Parallax by Ankur Kalra Radcliffe Cardiology

This week on Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra welcomes Eric Radtke, Vice President at Worldwide Innovations & Technologies, Inc, and Barbara Breininger, a cardiovascular radiologic technologist and clinical manager with 26 years of experience.

This special episode dives deep into the crucial topic of radiation hygiene, exploring it from the perspectives of both manufacturers and users of radiation safety products.
Barbara Breininger shares her experiences traveling nationwide to educate healthcare professionals on radiation safety, emphasizing the need for collective awareness and best practices in cath labs.
Eric Radtke discusses the company's evolving focus on radiation safety, the origins of their initiatives, and the concerning impacts of radiation exposure as revealed by recent studies. We'll also explore practical steps to enhance safety and delve into the RADPAD tools that can shield interventional cardiologists and allied professionals from exposure.

How can we protect ourselves from radiation in the Cath lab? How can we raise awareness of radiation hygiene?

Trials mentioned in the episode:

Aizer A, Qiu JK, Cheng AV, et al. Utilization of a Radiation Safety Time-Out Reduces Radiation Exposure During Electrophysiology Procedures. JACC EP 2019; 5:5:626-634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2018.12.002

Ahmad IM, Abdalla YM, Moore TA, et al. Healthcare Workers Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing Radiation Exhibit Altered Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and Redox Parameters. Antioxidants 2019; 8:1. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8010012

Support: This episode is supported by Radcliffe Cardiology; it received no funding from Worldwide Innovations & Technologies.

In this week’s Parallax, host Dr Ankur Kalra welcomes back Dr Jonathan Fisher, a cardiologist, organizational well-being leader, and bestselling author of Just One Heart: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness.

In this compelling conversation, Dr Fisher shares his personal experience with burnout within the US healthcare system. He provides a concise overview of the roots of Western medicine's culture and the current epidemic of physician burnout and depression. Dr Kalra then invites him to explore solutions for reversing these negative trends and enhancing patient care. Dr Fisher discusses the workshops he leads, emphasizing core principles like positive attitude, compassion, connection, and teamwork. He also offers a sneak peek into his new book that extends the discussion to a wider audience.

Tune in for a rich discussion on the future of healthcare, well-being, and rediscovering the human connection at the heart of medicine.

Just One Heart: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness is available to order here: https://www.amazon.com/Just-One-Heart-Cardiologists-Happiness-ebook/dp/B0D1526W7D

Dr Ankur Kalra’s guest this week is Dr Saraschandra Vallabhajosyula, Interventional and Critical Care Cardiologist, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and the Director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Rhode Island Hospital, the Miriam Hospital and Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute. In this episode of Parallax, they delve into the latest insights from ACC.24 through the lens of five pivotal late-breaking trials.

Dr Vallabhajosyula offers a deep dive into the nuances of each study. Together, Dr Kalra and Dr Vallabhajosyula distil the complexities of these trials into key messages for practice, grounded in their own clinical experiences.

In the spotlight are five key trials:
1. DanGer Shock: Microaxial Flow Pump or Standard Care in Infarct-Related Cardiogenic Shock
2. RELIEVE-HF: Safety and effectiveness of the V-Wave® Ventura® Interatrial Shunt for the treatment of heart failure (HF)
3. PREVENT: Preventive PCI or medical therapy alone for vulnerable atherosclerotic coronary plaque
4. REDUCE AMI: Decreased usage of beta-blockers after acute myocardial infarction
5. ORBITA-COSMIC: Coronary sinus reducer for the treatment of refractory angina

Dr Kalra and Dr Vallabhajosyula dissect the practical implications of these trials, answering pressing questions and addressing emerging dilemmas. What are the key takeaways from ACC.24? How do these findings shape contemporary clinical practice?

In this week’s episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra welcomes Dr Shashank Sinha. Dr Sinha is an Advanced Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Transplant Cardiologist at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, where he serves as Co-Medical Director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Director of the Cardiovascular Critical Care Research Program. Additionally, he holds the position of Assistant Professor of Medical Education at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

In this episode, Dr Sinha shares his insights on leadership after participating in the prestigious Presidential Leadership Scholars Programme. This programme, designed for mid-career professionals with 10+ years of experience, aims to foster bipartisan, action-oriented leaders. Dr Sinha discusses what motivated him to apply for the programme and guides us through the practical details of the process. Ankur asks him about his modules and the lessons he derived from this multidisciplinary programme.
Dr Sinha and Dr Kalra discuss civic duty and the values that can be nurtured to make a difference on a larger scale. Dr Kalra also asks about Dr Sinha's approach to conflict management and combating inherent bias.

What is the Presidential Leadership Programme? What qualities constitute a good leader? How can individuals foster their leadership skills?

In this informative episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra is joined by Dr Andrew Darlington, an Advanced Heart Failure Cardiologist at Piedmont Heart Institute in Georgia.

Together, Dr Kalra and Dr Darlington delve into the significance of assessing volume status in patients with heart failure, highlighting its continued relevance in 2024, including the availability of new diagnostic tools, including the Heart Failure Management System (HFMS).

Dr Darlington shares his approach to taking a patient’s medical history and some of the cues he looks for during a physical exam and the art of assessing neck veins. Together, they explore diagnostic tools and technologies available to measure fluid volume, including HFMS and strategies for effectively communicating about the utility of this technology to patients with worsening heart failure.

Dr Darlington gives a comprehensive overview of the recent clinical data presented at ACC 2023 on the BMAD trial and how he uses HFMS in his own clinical practice.

This series is supported by ZOLL and is intended for Health Care Professionals.

In this week's Parallax episode, Dr Ankur Kalra welcomes Dr Haider Warraich, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr Warraich is not only a Senior Advisor for Chronic Disease to the FDA Commissioner but also a prolific author, having written three books, including "Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain." He is a regular contributor to publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post.

During the conversation, we learn more about Dr Warraich's journey into medicine and his current role at the FDA, along with his passion for writing. Dr Kalra asks about how Dr Warraich manages his busy schedule and what it takes to write a book.

Dr Warraich openly shares his personal experience grappling with chronic pain, a pivotal event that not only influenced his career trajectory but also inspired his book "Song of Our Scars." Moreover, he discusses his role as a Senior Advisor to Dr Robert M Califf, offering insights into his day-to-day responsibilities within the FDA. The conversation also touches upon the agency's perspective on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

How does writing complement Dr Warraich’s work as a physician? How did he become a senior advisor to Dr Robert M Califf at the FDA? What is his message to our listeners?