medical Group – Cardiology, has been honored with an Innovation Award as part of the CommonSpirit Health Physician Enterprise Vision Awards. The annual recognition celebrates clinical excellence across CommonSpirit Health, with the Innovation category highlighting breakthroughs that advance care delivery and improve outcomes.

Dr. Lin was recognized for his pioneering work integrating lung ultrasound into the management of congestive heart failure (CHF). Over the past year, he has collaborated with Heart Institute sonographers at Saint Joseph Hospital to develop a lung ultrasound protocol tailored to CHF patients - an approach that allows timely, cost-effective evaluations to distinguish heart failure from other causes of similar symptoms.

“Dr. Lin is helping redefine heart failure care at the bedside,” said Sheila Griffeth, vice president, Patient Care Services, Saint Joseph Hospital. “His leadership and clinical expertise exemplify what it means to innovate in service of our patients. We’re proud to see his work acknowledged with this prestigious award.”

Lung ultrasound, particularly B-line assessment, is a point-of-care imaging tool that identifies pulmonary congestion and interstitial edema - key indicators in heart failure. Dr. Lin uses this technique to guide diuretic therapy, assess treatment response, and determine readiness for discharge. The protocol has the potential to reduce hospital stays and prevent readmissions, especially for patients with chronic CHF.

Board-certified in interventional cardiology and trained at the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Lin brings deep expertise to the initiative. As medical director of the certified Vein Center at Saint Joseph Hospital and a diplomate of the American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine, he integrates cardiac, vascular, and pulmonary imaging into a unified, patient-centered approach.

“I’m honored to receive the CommonSpirit Vision Award for Innovation,” said Dr. Lin. “Using bedside ultrasound allows us to make real-time decisions and truly tailor treatment for each patient. It’s about delivering smarter, faster care that meets people where they are.”

Dr. Lin’s comprehensive use of lung ultrasound bridges disciplines and transforms clinical workflows, aligning with CommonSpirit Health’s mission to advance health through compassion, innovation, and excellence.

As part of his recognition, Dr. Lin received an award plaque and commemorative pin.

About Saint Joseph Health
Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph Medical Group
Saint Joseph Medical Group is the employed provider network of Saint Joseph Health with 88 locations in 17 communities throughout central and eastern Kentucky.

About CommonSpirit Health
CommonSpirit Health is a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. It was created in February 2019 by Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health. With its national office in Chicago and a team of over 150,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, CommonSpirit operates 140 hospitals and more than 1,500 care sites across 21 states. In FY 2021, CommonSpirit had revenues of $33.3 billion and provided $5.1 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed government programs. Learn more at www.commonspirit.org.