The Heart of Innovation with Kym McNicholas

Kym McNicholas
  • 5.0 (24)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

All of us have the power to create change. The advances in technology are now such that if you have an idea, it's easier than ever to execute on it. "Kym McNicholas On Innovation" shares the journeys of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors from around the world who will inspire you to create your own financial independence. The show also features some of the most advanced technologies you've never heard of that could be have an impact on your life, your business, and your career. Regular featured segments include "The Edge" which highlights businesses that are game-changing in the enterprise. Plus, each week in "HealthTech", you'll hear about a company that's creating better, safer, faster, and cheaper technologies that will improve patient care and lower costs. And in our "Female Seeking Startup" series hear the success stories of some of the most powerful women who are creating game-changing technologies. Produced and Published by The Innovators Network (http://TheInnovators.Network)

  1. 2d ago

    100% Blocked Artery? How CTO Experts Get Through It | Dr. Brett Bennett

    What does it take to cross a 100% blocked artery and open the door to treatment when others may think there are no options? On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, I'm joined by my co-host Dr. John Phillips as we talk with Dr. Brett Bennett, an Interventional Cardiologist and CTO expert, about the challenging world of chronic total occlusions, also known as CTOs. A CTO is a completely blocked artery, and crossing it requires skill, strategy, tools, and experience. Dr. Bennett shares what makes these cases so complex, how physicians approach them, what patients should understand, and why expertise matters when dealing with advanced coronary artery disease. Dr. Bennett has a special focus on chronic total occlusion intervention and complex coronary intervention, and his work has helped his program become one of the top CTO centers in the Southeast. He is also actively involved in research related to coronary artery disease, novel coronary stents, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, antiplatelet therapy, and artificial intelligence in heart disease diagnosis. If you or someone you love has been told they have a blocked artery, this is an important conversation. Please watch, subscribe, and share so more patients and families can find this information. Call to Action: Subscribe: @TheWayToMyHeart Call the Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS Visit: TheWayToMyHeart.org Join: TheGreatCirculationChallenge.org for our PAD Awareness Month walking challenge Comment below with your questions about CTOs, coronary artery disease, or artery blockages Share this episode with someone who needs hope, answers, or another perspective Hosted by: Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips #HeartOfInnovation #CTO #ChronicTotalOcclusion #BlockedArtery #CoronaryArteryDisease #InterventionalCardiology #DrBrettBennett #HeartDisease #Cardiology #PatientAdvocacy #KymMcNicholas #DrJohnPhillips

  2. Aug 1

    Avoiding Amputation And Walking | A Peer Reviewed Extreme Limb Salvage Case

    One year ago, Mama Joyce was facing an above-knee amputation after peripheral artery disease had progressed to its most advanced stage, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, or CLTI. Her daughter, Jae, called the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline looking for one more chance. We helped facilitate Mama Joyce's transfer to an advanced multidisciplinary limb salvage team with the experience, tools, and techniques needed to take another look. Today, Mama Joyce is not only standing on that leg. She is walk, walk, walking! Now, her extraordinary journey has been documented in a peer-reviewed case report published in Vascular Disease Management by HMP Global. I am deeply honored to be a co-author alongside Dr. David Allie, Dr. Kerry Thibodeaux, and Dr. Amit Amin. Dr. John Phillips and I welcome Mama Joyce andher daughter Jae back to The Heart of Innovation one year after we first shared their story. We talk about the fight to get another set of eyes on her case, the imaging and advanced revascularization that helped restore blood flow, the multidisciplinary wound care that followed, and the determination of a patient and daughter who refused to give up hope. We also discuss why this publication matters. This is the first peer-reviewed case report we have co-authored documenting the role patient advocacy can play in helping someone facing amputation reach an experienced limb salvage team. Mama Joyce's outcome cannot be promised for every patient. But her story is a powerful reminder of why patients should understand their diagnosis, ask whether all appropriate imaging and treatment options have been explored, and seek an urgent second opinion from an experienced limb salvage specialist when time and their medical condition allow. Read the peer-reviewed case report: https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/vdm/case-report/extreme-limb-salvage-facilitated-patient-advocacy-multidisciplinary-care-and Watch our original conversation with Mama Joyce and Jae: https://www.youtube.com/live/2f95s6hZKsQ?si=62VmoO8gqs8AUTOz Facing an amputation or being told there are no other options? Call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS or visit PADhelp.org. We help patients understand the questions to ask and connect with experienced limb salvage specialists for additional opinions. Subscribe to our youtube channel: @TheWayToMyHeart for more patient stories, physician conversations, and lifesaving information about peripheral artery disease. Join The Great Circulation Challenge and help us walk the 60,000 miles of the human circulatory system: https://padwalk.org/register.html Please share Mama Joyce's story. It may reach someone who needs to know that it is okay to ask questions, seek another set of eyes, and make sure every reasonable option has been explored. This program is for education and awareness and is not a substitute for medical advice. Every patient and medical situation is different, and outcomes will vary. Never delay urgent or medically necessary treatment while seeking another opinion. Always consult your own healthcare team. #PeripheralArteryDisease #LimbSalvage #PatientAdvocacy #legpain #legcramps #chroniclimbthreateningischemia #criticallimbischemia #peerreviewed #diabetes #PADsupportgroup #globalpadassociation

  3. Jul 25

    Can We Walk All 60,000 Miles of the Human Circulatory System?

    The human body contains approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels. This September, during PAD Awareness Month, Dr. John Phillips and I are inviting people around the world to help us walk every one of them together. The Great Circulation Challenge is a free global walking challenge bringing together patients, physicians, clinicians, researchers, vascular industry teams, caregivers, families, and anyone who wants to improve their circulation. We will follow the journey of a drop of blood through the human superhighway, beginning in the left side of the heart and traveling through the aorta, brain, arms, hands, legs, feet, veins, lungs, and back home to the heart. Along the way, we will stop at the major milestones of the circulatory system and explain why every part matters, especially the arteries supplying the legs and feet. Peripheral Artery Disease, or PAD, is poor circulation caused by plaque narrowing or blocking the arteries, most commonly in the legs. It is more prevalent and, when it reaches its advanced stages, can be deadlier than prostate cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer combined. Yet millions of people do not know they have it. Leg cramping, aching, heaviness, fatigue, slowing down while walking, cold feet, discoloration, numbness, and wounds that do not heal should never simply be dismissed as normal aging. Walking is medicine. For people living with PAD, structured walking can help improve circulation, build endurance, increase walking distance, and encourage the development of natural collateral pathways around blocked arteries. Throughout September, every participant's steps will contribute to our shared 60,000-mile goal. After the global challenge is complete, participants will be invited to continue their own individual Circulation Journey until they personally reach 60,000 miles. REGISTER FOR THE GREAT CIRCULATION CHALLENGE THIS SEPTEMBER: https://padwalk.org/register.html Registration is free. You can join an existing team or create one for your family, physician, clinic, hospital, workplace, school, patient group, or community. NEED HELP WITH PAD? Call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS 1-833-723-5347 Our team can help you better understand PAD, prepare questions for your doctor, explore walking resources, and connect with experienced vascular specialists when needed. FIND A WALKING PROGRAM Learn about supervised exercise therapy and structured walking programs for PAD: https://www.thewaytomyheart.org/pad-w... Subscribe to our channel and join us as we raise awareness, improve circulation, and work together to save life and limb. #PeripheralArteryDisease #PADAwareness #PADAwarenessMonth #GreatCirculationChallenge #WalkingIsMedicine #ImproveCirculation #CirculatorySystem #VascularHealth #HeartHealth #LegCirculation #Claudication #LimbSalvage #SaveLimbsSaveLives #CardiovascularHealth #SupervisedExerciseTherapy #StructuredWalking #WalkForHealth #GlobalPADAssociation #TheHeartOfInnovation #LegSaverHotline

  4. Jul 18

    The Silent Aortic Aneurysm: Why Are So Many Missed Until It's Too Late?

    Could a "pulled muscle"... constipation... loss of appetite... or back pain actually be the warning signs of an aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection? The sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham has sparked an urgent national conversation about one of medicine's deadliest and most overlooked conditions. In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, I am joined by my co-host, Dr. John Phillips, and renowned vascular surgeon Dr. Sungho Lim from Rush University Medical Center to answer the questions millions of Americans are now asking: • What exactly is an aortic aneurysm? • What is the difference between an aneurysm and an aortic dissection? • Why are so many people diagnosed only after a catastrophic emergency? • What symptoms should never be ignored? • Can back pain, abdominal pain, or chest pain be warning signs? • Should people with high blood pressure be screened? • Does family history matter? • Why does the United Kingdom have a national abdominal aortic aneurysm screening program for certain men, while the United States takes a more limited approach? This conversation is deeply personal for me. My own mother died from an abdominal aortic dissection. Looking back, there were warning signs that seemed to fit other diagnoses. Her back pain was attributed to longstanding spine and sciatica problems. Her smaller meals and loss of appetite were thought to be related to Crohn's disease, even though it was in remission. She described what felt like a tearing sensation that was believed to be a pulled muscle. Like so many families, we were left wondering: Could this have been recognized sooner? If you or someone you love has high blood pressure, a history of smoking, vascular disease, connective tissue disorders, or a family history of aneurysm or dissection, this is a conversation you should not miss. Please remember: This program is for education only and should not replace medical advice. If you develop sudden severe chest, back, abdominal, or tearing pain, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. If this conversation helps even one family recognize the warning signs sooner, it will be worth it. Need help finding a vascular specialist or getting a second opinion? Call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347) Our patient navigators help connect patients with experienced vascular specialists across the United States. If you found this episode helpful: • Subscribe to @TheWayToMyHeart • Like this video • Share it with your family and friends—you never know whose life it could save. • Leave your questions in the comments. We may answer them in a future episode. #AorticAneurysm #AorticDissection #HighBloodPressure #HeartHealth #VascularSurgery #CardiovascularHealth #HeartDisease #TheHeartOfInnovation #RushUniversity #PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #LindseyGraham #KnowTheSigns #SaveALife

  5. Jul 11

    The Burnout Crisis No One Is Solving | An ER Nurse's Plan to Save Healthcare

    Healthcare workers spend their careers saving lives. But who is helping them before burnout costs them their own health, careers, and families? On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I welcome Chelsea Ulmer, an emergency department trauma nurse, former CrossFit Games athlete, fitness coach, and founder of CodeBrew, a new wellness platform designed specifically for healthcare professionals. After spending 13 years working in one of the most demanding environments in medicine, Chelsea realized traditional wellness advice simply doesn't work for people working overnight shifts, 12-hour schedules, chronic stress, and relentless emotional demands. Instead of another wellness program built around perfection, she created something different. We explore: • Why healthcare burnout has become a global crisis • The hidden physical toll of caring for others every day • Why most wellness programs fail healthcare workers • How realistic nutrition, movement, sleep, and nervous system regulation can fit into real clinical schedules • The surprising role community plays in preventing burnout • Why sustainable habits matter more than extreme fitness • How CodeBrew is helping healthcare professionals reclaim their health Whether you're a physician, nurse, EMT, respiratory therapist, technician, therapist, administrator, caregiver, or simply someone who cares about the future of healthcare, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on supporting the people we all depend on. If we want better patient care, we have to start by taking better care of the people providing it. Subscribe for more conversations featuring the innovators transforming medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWayToMyHeart Learn more about The Heart of Innovation: https://theheartofinnovation.org Know a healthcare worker who needs to hear this? Share this episode with them. Leave a comment: What is the biggest challenge facing healthcare workers today? #Healthcare #Nursing #Burnout #HealthcareBurnout #Wellness #EmergencyNurse #MentalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #CodeBrew #PhysicianWellness #NurseLife #HeartOfInnovation #HealthcareLeadership #LifestyleMedicine #Resilience

  6. Jul 4

    Healthy 4th of July BBQ for Your Arteries

    Happy 4th of July and Happy 250th Birthday, America! This special PADdy's Plate episode of The Heart of Innovation is one you don't want to miss. Chef Eric is BACK  and this time, he's in the kitchen! You may remember Chef Eric from a recent episode where co-host Dr. John Phillips dramatically improved his leg blood flow using Reflow Medical's SPUR retractable stent technology. Today, he returns as Chef Eric to show us how to make a healthier 4th of July BBQ that's as good for your arteries as it is delicious, featuring broccoli slaw, grilled veggies, and portobello lettuce wrap burgers. Joining Chef Eric and your hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips is a special guest, Dr. Jean Chen, Diabetic Educator and retired podiatrist, who shares her top tips for a diabetes-friendly and artery-healthy Independence Day celebration. 🍽️ In this episode: Chef Eric's healthier 4th of July BBQ menu: Broccoli slaw, grilled veggies & portobello lettuce wrap burgers How Chef Eric went from PAD patient to cooking for your health Dr. Jean Chen's tips for keeping your 4th of July diabetes and artery friendly Why what you eat matters for your leg circulation and overall vascular health Whether you're living with PAD, diabetes, or just want to make smarter choices this holiday weekend... this episode is packed with practical tips and inspiration. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode of The Heart of Innovation, the #1 healthcare innovation radio program in the San Francisco Bay Area and the #1 Women in Innovation Podcast in the nation: 👉 youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart 📞 Need help with PAD? Call our Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS — free support for patients and caregivers 🌐 Learn more & get resources: padhelp.org - PAD patient support, education & the Leg Saver Hotline PADtrials.org - find the latest clinical trials for PAD treatment options padwalkingprogram.org - Supervised Exercise Therapy & Structured Walking Programs for PAD patients #HeartOfInnovation #PAD #PeripheralArteryDisease #HealthyBBQ #4thOfJuly #PADdysPlate #DiabetesTips #VascularHealth #LegHealth #LimbSalvage #HealthyEating #ArteriesHealth #PADawareness #America250

  7. Jun 28

    The New Men's Health Movement Nobody Is Talking About

    Men are paying more attention to their health than ever before. From peptides and testosterone therapy to protein intake, metabolic health, and longevity, a growing number of men are looking for ways to stay healthier longer and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I explore some of the biggest trends shaping men's health today and what they could mean for heart health, vascular health, performance, and quality of life. As both an interventional cardiologist and owner of multiple Game Day Men's Health locations, Dr. Phillips shares what he's seeing firsthand from patients who are becoming increasingly proactive about prevention rather than waiting until problems develop. We discuss: • Why metabolic health has become a major focus for men • The growing interest in testosterone replacement therapy • What patients should know about peptides • The role of protein in maintaining muscle and long-term health • How these trends intersect with cardiovascular and vascular disease prevention • Common misconceptions surrounding men's health treatments • A new project Dr. Phillips is developing to help patients increase healthy protein intake Whether you're interested in longevity, performance, prevention, or simply living a healthier life, this conversation offers a practical look at one of the fastest-growing areas in healthcare. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more conversations exploring the future of medicine, cardiovascular innovation, vascular care, prevention, and emerging technologies. 🎙️ ABOUT THE HEART OF INNOVATION The Heart of Innovation is hosted by Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips and features conversations with physicians, innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and patients working to improve healthcare and patient outcomes. 📞 NEED HELP WITH PAD OR VASCULAR DISEASE? PAD Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347) 🌐 Learn More: https://padhelp.org 🌐 Clinical Trials: https://padtrials.org 🌐 The Way To My Heart: https://thewaytomyheart.org 👥 Join Our Patient Community: https://padsupportgroup.org 👍 If you enjoyed this conversation: • Like the video • Subscribe to the channel • Share with a friend or family member • Leave your questions in the comments for future episodes #MensHealth #MetabolicHealth #Testosterone #Peptides #Longevity #HeartHealth #CardiovascularHealth #Protein #Prevention #TheHeartOfInnovation #JohnPhillipsMD #KymMcNicholas #VascularHealth #HealthcareInnovation #MensWellness

  8. Jun 20

    The "Hail Mary" Heart Therapy Doctors Rarely Mention (What is EECP?)

    What if a doctor tells you there is nothing more they can do to fix your heart blockages, and you've run out of options? In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips introduce you to EECP (Enhanced External Counterpulsation)—a powerful, non-invasive "Hail Mary" technology that has been saving cardiac patients for decades but remains drastically underutilized in mainstream medicine. In this deep-dive discussion, the team is joined by world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Richard Brown (consultant for Flow Therapy and former head of Johnson & Johnson's Save Legs, Change Lives program) and Jack Clifford, a cardiovascular patient and advocate who famously refused bypass surgery and used EECP to get back to running marathons. 🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss: What is EECP? A complete breakdown of how this therapy uses synchronized pneumatic cuffs on your calves, thighs, and hips to act as a "passive exercise" pump for your heart. The Mechanism of Action: How inflating during diastole (heart resting) pushes blood back up to the coronary arteries, and deflating during systole (heart pumping) creates a vacuum that reduces the heart's workload. The Cellular Benefits: Why high-velocity blood flow triggers shear stress, stimulating endothelial cells to produce blood-vessel-dilating nitric oxide while reducing vessel-constricting endothelin-1. Advanced Cardiac Applications: Why EECP isn't just for epicardial blockages, but is a proven therapy for microvascular disease, improving ejection fraction, and reversing severe heart failure symptoms. Reimbursement & Controversy: The strict 2026 reality of Medicare coverage (restricted to Class 3 & 4 angina not amenable to further revascularization) and why many hospitals abandoned their EECP beds. The Amazon Warning: A crucial distinction explaining why over-the-counter compression sleeves or Normatec pants cannot replicate gated, medical-grade EECP therapy. 🌐 Resource Section & Links 🩺 Cardiovascular & EECP Resources: Find an EECP Center Near You: eecplocator.com Jack Clifford's Patient Journey & Book: eecpbook.com Explore Flow Therapy Centers (Dr. Brown): flowtherapy.com Subscribe to The Way to My Heart: youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart 🩸 Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Resources: Global PAD Association Help Hotline: If you suffer from leg pain, leg cramps, neuropathy, or can no longer walk as far as you used to due to "old age," it could be poor circulation from Peripheral Artery Disease. Call the LegSaver hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347). PAD Educational Resources: Learn more about leg circulation and get help at padhelp.org.

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About

All of us have the power to create change. The advances in technology are now such that if you have an idea, it's easier than ever to execute on it. "Kym McNicholas On Innovation" shares the journeys of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors from around the world who will inspire you to create your own financial independence. The show also features some of the most advanced technologies you've never heard of that could be have an impact on your life, your business, and your career. Regular featured segments include "The Edge" which highlights businesses that are game-changing in the enterprise. Plus, each week in "HealthTech", you'll hear about a company that's creating better, safer, faster, and cheaper technologies that will improve patient care and lower costs. And in our "Female Seeking Startup" series hear the success stories of some of the most powerful women who are creating game-changing technologies. Produced and Published by The Innovators Network (http://TheInnovators.Network)

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