Cardiovascular Medicine

Cardiovascular Medicine

Research Activities
The Section of Cardiovascular Medicine has been very productive in its research activities. Section faculty obtained twenty-four new research grants, bringing the total number of research grants to sixty-three. Thirty-four grants are from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and four are from the American Heart Association (AHA).

Total research support to Section investigators in 2002 was approximately $7.6 million, a 10% increase over 2001. Section members published eighty-nine articles in peer-review journals, sixteen books, and eleven chapters and review articles.

In addition, several new faculty joined the Section this year, including Mandeep Dhadly, M.D., Director of Vascular Intervention. Working with Robert T. Eberhardt, M.D., Co-Director of the Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dr. Dhadly will provide vascular consultative services and fellow training in peripheral vascular disease.

Paul A. LeLorier, M.D., joins Kevin M. Monahan, M.D., Director of the Electrophysiology Laboratory and Arrhythmia Service, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, in the Electrophysiology Laboratory. Dr. LeLorier is developing a new syncope evaluation and treatment program in conjunction with the Department of Neurology. Marc A. Forgione, M.D., and David R. Pimentel, M.D., are clinician-scientists whose initial activities are focused primarily in the research laboratory.

Clinical Activities
In 2002, growth continued in the Section’s clinical activity, infrastructure, and research. Section faculty performed 2,175 catheterizations and interventional procedures, a 12% increase over 2001. There were 8,126 echocardiograms, which was an 11% increase from the previous year. In addition, 3,339 exercise tests were conducted, an increase of 20% from 2001. Section faculty also performed 48,119 electrocardiograms.

The Electrophysiology Program continued its growth with 688 procedures in 2002, a figure that represents a 7% increase over 2001. Clinical visits increased 12% from the previous year, for a total of 7,634, and Section faculty participated in 1,546 consultations, a 1% increase. In addition, 9,392 days of medical care were provided to patients, an increase of 8% from 2001.

Infrastructure improvements included the continued implementation of the Seattle Systems Apollo Database with activation of modules for the echocardiography and cardiac catheterization laboratories. The Section completed its renovation of the Catheterization Laboratory, which now has the capacity to perform peripheral vascular imaging and interventions. The renovation also resulted in additional capacity to perform electrophysiology and coronary procedures.

Education
The Cardiovascular Medicine Section is extensively involved with the education of medical students, residents, clinical fellows, and post-doctoral research fellows. Section faculty teach the cardiovascular block of the “Biology of Disease” courses at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), as well as electives in clinical cardiology for third- and fourth-year students. Medical residents rotate through the cardiology inpatient services and the consult service. The Section trains eighteen general cardiology fellows, two interventional fellows, one electrophysiology fellow, and one cardiomyopathy fellow. Rotations for fellows are provided at Boston Medical Center (BMC), the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Quincy Medical Center.

Pre-doctoral Ph.D.’s and post-doctoral M.D.’s and Ph.D.’s are trained in numerous laboratory and clinical research settings throughout the Cardiovascular Medicine Section.

Major Accomplishments
Wilson S. Colucci, M.D., Chief of the Section of Cardiology, and Professor of Medicine and Physiology, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from BUSM. He was also named the first Thomas J. Ryan Professor of Medicine. Dr. Colucci served as chairman of the Research Committee for the New England AHA.

Eric H. Awtry, M.D., Director of Education in Cardiology, and Clinical Instructor of medicine, was honored with the BMC Housestaff Teaching Award.

Gary J. Balady, M.D., Director of Preventive Cardiology, and Professor of Medicine, was named president of the Greater Boston chapter of the AHA and national chairman of the AHA’s Council on Clinical Cardiology.

Emelia J. Benjamin, M.D., Sc.D., Director of Ultrasonography for the Framingham Heart Study, and associate Professor of Medicine, received the Wendy Kline Award from the Boston chapter of the AHA for Outstanding Volunteer Leadership. She also received the Great Communicator Award from the New England affiliate.

Alice K. Jacobs, M.D., Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, and Professor of Medicine, received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the AHA’s New England affiliate.

Thomas J. Ryan, M.D., senior consultant and Emeritus Chief of Cardiology, and Professor of Medicine, was honored with the establishment of the Thomas J. Ryan Chair in Medicine at BUSM.

Primary teaching affiliate
of BU School of Medicine