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Chesapeake Today
By the People, for the People
Chesapeake Regional Introduces Pioneering Microvascular Dysfunction Testing
Dr. Ashesh Buch leads the first non-academic health system in Virginia and North Carolina to offer this innovative cardiac care.
Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:05am
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Chesapeake Regional Medical Center has become the first non-academic health system in Virginia and North Carolina to introduce a coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) testing program, led by interventional cardiologist Dr. Ashesh Buch. The new diagnostic service provides answers for patients, predominantly women, who were previously sent home or underwent repeated procedures without a clear cause for their chest pain.
Why it matters
The CMD testing program at Chesapeake Regional fills a critical gap in cardiac care, making this advanced diagnostic service accessible to the Hampton Roads community. It also opens up new opportunities for research and the development of targeted therapies for microvascular dysfunction, a condition that often goes undetected through traditional cardiac testing.
The details
To establish the CMD testing program, Dr. Buch and his team first chose a protocol for spasm testing, coordinated with the pharmacy on the preparation of acetylcholine, and familiarized themselves with the specialized cardiac catheterization lab equipment required. They then identified patients in need of this diagnostic service who did not want to travel to the nearest facility at the University of Virginia. After working through initial workflow challenges with the help of a clinical specialist, the team performed the first few cases in a less busy setting to ensure a smooth launch.
- Chesapeake Regional Healthcare is the first non-academic health system to offer the CMD testing program in Virginia or North Carolina.
- Before the introduction of this program, the closest facility offering CMD testing was at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
The players
Dr. Ashesh Buch
An interventional cardiologist at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center who led the development of the coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) testing program.
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
A healthcare system in Chesapeake, Virginia that is the first non-academic health system in the region to offer the innovative CMD testing program.
What they’re saying
“Knowing that doing this work is meeting a need that has been sorely unmet for some years.”
— Dr. Ashesh Buch, Interventional Cardiologist
“Diagnosing patients who have had symptoms for years and been told their symptoms were not cardiac after several prior cycles of stress tests and heart catheterization.”
— Dr. Ashesh Buch, Interventional Cardiologist
What’s next
The introduction of the CMD testing program at Chesapeake Regional opens up new avenues for research and the development of targeted therapies for microvascular dysfunction, a condition that often goes undetected through traditional cardiac testing.
The takeaway
Chesapeake Regional's pioneering CMD testing program is a significant advancement in cardiac care, making this innovative diagnostic service accessible to the local community and providing answers for patients, particularly women, who have long struggled with unexplained chest pain.
