Heart & CardiovascularNews from Georgia Regents Heart and Cardiovascular Services

 

 Welcome to the fall edition of the Heart and Cardiovascular Newsletter. While summer winds down, we can look back with satisfaction at the events of the past few months.   The first Robert and Lois Ellison Lecture, delivered by Dr. Delos (Toby) Cosgrove, President and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, was the centerpiece event for MCG homecoming activities on April 26. The lecture was very well-attended not only by GRU rank and file, but by physicians and alumni from all over the country. The next lecture is set for April 26, 2014. Please plan to be here. You will find that the high-tech and critical care areas have grown over the years, but the heart of “Talmadge” beats on.  New faces in the Department of Cardiology include Dr. Zahid Amin, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology. He comes to us from the Rush Hospital System in Chicago where he was Professor and Director of Interventional Pediatric Cardiology, and many years ago, he was at GRU as well. We also welcome Dr. Neal Weintraub, Professor of Medicine, Professor and Associate Director of the Vascular Biology Center, and GRA Kupperman Eminent Scholar in Cardiovascular Medicine. Weintraub, formerly Professor and Chief of Cardiology at Cincinnati, hails from Albany, Ga. Also joining us is Dr. Vikas Kumar, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. Kumar, a recent GRU graduate, practices coronary and vascular interventional cardiology.  In news of our fellowship, we sent our best wishes to three of our graduating cardiology fellows in June and welcomed four more. This edition of the newsletter includes two articles penned by our cardiology fellows. We are proud that our fellows have a long-standing reputation of passing their cardiology boards on first attempt almost without exception and have found stellar opportunities upon graduation. These facts speak volumes for the caliber of our faculty. Our graduates stay in touch with their attendings throughout their careers. Perhaps someday our graduates will form an alumni group.  This edition of the newsletter also includes my thoughts on the coming era of outcome determination based on exercise and other physiologic parameters. The list of continuing Medical Education events follows. Please verify the topics and times if you plan to attend. Also, we welcome suggestions about how to improve the newsletter.

M. Vinayak Kamath, M.D.

Director, Heart and Cardiovascular Services and Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery

In This IssueWelcome• Welcome

• FellowshipNews

• PredictableTherapyForPatientsWithCongestiveHeartFailure

• CMELectureCalendar

• CardiovascularConferences

M. Vinayak Kamath, M.D.Director, Heart and

Cardiovascular Services and Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery

Georgia Regents University 1120 15th Street, BA-4300

Augusta, GA 30912706-721-3226

kamath@gru.edu

Fall2013

CardiovascularDiseaseFellowshipTraining

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New FellowsPratikChoksy,M.D.

Internal Medicine ResidencyGeorgia Regents UniversityAugusta, Ga.

NealWeintraub,M.D.

Amin is a graduate of Bolan Medical College in Quetta, Pakistan, and completed a general surgery residency at Sandeman Provincial Teaching Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, and a pediatric residency at the University of Missouri. He also completed pediatric and adult cardiology fellowships in cardiovascular surgery at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Miami Children’s Hospital, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University Medical School, and University of California San Francisco. Dr. Amin comes to us from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

ZahidAmin,M.D. New Physicians

LorenMorgan,M.D. Internal Medicine ResidencyPalmetto Health RichlandColumbia, S.C.

RebeccaNapier,M.D.

Internal Medicine ResidencyGeorgia Regents UniversityAugusta, Ga.

Amudhan Jyothidasan,M.D.

Internal Medicine ResidencyUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorchester, Mass.

Graduated Fellows

VikasKumar,M.D.

Weintraub, a native of Albany, Ga., practices non-invasive cardiology with an emphasis on heart failure and aortic diseases. He is a graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine and completed a residency at Emory University and the University of Illinois, and a clinical cardiovascular fellowship and research postdoctoral fellowship at Saint Louis University. Weintraub was previously Director of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Cincinnati and has been ranked among the Best Doctors in America for the past six years at Saint Louis University.

 Kumar practices coronary and vascular interventional cardiology. He completed anesthesiology and intensive care residencies in India before completing his anesthesiology residency and anesthesiology critical care medicine fellowship at GRU. He served as 2011-12 President of the Resident Component of the Georgia Society of Anesthesiologists.

StephaniSamples,M.D.

Internal Medicine ResidencyGeorgia Regents UniversityAugusta, Ga.

New Pediatric FellowVincent Robinson,M.B.B.S.Director of Cardiology

Herbert S. Kupperman Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Science Associate Director of MCG Vascular Biology Center

Professor of Medicine

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

William B. Strong Endowed Chair

Professor and Section Chief Division of Pediatric Cardiology

Alberto Morales-Pabon, M.D., Fethi Benraouane, M.D., Jose Cuellar-Silva, M.D., Amin Yehya, M.D.

 The Cardiology Fellowship Training Program has just completed, yet another, outstanding academic year. CardiologyFellowshipextraordinaryachievements include:A. 100 percent pass rate in all board examinations.B.Three out of four fellows exceeded the 90th percentile on the American College of Cardiology in-training exam. The overall score for our third-year fellows was 100 points above the national average. C. All third-year fellows were placed in a competitive and prestigious sub-subspecialty programs; Stanford University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of South Florida, and GRU.

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

 This training experience has truly been enjoyable.Our cardiology fellows come from multiple cultures and nationalities that span the globe. We come from an array of professional backgrounds including business, music, and sports. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we are close and have established friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime.

 Our cardiovascular disease training program exposed us daily to a vast and diverse patient population. Trained at Georgia Regents Medical Center and the Charlie Norwood Veterans Administration Medical Center, opportunities to learn were boundless. We saw everything from routine cardiology cases to complex, challenging, and often critically ill patients.   Our faculty, with expertise in all cardiac subspecialties, was another plus. The cardiology fellows were treated as junior attendings supervised by an 18-member cardiology faculty. These great mentors coupled with pathology exposure have provided a strong foundation in cardiology. Our experience came to fruition as we took our exams.  Our October 2012 American College of Cardiology in-service examination scores—100 points above the national average—truly reflected our quality training. Three out of four of us surpassed the 90th percentile on this national exam.  This year, all four graduating fellows have pursued further specialized fellowship training positions in the areas of heart failure, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, and advanced cardiac imaging at exceptional institutions.  We are proud and feel privileged to have trained at such a fine academic facility and will carry the many lessons we learned throughout our careers. Our training was second to none, in a very friendly and collegial atmosphere. We will always treasure the three years we spent in cardiovascular disease training here.

 The diversity of the patient population as well as health care providers at GRU makes it a unique and insightful place to train. I am truly honored and excited to pursue fellowship training at GRU.

 As a local, I can think of no better place to pursue cardiology fellowship trining. I began my medical career in nursing, graduating from the University of South Carolina-Aiken, then joined the University Hospital cardiac telemetry unit. That experience prompted me to become a physician. I graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed my internal medicine residency and chief residency at GRU.  We have a unique and excellent learning environment here. The comprehensive clinical, educational, and research opportunities with notable faculty offer a well-rounded learning experience. The cardiovascular disease training program provides not only a strong foundation in general cardiology, but also exposure to cardiovascular subspecialties including cardiac imaging, heart failure, electrophysiology, peripheral and interventional cardiology. Ample opportunities also exist in clinical, translational, and basic science research through partnerships with the Cardiovascular Discovery Institute, Georgia Prevention Institute, and Vascular Biology Center.  This year’s four matriculating fellows are well-qualified both clinically and professionally. Several have served as prior Chief Residents and have published notable research with presentations at the local and national levels.

• Dr. Pratik Choksy (GRU)• Dr. Amudhan Jyothidasan (University of Massachusetts)• Dr. Loren Morgan (University of South Carolina)• Dr. Rebecca Napier (GRU)

 Though diverse in background and experience, we share the common aim of dedication to clinical training and patient care and are honored to spend the next three years of our training in cardiovascular medicine.

FellowNotes:

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RebeccaNapier,M.D.FellowCardiovascular Medicine

AlbertoMorales,M.D.Graduate Fellow

Cardiovascular Medicine

As a local, I can think of no better place to pursue cardiology

fellowship training. Our cardiovascular disease training program exposed us daily to a vast

and diverse patient population.

 Dr. Delos M. Cosgrove, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic, discussed “Health Care Model for the 21st Century” at GRU April 26 as guest speaker of the inaugural Robert and Lois Ellison Lecture.  

 

During his tenure, Cosgrove has overseen a $1.25 billion capital campaign and construction of clinical facilities in Florida and abroad. The Cleveland Clinic is one of the top five hospitals in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report.  Cosgrove, a cardiothoracic surgeon, joined Cleveland Clinic in 1975 and was named Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in 1989. He performed more than 22,000 operations, including the first minimally invasive mitral valve surgery, before retiring from practice in 2006. During his tenure as Chairman, Cleveland Clinic’s heart program was rated number one in the country for 10 consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report.

 

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 Endothelial dysfunction is widely considered a major contributor to exercise intolerance in patients with congestive heart failure. In an attempt to resolve the issue, exercise-training has become an option for those wishing to reverse endothelial dysfunction and improve skeletal muscle health.

 For nearly 20 years, exercise-training has benefited patients with congestive heart failure, but the modality has not caught on as a useful adjuvant treatment option.   Physician mindset, logistical issues, and cost are some of the factors impeding its acceptance. Due to the difficulty in adequately predicting clinical and objective responses, selecting patients for this therapy adds to the conundrum.    But emerging evidence suggests it may now be possible to measure and predict patient responses to exercise therapy and other interventions. Flow-mediated or acetylcholine-mediated dilation of brachial (or, in some studies, femoral) vessels has shown consistent correlation, both positive, and negative, with outcomes.   An objective way of predicting response interventions is needed in the field of cardiology similar to those in oncology or other health sciences. It appears this niche is now being filled and that clinicians will soon have the means to predict the response to various pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic regimens  Welcome to the era of customized and more predictable therapies.

HealthCareModel

DelosCosgrove,M.D.President and Chief Executive Officer Cleveland Clinic

PredictableTherapy

For Patients With Congestive Heart Failure

During his tenure, Cosgrove has overseen a $1.25 billion

capital campaign...

Remarks by Lois Ellison, M.D.

Go here for lecture, http://bit.ly/Deloscosgrove

For nearly 20 years, exercise-training has benefited patients with

congestive heart failure

M.VinayakKamath,M.D.Director, Heart and Cardiovascular Services and Chief,

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dec. 6

Speaker: Dimitrios Karmpaliotis, M.D.Topic: Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous

Coronary Intervention in 2013: How to Achieve HIgh Success Rates with New Technologies and Advanced Techniques

Dec. 13

Speaker: Michelle Murphy, M.D.

Topic: Cardiac Oncology

Jan. 11

CME Lectures

Sept. 20

Speaker: Neal Weintraub, M.D.

Topic: Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Current Status

Sept. 27

Speaker: Lauren Holliday, M.D.

Topic: Alcohol and the Heart

Oct. 4

Speaker: Josephy Miller, Jr., M.D.

Topic: Preventing Confusion with Prevention

Oct. 11

Speaker: Amudhan Jyothidasan, M.D.

Topic: ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Update (Door to Discharge)

Oct. 18

Speaker: Vivek Rajagopal, M.D.

Topic: Advances in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Oct. 25

Speaker: Rebecca Napier, M.D.

Topic: Premature Coronary Artery Disease in Women

Nov. 1

Speaker: Ashkan Attaran, M.D.

Topic: Imaging Modalities to Diagnose Infective Endocarditis

Nov. 8

Speaker: Loretta Davis, M.D.

Topic: Skin Manifestations of Cardiovascular Disease

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GRU Cardiac ConferenceOct.9-13,2013 ChateauElanBraselton,Ga.

gru.edu/cardio

YourHeart.OurHands.

Pleasecontactusformoreinformation706-721-2736

CardiovascularUpdatefor PrimaryCareProvidersOct.26-27,2013 MarriottRiverfrontAugusta,Ga.

Cardiovascular Conferences Pleasecontactusformoreinformation706-721-2736gru.edu/ce

No-hasslereferralsYour time is valuable. To

make an appointment for your patient, please call:

Cardiology 706-721-BEAT (2328)

Cardiac Surgery 706-721-3226

Pediatric Cardiology 706-721-8522

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery 706-721-5621

ConvenientLocationsAugusta GRMC 706-721-BEAT (2328)

Trinity Hospital (Summerville Bldg.) 706-481-7070

Washington Wills Memorial 706-678-9334

Greensboro Lake Oconee 706-453-9803

Director of Heart and Cardiovascular Services M. Vinayak Kamath, M.D.

Chief,CardiovascularMedicineSheldon Litwin, M.D.

Chief,PediatricCardiologyZahid Amin, M.D.

Cardiovascular ElectrophysiologyAdam Berman, M.D. William Maddox, M.D.Robert Sorrentino, M.D.

CardiovascularImaging(Echo,MRI,CT,andNuclearImaging)Preston Conger, M.D. Sheldon Litwin, M.D. Vincent Robinson, M.B.B.S. Pascha Schafer, M.D.Gyanendra Sharma, M.D.

CardiothoracicSurgeryM. Vinayak Kamath, M.D.Vijay Patel, M.D. RehabilitationandPreventionPreston Conger, M.D.

VascularSurgeryGautam Agarwal, M.D., R.P.V.I.

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CardiacAnesthesiology Shvetank Agarwal, M.B.B.S. Mary Arthur, M.D. Mafdy Basta, M.D. Manuel Castresana, M.D. F.C.C.M. Sanjay Dwarkanath, M.B.B.S. Tao Hong, M.D. Vikas Kumar, M.B.B.S. GeneralCardiology(InpatientandOutpatient)Preston Conger, M.D. Mahendra Mandawat, M.D. Chris Pallas, M.D.Vincent Robinson, M.B.B.S. Pascha Schafer, M.D.Gyanendra Sharma, M.D. John Thornton, M.D. Neil Weintraub, M.D.

InterventionalCardiology(CoronaryandVascular)Vishal Arora, M.D.Deepak Kapoor, M.D., M.B.B.S. Paul Poommipanit, M.D.

PediatricCardiologyZahid Amin, M.D. William Lutin, M.D.Kenneth Murdison, M.D.Henry Wiles, M.D.