BALTIMORE - BostonChron -- St. Elizabeth Rehab & Nursing, a Vierra facility and longstanding faith-based community in Baltimore, announced the appointment of fellowship-trained cardiologist Dr. Hakim Uqdah, DO, PharmD, and the expansion of its physician-led Cardiac Program. The announcement comes as St. Elizabeth undergoes a multi-million-dollar renovation designed to elevate the care environment for residents, patients, and families.

Dr. Uqdah brings a rare dual background in medicine and pharmacy — a combination that strengthens both clinical decision-making and medication management. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Drexel University College of Medicine, where he served as Chief Resident, and his Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center as Chief Fellow. He currently serves as the Cardiology Section Chief for Ascension Saint Agnes Heart Care and is board-certified in internal medicine, clinical cardiology, echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology.

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Under Dr. Uqdah's direction, the Cardiac Program centers on early intervention, proactive monitoring, and individualized care planning. Patients receive consistent onsite access to a board-certified cardiologist through weekly rounding, enabling real-time clinical oversight and timely response as conditions change. The program supports recovery following cardiac procedures and manages chronic conditions including heart failure, hypertension, and lipid disorders through structured care, patient education, and medication optimization. The goal: fewer avoidable hospitalizations, safer transitions, more sustainable recoveries.

"Bringing Dr. Uqdah into our community is a meaningful step forward, both in our cardiac services and in the overall care experience we provide," said Valerie Etienne, Administrator of St. Elizabeth Rehab & Nursing. "We remain focused on care that treats the whole person, clinically, emotionally, and spiritually, while ensuring patients have access to advanced cardiac expertise close to home."

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Rooted in a mission of compassion and dignity, St. Elizabeth Rehab & Nursing has long served as a trusted provider of short-term rehabilitation and long-term care in Baltimore. The current renovation reflects an ongoing commitment to a more modern, comfortable, healing-centered environment. The facility remains fully agency-free, staffed entirely by its dedicated in-house team of caregivers.

As part of Vierra Communities, a third-generation, family-owned skilled nursing operator, St. Elizabeth Rehab & Nursing represents more than half a century of expertise and compassionate care in the DMV region.

For more information about St. Elizabeth Rehab & Nursing and its Cardiac Program, visit stelizabethnursing.com.