- March 2014 -

Thank you for supporting Doctor's Day on March 30, 2014

 Every year on March 30, patients and their families have a special opportunity to thank those who are most responsible for their healthcare. National Doctor's Day is an opportunity for physicians and patients to come together for the important cause of advancing medicine. A charitable gift to honor a physician at the GW Heart & Vascular Institute will empower them and give them the resources to continue their important work in research, community outreach, and education which is essential to our goal of improving the quality of life of individuals with heart disease. To make a donation, please visit: https://my.gwu.edu/mod/heartandvascular/

  

Dr. Marco Mercader wins 3rd Annual OTT Innovation Competition

The GW Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) awarded Dr. Marco Mercader, Director of Electrophysiology Research at GW, the $10,000 Life Sciences Prize in the 3rd Annual OTT Innovation Competition for his invention of a device to control atrial arrhythmias after open heart surgery. OTT Innovation Competition is an annual opportunity for GW researchers in the physical sciences and life sciences to present the commercial potential of their innovations. A panel of experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders selected the winner among 18 participants competing for funding.

 
GW Cardiologists donate time to perform heart procedure on Honduran man

Drs. Cynthia Tracy and Marco Mercader met Demetrio Gomez during the GW Heart & Vascular Institute's annual medical mission trip to rural Honduras. Drs. Tracy and Mercader discovered that Mr. Gomez had an atrial septal defect (ASD), a hole in the wall that separates the top two chambers of the heart. Dr. Tracy coordinated with the Embassy of Honduras to arrange for Mr. Gomez to travel to Washington, DC for treatment at George Washington University. Dr. Jonathan Reiner donated his time to perform an ASD closure using a new catheterization technique that does not require surgery. The ASD closure device was donated by St. Jude Medical and services for the procedure were donated by GW Hospital. Travel for Mr. Gomez was sponsored by the GW Heart & Vascular Institute.  

 
Cardiology Fellows and Faculty present at the American College of Cardiology's Scientific Sessions March 29-31 in Washington, DC
 

 

GW medical student, Jeffrey Twum-Ampofo, who is mentored by Brian Choi, MD, Co-Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging at GW, presented Dr. Choi's research on "The Effect of Pharmacy Spatial Accessibility on Cardiovascular Risk Factors." This study suggests that "one-stop-shop" co-location of physician and pharmacy services may be a particularly effective model to enhance medication adherence and patient satisfaction.

 

Bernard Ashby, MD, Chief GW Cardiology Fellow, presented "Vascular Risk Score as a Predictor of Poor Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Vascular Intervention," which is a collaboration between the GW's Department of Cardiology and Vascular Surgery.  The study developed a scoring system that would help predict the risk of poor outcomes in patients undergoing vascular interventions. Dr. Ashby also presented "Patient-Radiation Exposure in Endovascular Interventions and Coronary Procedures," a study he initiated as a resident at Columbia University Medical Center, but completed at GW. The project compares radiation exposure to patients undergoing endovascular intervention with those undergoing coronary intervention. 

 

Gurusher Panjrath, MD, Director of Advanced Heart Failure Services at GW, presented "Stand Alone Ventricular Assist Device Center, A view From Inside and Out." Dr. Panjrath co-chaired a symposium that included Dr. Richard Katz: "Careers in Heart Failure and Transplantation," organized by the Heart Failure and Transplantation Section of the American College of Cardiology.