Deep in the Heart & Vascular of Texas

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain becomes compromised, causing a medical emergency where timely treatment is critical.  In this podcast episode, Cali and Sam discuss stroke symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention with Gordon Martin, MD, FACS, Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at McGovern Medical School along with Neurologist, Megan Fankhauser, MD, with the Houston Neurological Institute at Memorial Hermann Pearland & Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospitals. 

As May is designated as Stroke Awareness Month, we strive to communicate the importance of identifying a stroke and the urgency in seeking treatment as soon as a stroke symptom becomes apparent.  

You can read more about the providers from the interview with the links below, along with additional stroke resources to learn more.

Dr. Megan Fankhauser: https://www.hnineuro.com/physicians

Dr. Gordon Martin: https://med.uth.edu/cvs/faculty/gordon-h-martin-md-facs/ 

About Stroke: https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about.htm

Amputation effects almost 2 million individuals in the US, and according to the national limb loss information center, more than 185,000 amputations occur each year. As we conclude April, Limb Loss Awareness Month, we discuss with vascular surgeon Sheila Coogan, MD and orthopedic surgeon, Michael Greaser, MD about their experience s, efforts, and role in the prevention of amputation, and how through education and early detection, individuals who are at risk of amputation, can avoid it.

Below are several resources to learn more about amputation prevention and limb loss:
http://www.memorialhermann.org/amputationprevention/

https://www.footcaremd.org/

https://www.utphysicians.com/provider/danielle-h-melton/

As we continue to handle social distancing in an industry that is ‘hands-on’, Sam and Cali sit down with surgeons, Sophia Khan-Makoid, MD and Tom Nguyen, MD to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their practice and delivery of care for their patients, but also how their life experiences have changed since the outbreak.  

In this part two of a two-part episode, Sam & Cali meet with healthcare quality experts, Drs. Bela Patel and Charles "Trey" Miller to discuss what the future holds for the healthcare industry in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In this episode, we'll discuss how, through their leadership, their respective teams were able to adjust to changes implemented to manage the coronavirus outbreak, and how moving forward, this experience will greatly impact how medicine is delivered, and how research is executed.  

Through Dr. Patel's work, her team of clinicians and local hospital facilities have been able to continue providing high quality care here in Houston. Dr. Miller provides his expert input with regards to how COVID-19 has proven to be a catalyst for various research projects and collaborative efforts within the UTHealth System, but also at the local and national levels.  Dr. Miller currently oversees the UTHealth task force for coronavirus research, bringing together our institution's leads and research scientists from all six schools within UTHealth.  We continue our discussion with him his new role entails, and what we can expect from clinical research moving forward.

Bela Patel, MD, CMQ, FCCP serves as the Vice Dean Of Healthcare Quality, Division Director Of Critical Care Medicine, Interim Division Director Of Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, is the Distinguished Teaching Professor Of The University Of Texas System, and Professor Of Medicine at McGovern Medical School.

Charles C. Miller III, PhD serves as the Associate Vice President for Clinical Research and Health Care Quality, Professor of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, is the Associate Dean for Hospital Quality, and Director at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston.

In this part one of a two-part episode, Sam & Cali meet with healthcare quality experts, Drs. Bela Patel and Charles "Trey" Miller to discuss the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with regards to quality, research, and clinical care within our healthcare systems.

Dr. Bela Patel serves as the Vice Dean Of Healthcare Quality, Division Director Of Critical Care Medicine, Interim Division Director Of Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, is the Distinguished Teaching Professor Of The University Of Texas System, and Professor Of Medicine at McGovern Medical School.  Charles C. Miller III, PhD serves as the Associate Vice President for Clinical Research and Health Care Quality, Professor of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, is the Associate Dean for Hospital Quality, and Director at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston.

In this episode Dr. Patel addresses how she and her team of clinical care providers with the Memorial Hermann Hospital System responded to the outbreak of COVID-19.  We go into how she and her team took necessary actions to develop, educate, and implement new standards and protocols, as well as put into action previously created pandemic plans.  Through her leadership, these efforts have led to the continuum of high quality care provided here in Houston.

Dr. Miller provides his expert input with regards to how the field of research has adjusted since the outbreak of COVID-19, and how the development of new research projects will aid in our country's recovery.  Dr. Miller currently oversees the UTHealth task force for coronavirus research, bringing together our institution's leads and research scientists from all six schools within UTHealth.  Today we discuss with him his new role entails, and what we can expect from clinical research moving forward.