Heart Failure Beat Podcast: Healthy Living

This podcast series delivers episodes featuring interviews with patients, caregivers, and heart failure clinicians highlighting what patients and caregivers need to know about healthy living with heart failure.

HF Beat Healthy Living Rebrand Logo

Heart Failure affects over 6.5 million people globally. Join the Heart Failure Society of America as we interview patients, caregivers, and heart failure healthcare providers highlighting the key things patients and caregivers need to know about living with heart failure. The Heart Failure Beat Healthy Living is part of the Heart Failure Awareness 365 campaign. Learn more about the campaign >>  

Latest episode: Clinical Trials - Shaping the Future of Heart Failure Care >>

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Episodes by Topic

Basics of Heart Failure

S02 E03: Congestion in Heart Failure: How and Why Volume Status Matters

On this episode, we’ll explore congestion in heart failure – what it means for patients and why it matters. 

Host: Marc Silver, MD, Founding Member of the Heart Failure Society of America and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at University of Illinois

Guests:

  • Maria Rosa Costanzo, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC, Medical Director for Heart Failure Research at the Advocate Heart Institute 

  • Marat Fudim, MD, MHS, Advanced Heart Failure Specialist, Cardiologist at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina 


Full Bios

Marat Fudim, MD, MHS is a heart failure cardiologist at Duke University Medical Center. Clinically, he treats patients across the spectrum of heart failure, including advanced heart failure. His research focus is the characterization of congestion in heart failure and I study device based and pharmacological treatments for heart failure.

Dr. Costanzo received her medical degree summa cum laude from the University of Bologna in Italy. Her postgraduate training included a fellowship in cardiology at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Costanzo is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology. She is also a member of the Ordine Dei Medici (The Italian National Medical Professional Association).
Dr. Costanzo served as Medical Director of the Loyola University Chicago Heart failure and Cardiac Transplant Program from 1988 until 1994. From 1994 until 2001 Dr. Costanzo was the Medical Director of the Heart Failure/Cardiac Transplant Program at Rush University Medical Center and was the John H. and Margaret V. Krehbiel Professor of Cardiology at the Rush Medical College. From 1995 until 2000 Dr. Costanzo was the Editor in Chief of the Journal of heart and Lung Transplantation. In 2002 Dr. Costanzo became the Medical Director of the Edward Center for Advanced Heart Failure. In 2002 Dr. Costanzo was appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Honorable Tommy Thompson, to serve a four-year term on the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Advisory Council. From 2012 to 2019 Dr. Costanzo has been a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine exam writing committee for the specialty of Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology. Dr. Costanzo is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Heart Failure Society of America. Dr. Costanzo has led several multicenter randomized clinical trials including UNLOAD, AVOID-HF and the Pivotal Trial of phrenic nerve stimulation for central sleep apnea. Dr. Costanzo has written more than 200 papers, abstracts, and articles for journals such as New England Journal of Medicine, Circulation, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, JACC Heart Failure, Circulation Heart Failure and the European Journal of Heart Failure. She has presented nationally and internationally on numerous topics related to Heart Failure and Cardiac transplantation. Dr. Costanzo is also a consultant for several publications including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Circulation Research, the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Cardiac failure, JACC Heart Failure, Circulation Heart Failure, the European Heart Journal, the European Journal of Heart Failure and the International Journal of Cardiology. Dr. Costanzo was appointed as Associate Editor of the JACC Heart Failure Journal in March, 2020. Dr. Costanzo is currently the Medical Director for Heart Failure Research at the Advocate Heart Institute.

Dr. Marc A. Silver served as the Chief, Division of Medical Services, Chairman of the Department of Medicine, and is the Founder of the Heart Failure Institute at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois for 19 years, retiring in December 2017. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Medicine. He is an international leader in heart failure, was a founding member of the Heart Failure Society of America, author of HFSA and ACC/AHA heart failure guidelines for over a decade, and served as Editor-in-Chief of Congestive Heart Failure for 15 years.

Emotional Wellness

S02 E04: Emotional Wellness: From Heart Failure Diagnosis to Transplant and Beyond

On this episode, we explore mental healthcare and emotional wellness as a part of treatment from the diagnosis of heart failure to the point of transplant and beyond. We hear from patient and transplant recipient Brooke Homier on how she found support throughout her journey, as well as learn about common questions, resources, and more from Homier’s nurse practitioner Laura Peters, DNP, FNP-C, and heart transplant psychologist Tyler Branagan, PhD.

Host: Laura Poko, Director of Marketing and Communications - Heart Failure Society of America

Guests:

  • Tyler Branagan, PhD, Heart Transplant Psychologist at the University of Colorado Transplant Center 

  • Brooke Homier, heart transplant recipient  

  • Laura Peters, DNP, FNP-C, Nurse Practitioner in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant at the University of Colorado Transplant Center 

S01 E08: Emotional Wellness in Heart Failure

Tune into this episode for valuable tips for patients, caregivers, and physicians on emotional well-being and mental health as part of the heart failure treatment plan. Episode Website>>


Host: Laura Poko, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Heart Failure Society of America


Guest: Dr. Nasrien E. Ibrahim, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Nasrien E. Ibrahim, MD, FACC, FHFSA is a board certified cardiologist in the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Section within the Division of Cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is also the Associate Director of the Resynchronization & Cardiac Therapeutics Program at MGH. She completed her internal medicine residency and general cardiology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, her advanced heart failure and cardiac transplant fellowship at the University of Colorado, and her clinical research fellowship at MGH.  She is involved in several research studies in heart failure involving biomarkers and participates in several clinical trials all aimed at improving the management and outcomes of patients with heart failure. She also has research interests in health inequities, access to care, and women’s leadership in academia. @DrNasrien
 

Equity in Heart Failure

S02 E06: CONQUER-HF: Changing Outcomes Now with Quality and Universal Equity Redesigning Heart Failure Care

Equity in heart failure treatment and care is the POSSIBLE dream, but how can we achieve that dream? Guest host Dr. Sabra Lewsey explores this topic through the lens of CONQUER-HF: Changing Outcomes Now with Quality and Universal Equity Redesigning Heart Failure Care. Guests include Dr. Nancy Albert, RN PhD FHFSA, immediate past HFSA president; Dr. Khadijah Breathett, MD MS FACC FAHA FHFSA; and Ms. Wanda Moore. 

HostSabra Lewsey, MD, MPH, FACC, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology at Johns Hopkins University SOM

Guests:

  • Nancy M. Albert, RN, PhD, FHFSA, Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Cleveland Clinic Cleveland

    Khadijah Breathett, MD, MS, FACC, FAHA, FHFSA, Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine

    Wanda F. Moore, Chair, Sarver Heart Center Minority Outreach Program at the University of Arizona

S01 E09: Equity in Heart Failure Across Racial/Ethnic Groups: The POSSIBLE Dream

Tune into this episode to learn about steps necessary for achieving heart failure equity across racial and ethnic groups.

Host: Khadijah Breathett, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Medicine - Division of Cardiology - Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant, The University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center (full bio below)

Guests:

Sabra C. Lewsey, MD MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant, Johns Hopkins University SOM

Ileana L. Piña, MD, MPH, FAHA, FACC, Professor of Medicine Wayne State University, Clinical Prof of Medicine, Central Michigan University, Senior Staff Fellow, FDA, Medical Reviewer

 


Full Bios

Khadijah Breathett, MD, MS, FACC, FAHA, FHFSA is Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine- Tucson, Division of Cardiology, and advanced heart failure & transplant cardiologist. Dr. Breathett is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School with distinction in service. She completed training in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center, and cardiology and advanced heart failure/transplant subspecialty fellowship at the Ohio State University. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship funded by the National Institute of Health and the American Heart Association while obtaining a Master of Science in Clinical Science at the University of Colorado. Dr. Breathett is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. She has developed pilot trials, outcomes studies, observational population studies, and community interventions focused on reducing racial and gender disparities in cardiovascular disease. Dr. Breathett is a National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) K01 funded primary investigator for work to address allocation of advanced therapies in racial/ethnic minorities. Dr. Breathett’s research has been published in high impact journals including Circulation, Circulation: Heart Failure, JACC: Heart Failure, and The American Journal of Medicine. Her works have received press acknowledgment in Reuters, MedPage Today, and Business Insider among others. She has been recognized as a National Minority Quality Forum 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health, international Women As One Escalator Awardee, Heart Failure Society of America Emerging Leader, and selected for the American Heart Association Research Leader’s Academy. Dr. Breathett is passionate about reducing racial/ethnic and gender disparities in heart failure.

Sabra Lewsey, MD, MPH is an assistant professor of medicine and an advanced heart failure cardiologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. Her research interests include factors contributing to exercise intolerance and debilitation in heart failure patients, particularly with advancing age. She is also interested in disparities in heart failure therapy access, utilization, and outcomes in diverse and aging populations.

Ileana L. Piña, MD, MPH, FAHA, FACC, is a board certified heart failure/transplant cardiologist with a strong interest in sex differences and inclusion of URIM into clinical trials.  In addition, Dr. Piña is a clinical trialist and a part of the HF collaborative.  She is also a member of the Board of the AHA.

Living with Heart Failure

S04E03: Heart Failure Management

Heart failure management is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Many things can affect your treatment, from age, type of heart failure, and even your relationship with your care team. Tune in to this episode as two providers/patients talk about their expertise and firsthand experience.

HostBrittany Clayborne, Psy.D, Patient Advocate and HFSA Patient Committee Chair

Guests:


Sponsor

This episode is sponsored in part by Heart Failure Awareness 365 program sponsor Pfizer, Inc.

Do you have heart failure and often hear:
Female caregiver: “Those stomach issues ruined your birthday.”
Grandson: “You’re too tired to play catch, Grandpa.”
Female caregiver: “Sweetie, you haven’t touched your tools since the carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis."
If these seemingly unrelated symptoms sound familiar, talk to your cardiologist. Ask about transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, or ATTR-CM. A rare and underdiagnosed disease that gets worse over time. Learn more at Connecttoyourheart.com. That’s: Connecttoyourheart.com

Sponsored by Pfizer

S04E02: Healthy Living with Heart Failure

Living a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally, isn’t always easy. When you add a heart failure diagnosis into the mix, it gets even more difficult. Is it possible to manage your diet, exercise, medication regimen, costs, and mental health? Hear from two patients about their perspectives on living a healthy life with heart failure.

HostLucianne (Lucy) West, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Tufts Medical Center

NEW HostBrittany Clayborne, Psy.D, Patient Advocate and HFSA Patient Committee Chair

Guest:

  • Elise Jones, Patient Advocate and founder of Utah Yoga &Wellness

S04E01: The Basics of Heart Failure - What is Heart Failure?

Being diagnosed with heart failure can be scary and complicated. With so many unanswered questions, the first one is usually, “what exactly is heart failure?” Tune in to this podcast episode to learn the basics of heart failure as our guests discuss what heart failure actually is.

HostLucianne (Lucy) West, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Tufts Medical Center 

Guests:

  • Emily Benton, PhD, NP-C, Assistant Professor, Medicine-Cardiology, University of Colorado

  • Ran Lee, MD, Critical Care Cardiology and Advanced HF/Transplant Cardiologist, Cleveland Clinic

S03 E04: The Importance of Knowing Your Risk for Related Conditions

On this episode of the podcast, learn how to recognize your risk for related conditions and know what conversations you should be having with your doctor.

Host: Lucianne (Lucy) West, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Tufts Medical Center

Guests:

  • Nancy Albert, PhD, CCNS, CCRN, NE-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer of the Office of Research and Innovation for the Cleveland Clinic Health System, and Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure. She is also the former president of HFSA.

  • Ahmad Masri, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University

  • Mitch Psotka, MD, PhD, Section Chief of Heart Failure and Transplant and Director of the Infiltrative Cardiomyopathy Center at the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute


Sponsor

This episode is sponsored in part by Heart Failure Awareness 365 program sponsor Renovacor.

Renovacor is a biotechnology company committed to delivering innovative precision therapies to improve the lives of patients and families battling genetically-driven cardiovascular and mechanistically-related diseases. 
Renovacor was founded by renowned Cardiologist and Heart Failure Expert, Dr. Art Feldman. 
Since its founding, Renovacor has been working towards the development of gene therapies for BAG3- associated dilated cardiomyopathy (or BAG3-DCM) and genetic segments of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (or ACM). By researching and developing medicines that target the underlying cause of disease, Renovacor’s vision is to bring life-changing therapies to patients living with serious genetic cardiovascular and related diseases.


Disclaimer

HFSA does not endorse any of the following medications or treatments discussed in this episode: Entresto, Farxiga, Jardiance

S03 E03: Understanding Treatment Best Practices in Heart Failure

On this episode of the podcast, learn more about how nutrition and exercise are vital to your heart health, along with ways you can optimize your visits and outcomes with shared decision-making.

Host: Lucianne (Lucy) West, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Tufts Medical Center

Guests:

  • Randall Starling, MD, FHFSA, Professor of Medicine at the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure at the Cleveland Clinic and former president of HFSA.

  • Kate Hilgartner, CRNP, CHFN, Advanced Heart Failure Nurse Practitioner at Medstar Washington Hospital Center

  • Robin Gage, Heat Failure Patient Survivor and Advocate


Sponsor

This episode is sponsored in part by Heart Failure Awareness 365 program sponsor Pfizer, Inc.

Do you have heart failure and often hear:
Female caregiver: “Those stomach issues ruined your birthday.”
Grandson: “You’re too tired to play catch, Grandpa.”
Female caregiver: “Sweetie, you haven’t touched your tools since the carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis."
If these seemingly unrelated symptoms sound familiar, talk to your cardiologist. Ask about transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, or ATTR-CM. A rare and underdiagnosed disease that gets worse over time. Learn more at Connecttoyourheart.com. That’s: Connecttoyourheart.com

Sponsored by Pfizer

S03 E02: Navigating Your Medication Regimen and Costs

On this episode of the podcast, learn how you can better navigate your medication regimen and costs associated with heart failure to improve your quality and quantity of life.

Host: Lucianne (Lucy) West, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Tufts Medical Center

Guests:

  • Teri Diederich, APRN-NP, CHFN, FHFSA, APP Supervisor, Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart Failure and Transplant, Nebraska Medicine

  • Kathleen Faulkenberg, PharmD, BCPS, FHFSA, Cardiovascular Clinical Pharmacists Coordinator, University of Kentucky Healthcare

  • Cassie Moody, CPhT, Senior Medication Access Coordinator, Nebraska Medicine


Disclaimer

HFSA does not endorse any of the following medications or treatments discussed in this episode: Entresto, Lisinopril, Losartan, Valsartan, Spironolactone, Eplerenone, Hydralazine, Isosorbide Dinitrate, Digoxin, Ivabradine, Jardiance, Farxiga

S02 E05: Managing the Costs of Care for Heart Failure Treatment

On this episode of the podcast, learn how patients living with heart failure can have valuable conversations and build relationships with members of their healthcare team to better understand and navigate the costs of treatment and medication.

Host: Laura Poko, Director of Marketing and Communications - Heart Failure Society of America

Guests:

  • Ted Berei, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, BCCP, Clinical Pharmacist at the University of Wisconsin 

    Dr. Margaret (Midge) Bowers DNP, FNP-BC, AACC, FAANP, FAAN, Nurse Practitioner at Duke University

S01E04: Traveling with Heart Failure Patients

Mary Leah Coco was 30 years old, a new mother, and attending graduate school when she was diagnosed with heart failure with an ejection fraction of 15-20%. Years later, she has experienced travel to out-of-state doctor’s appointments alongside her husband, solo travel, and even travel for work. On this podcast, Dr. Coco talks with our Patient Series host Eileen Hsich, MD, about how she juggles her responsibilities and maintains a healthy lifestyle while traveling with heart failure.

Guest

Mary Leah Coco, Ph.D., is a dedicated advocate for women's heart health, the Associate Director of the Technology Transfer and Training for LA DOTD, and a Research Associate Professor for the University of Louisiana Lafayette. She is also a survivor of heart disease, wife to Jeremy, and proud mom to Annie. At 30 years old, Mary Leah scheduled a “preventative maintenance” checkup only to learn she had severe dilated cardiomyopathy with an ejection fraction of 10 percent. Knowing her family history, and taking it seriously, saved her life. Mary Leah has served as a national volunteer for the AHA’s Go Red For Women movement, continues to serve the AHA in various roles, and is a heart disease advocate through many other avenues as well.

S01E03: Diet and Exercise for Heart Failure Patients

Patient Series host Eileen Hsich has a conversation with Kim Bischel, BSN, RN, the Heart Failure Specialty Care Coordinator in the Heart and Vascular Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, on critical tips and guidelines for diet and exercise with heart failure. Tune in to learn about discussions you should have with your healthcare provider, following a low-sodium diet, choosing fresh foods, and tips to help you manage heart failure symptoms.

Guest

Kim Bischel, BSN, RN, is the Heart Failure Specialty Care Coordinator in the Heart and Vascular Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. She provides care coordination for patients discharged under the designated heart failure specialty services. Kim’s expertise includes heart failure specializing in cardiac amyloidosis, cardiothoracic surgery, and pre and post-operative recovery care.

S01E02: On the Road with Heart Failure

Hear about the challenges of being on the road with a heart failure patient and her husband who has remained her trusty travel companion along the way. They have created a plan for maintaining a healthy diet and staying safe while road-tripping to medical appointments, and experienced the challenges of staying healthy, maintaining a medication regimen, and finding balance while vacationing in another country.

Guests:

Lori Ann Wood, is a heart failure patient who lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband, Dell. Lori currently serves as founding leader of the Parenting Education Ministry at the church of Christ in Bentonville and as WomenHeart Champion Community Educator for Arkansas and American Heart Association Ambassador. Diagnosed with advanced heart failure almost too late, Lori writes to encourage others to find joy in the divine detours of life. She has several published articles in online and print magazines, nationally and internationally, and is currently writing a book. Read more from Loriann Wood.

Dell Wood, lives in beautiful Bentonville, Arkansas, with his wife Lori, whom he met in 9th grade. Together, he and Lori are parents to three great young adults, one amazing son-in-law, and a miniature dachshund named Pearl.

The most important takeaways: 

  • Travel with medical records (i.e. medications and emergency contacts)
  • Travel with company if possible
  • Prepare your own food or eat at facilities with healthy options (i.e. salad)
  • Carry medication with you since baggage can get lost
  • Limit your daily activities so you don’t get exhausted

Appointments and Patient-Provider Relationships

S03 E01: Optimizing the Heart Failure Patient-Provider Relationship

Have you ever felt nervous to ask your doctors and nurses questions about your condition? Do you ever feel stuck and unsure of what your symptoms mean? Tune into this podcast episode featuring a conversation between Dr. Brittany Clayborne – a 36-year-old mother that was in perfect health until 26 years of age being diagnosed with condition called Peripartum Cardiomyopathy – and her physician Dr. Mark Drazner, HFSA President and Clinical Chief of Cardiology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.

S01 E07: How to Have Successful Virtual Visits with Your Care Team

Virtual visits have been taking over as a main source of treatment plans for many patients living with heart failure. Explore how you can have more successful virtual visits with your care team on this episode of the Heart Failure Beat Healthy Living.

Host: Laura Poko, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Heart Failure Society of America
Guest: Kismet Rasmusson, DNP, FNP, FAHA, FHFSA, CHFN

Kismet Rasmusson is a nurse practitioner with 20 years of experience with Intermountain Healthcare’s Advanced Heart Failure Program. In this role, she not only cares for patients with heart failure, but guides the Intermountain System to improve heart failure outcomes and processes of care. One of her special interests is to create novel ways to educate and engage patients. During this COVID-19 pandemic, she has helped lead her team to implement video visits with their patients.

Medication, Research and Technology

Disclaimer: The opinions presented in episodes of the Heart Failure Beat do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the Heart Failure Society of America. Furthermore, HFSA does not endorse any medications or treatments discussed in these episodes.

NEW! S04E04: Clinical Trials Part 1: The Importance in Shaping Heart Failure Care

How can clinical trials help you and the future of heart failure care? Learn the benefits of participating in clinical trials and why it's so important in Part 1 of this special Heart Failure Awareness Week 2024 episode!

NEW! S04E04: Clinical Trials Part 2: Patient Involvement and Expectations

Unsure about participating in clinical trials? Hear advice from one patient's experience and experts who have been involved on the provider side in Part 2 of this special Heart Failure Awareness Week 2024 episode!

S01 E10: Why Clinical Trials Matter to Heart Failure Patient Care and Outcomes 

On this episode, we’ll learn about clinical trials and research opportunities for heart failure patients, and why they matter to patient care and outcomes. 

Host: Laura Poko, Director of Marketing and Communications, Heart Failure Society of America

Guests:

  • Cynthia Chauhan is a patient living with heart failure who is actively involved in patient advocacy and she serves on the HFSA Board of Directors as a patient advocate.

  • Melvin R. Echols, MD, FACC, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia

  • Mona Fiuzat, PharmD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University and Senior Scientific Advisor at the FDA


Full Bios

Dr. Echols is an Assistant Professor of Medicine with Morehouse School of Medicine. His clinical and research endeavors are primarily focused on health equity for underrepresented heart failure populations.

Cynthia Chauhan is a patient with HFpEF and multiple comorbidities including pulmonary hypertension, stage 4 CKD and three kinds of arthritis with a history of breast and kidney cancers. Because HFpEF is currently untreatable, Chauhan regularly enrolls in clinical trials and practices focused self-care including regular exercise and a low sodium diet. Chauhan also participates in the development and monitoring of clinical trials as a patient representative on executive committees.

S02 E01: Mobile Technology and Wearables for Heart Failure Patient Management

Tune into this episode to learn about the vast array of technologies on the market for patients living with heart failure, including wearable devices.  

Host: Jessica Golbus MD, MS, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Fellow - Michigan Medicine

Guests:

  • Sri Adusumalli MD, MSc, Assistant Chief Medical Information Officer, University of Pennsylvania Health System and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine who is interested in the intersection between wearable devices and behavioral economics. 
  • Mike Dorsch PharmD, MS, Assistant Professor, pharmacist, and clinical researcher at Michigan Medicine  
  • Monique Tanna MD, Heart failure and Transplant Cardiologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Penn Medicine 

Full Bios

 

Dr. Adusumalli is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, Assistant Chief Medical Information Officer at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and is a general cardiologist, echocardiographer, and assistant cardiovascular disease fellowship program director with the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He also serves as a clinical innovation manager for the Nudge Unit and the Acceleration Lab at the Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Dr. Adusumalli spends the majority of his time caring for patients with cardiovascular disease in the clinic, inpatient wards, and cardiac intensive care unit. Outside of his clinical commitments, his interests and work focus on the utilization of health information technology to advance clinical care, education, and research. He is particularly interested in methods of using technology to evaluate and accelerate the adoption of evidence-based healthcare in a manner that is safe for patients and easy for clinicians.

Michael Dorsch is an Assistant Professor, pharmacist and clinical researcher who studies the effects of health information technology on outcomes in cardiovascular disease. His current work focuses on increasing adherence to a low sodium diet in hypertension and increasing self-monitoring in heart failure to promote patient self-management strategies.

A graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Monique Tanna, MD, completed her fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at the NYU School of Medicine and a second fellowship, in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Tanna is an Assistant Professor of Medicine specializing in advanced heart failure, mechanical circulatory support and transplant cardiology with an interest in remote monitoring in heart failure. Her research interests include improving heart failure outcomes and reducing heart failure readmissions through various approaches, including remote monitoring with both invasive monitors as well as wearable sensors.
 

S01E01: Natural Supplements and Heart Failure Drug Education

On this episode, we’ll learn about common heart failure medications, such as beta blockers and diuretics, how they work, guidance on how to take them, and important side effects. We’ll also hear about natural and supplemental products that are often used by heart failure patients, including CBD oil and how it may interact with prescribed medications. Episode Website>>

Guests:

Kathleen D. Faulkenberg, PharmD, BCPS, Heart Failure and Heart Transplant Clinical Pharmacist at the Cleveland Clinic

Barry E. Bleske, PharmD, FCCP, Chair and Professor at the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences at the University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy

For more information on natural products, uses, potential adverse effects, and drug interactions, visit:

HFSA does not endorse any of the following medications or treatments discussed in these episodes: Entresto, Diovan, Zestril/Prinivil, Aldactone, Inspra, Metoprolol – Toprol XL, Carvedilol – Coreg, Furosemide – Lasix, Bumetanide – Bumex, Torsemide – Demadex, Metolazone – Zaroxlyn

COVID-19 and Heart Failure

S02 E02: How the Global Pandemic Affected Heart Failure Care

On this episode, we hear from a few providers on how treatment of heart failure has changed as we get close to the one-year mark for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Eiran Z. Gorodeski, MD, MPH, FACC, FHFSA, Medical Director of the Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Center and the James and Angela Hambrick Center for Cardiac Recovery, University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute

Guests:

  • Emily Benton, PhD, NP-C, Nurse Practitioner, University of Colorado 
  • Jonathan D. Rich, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University 
  • Jennifer T. Thibodeau, MD, MSCS, Interim Section Chief, Advanced Heart Failure, VAD, Cardiac Transplant; Medical Director, Heart Failure, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Full Bios

Jonathan D. Rich, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University and the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute where he serves as Medical Director of the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program and as the Program Director for the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship. He specializes in the care of patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, ventricular assist devices and those in need of heart transplantation.

Dr. Thibodeau is the Medical Director of Heart Failure and the Interim Section Chief of Advanced Heart Failure, Ventricular Assist Devices, and Cardiac Transplantation at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

S01 E06: Heart Failure and Coronavirus: The Importance of Self-Advocacy

Learn the importance of self-advocating for your health on this episode, where we hear a conversation between a heart advocate who is living with heart failure and was diagnosed with Coronavirus and a prominent heart failure physician.   

Host: John Barnes, CEO of the Heart Failure Society of America
Guests


Bethany Austin, MD, Director of Heart Failure and Heart Failure Quality at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute and Associate Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri

Dr. Bethany Austin has been at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute since 2010 after training at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic.  She is Co-Medical Director of the Heart Failure Program, Medical Director of Heart Failure Quality, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant Cardiology, and Echocardiography.

Heart survivor Rhonda E. Monroe conquered the insurmountable odds of living through five coronary artery dissections, three heart attacks, two strokes, three open heart surgeries, congestive heart failure with an ejection fraction of 21% and more. She educated herself on heart disease, sought cutting-edge solutions to her illness and refused to take no for an answer.  Rhonda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in both economics and business and finance, a Master of Business Administration degree, and has merged that preparation with her passion for healthcare to become a highly regarded patient advocate.  
 

S01E05: Coronavirus and Heart Failure - An Overview

On this episode, HFSA President, Dr. Biykem Bozkurt, Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, shares information on how the Coronavirus may impact people living with heart failure. She talks about discerning heart failure symptoms from COVID-19 symptoms, how to stay healthy while social distancing indoors, and where to find the most accurate information online. Dr. Bozkurt is interviewed by HFSA CEO, John Barnes. www.hfsa.org/coronavirus

Host: John Barnes, CEO of the Heart Failure Society of America

Guest: Biykem Bozkurt, MD Professor of Medicine – Baylor College of Medicine; President of HFSA


 

Ideas for Future Episodes

Have an idea for an episode of the Heart Failure Beat Healthy Living or want to be a guest or guest host on the show? Drop us an email at hfbeat@hfsa.org

Want More Information?

For more information on being a guest or how to listen in, please contact us at 301-312-8635 or email hfbeat@hfsa.org.


Thank you to the sponsors of Heart Failure Awareness 365!

The Heart Failure Beat: Healthy Living series is part of the Heart Failure Awareness 365 campaign led by HFSA. Learn more about the campaign >>  

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