Broward County’s newly sworn-in mayor is relaunching a health initiative rooted in a personal loss that reshaped his outlook on preventive care.
Nearly 20 years ago, Mark Bogen’s mother died suddenly from a heart attack, with no signs or symptoms leading up to it. The experience left him wondering whether anything could have detected the danger in time. He later discovered there was a test — a cardiac CT scan — and taking it revealed a life-threatening blockage that required immediate treatment. The realization that many people never hear about the test until it’s too late sparked the effort he would eventually champion as an elected official.
Pushed by Bogen, Broward became the first county in the U.S. to offer free cardiac CT scans to residents with no symptoms of heart disease. He enlisted radiologist Dr. Claudio Smuclovisky, director of South Florida Medical Imaging and a physician at Holy Cross Hospital, who agreed to design what would become the Broward Heart Project.
The pilot launched in summer 2023 and wrapped on Sept. 30. After his election as mayor on Nov. 18, Bogen revealed the program’s initial findings and confirmed it will restart on Dec. 10, with the Cleveland Clinic leading the effort and support from the Florida Panthers Foundation.
The first phase screened 7,000 symptom-free participants. Of those, more than 4,000 required some form of medical intervention, from medication to stents to open-heart surgery. Another 350 learned of unrelated medical issues because of the scan. The test was offered to residents ages 45 to 70 who had at least one qualifying condition, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, a history of smoking or a family history of heart disease. New eligibility requirements will be announced ahead of the relaunch.
Bogen himself took the test four years ago and learned he had a 70% blockage in his left anterior descending artery — the vessel associated with what doctors call a “widowmaker” heart attack. Medication prevented a potentially fatal event.
He also persuaded retired Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Sax, a longtime friend, to get screened this year. Sax, who paid privately because he is not a Broward resident, later underwent open-heart surgery after doctors found four arteries with blockages of up to 99%.
During the pilot, tests were available at Broward Health, Holy Cross Hospital, Baptist Health and the Cleveland Clinic. Going forward, the Cleveland Clinic will oversee the screenings. The Viola family, owners of the Florida Panthers, has committed $1 million to sustain the program for five more years.
As the initiative grows, Smuclovisky said national standards for heart screening still lag behind the science, noting that insurance only covers this type of test for patients with symptoms. He believes the Broward results could help drive broader policy changes.
The county will release updated eligibility criteria soon. Residents can request notification when enrollment opens by emailing HeartProject@Broward.org. Additional details are available through Mayor Mark Bogen’s office at 954-357-7002 or at takehearttest.com.
