Pikeville Medical Center is teaming up with the nation's top ranked heart program.

On Wednesday, Pikeville Medical Center President/CEO Walter E. May announced that the hospital is partnering with the Cleveland Clinic's heart surgery program.

"Pikeville Medical Center did its first surgery only 12 years ago, making us relatively new to the service," May said in release about the announcement. "As always, we've strived to improve our quality and our outcomes. We believe that working with the Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute will save more lives, and help us become the number one heart hospital in this region."

The Cleveland Clinic is known for groundbreaking procedures, such as in coronary bypass and aortic heart valve surgeries. It's also home to the world's first heart-liver transplant patient with a total artificial heart.

The affiliation will enhance opportunities to provide new treatments and therapies to Pikeville Medical Center patients. The Cleveland Clinic will provide training to deal with complex medical situations, utilizing new technologies and innovations. The two facilities will also share surgical outcome data and research.

The Cleveland Clinic heart program has been ranked number one in the nation for the past 16 years by U.S. News and World Report.