Download Raymond Plank Makes Transformational Gift for

Heart Matters
January 2010
Congressman Tim Walz (fourth from left) celebrates $250,000 congressional appropriation with New Ulm residents
Heart of New Ulm Secures $250,000 in Federal Funding to Promote
Healthy Lifestyles
On January 8, New Ulm Medical Center and Heart of
New Ulm staff hosted U.S. Congressman Tim Walz and
staff from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office to thank
them for their work in helping to secure $250,000 in
congressional appropriations for the Heart of New Ulm
project. Walz, Klobuchar, U.S. Senator Al Franken and U.S.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum were all vital in helping to
secure the funding.
The appropriation will be used to support local lifestyle
programs that target improvements in fruit and vegetable
consumption, physical activity and weight management.
According to a press release, a third of New Ulm residents are
at risk for developing diabetes. This funding will be used to
reduce risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.
The Heart of New Ulm project is designed to reduce the
number of heart attacks in the New Ulm area over the next
10 years and improve the health of the community. The
Heart of New Ulm is a collaborative partnership of MHIF,
Allina Hospitals & Clinics, the New Ulm Medical Center
and the New Ulm Community.
Raymond
Plank Makes
Transformational
Gift for
Educational
Programming
at MHIF
Raymond Plank
MHIF employees (from left) Terri Hanson, DeShaune Poe and Deanna Bulthuis
MHIF Employees Give Back
In November, MHIF held its annual employee giving
campaign and food drive. Employees committed more than
$17,000 for community organizations, and donated 300
pounds of food to the Emergency Food Shelf Network.
Thank you to all of the employees who participated!
Raymond Plank, founder and chairman emeritus of the
Houston-based Apache Corporation and first chair of
MHIF’s Board of Directors, has committed $500,000 to
establish the Raymond Plank Education Fund at MHIF. We
wish to extend sincere thanks to Mr. Plank for his generosity
and leadership.
Physician’s
Corner
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
David S. Feldman, MD
is a cardiologist at the
Minneapolis Heart
Institute® and specializes
in heart and lung
transplantation and heart
failure. Dr. Feldman is a
world-renowned expert in
the field of heart failure
and transplantation.
His research interests
include: investigational
pharmacology for
improvement of heart function and the use of left
ventricular assist devices in heart failure patients.
Q: A friend was recently diagnosed with heart failure. What
does this mean?
A: Despite the way it sounds, heart failure does not mean that
the heart has stopped working. Heart failure is a common
condition that develops slowly as the heart muscle weakens
and needs to work harder to keep blood flowing through the
body. Heart failure develops following injury to the heart
such as the damage caused by a heart attack, long-term high
blood pressure, or an abnormality of one of the heart valves.
Some common symptoms of heart failure include: difficulty
breathing, fatigue and exercise intolerance, and frequent
coughing. There are many options for patients diagnosed
with heart failure. Check with your cardiologist to learn what
might be best for you.
Day 1 CME Program
Thursday, April 29, 2010, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Day 2 Think Tank
Friday, April 30, 2010, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Women and Heart Disease: A Summit to
Eliminate Untimely Deaths in Women
A summit to identify and address gender inequalities in care
for women with heart disease. A groundbreaking regional
initiative with Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota.
Honorary Chair: Mary Pawlenty, JD
First Lady of Minnesota
Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Zane Grey, MD
Minneapolis Heart Institute®
Sharonne Hayes, MD
Mayo Clinic
Ruth Lindquist, PhD, RN
University of Minnesota
For more information or to register,
visit www.mplsheart.org/women
MHIF Welcomes Susan Fink
MHIF is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Fink as vice president
of External Relations. Joining the team on February 15, Fink will oversee the
development, communications and public relations functions of the Foundation.
Fink comes to MHIF from the American Refugee Committee where she served as
major gifts and public affairs manager for more than five years. Prior to her tenure
at ARC, Fink worked in community-based public health and service sectors, both in
management and as a provider of clinical therapy.
Ms. Fink was born and raised in Europe and speaks fluent German. She studied
International Business at Schiller International University in Heidelberg and at
George Washington University, and Industrial and Organization Psychology at
Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. She earned an MA in Clinical Counseling
Psychology from Webster University in New Mexico. Susan resides in Plymouth with
her husband, Timothy McCall, an executive at General Mills.
Susan Fink with her dog, Guinness
New Year, New Lease on Life:
MHIF Valve Study Gives
Patient a Second Chance
Judith Taylor has a long list of things she wants to do in 2010:
complete her Master’s degree, circumnavigate Lake Superior
by sailboat, and volunteer as an English as a foreign language
tutor to new immigrants.
Just a few short months ago, Taylor was not sure any of this
would be possible. In 2007, Taylor learned that she had a
bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital disease that affects about
two percent of the population.
“I was taken completely by surprise. I am an active person.
I sail. I go to Jazzercise and Zumba [Latin dance aerobics]. I
even ran a 10k.”
By June 2009, Taylor’s condition was starting to affect her.
She felt tired and realized she was starting to redefine what
felt “normal” for her. When she went in for her annual
echocardiogram, she found out that her disease had progressed
and that she would need surgery within the year.
“At that time, I was attending a clinic where I couldn’t get the
answers I needed. I was told to restrict my activities but was
never told what that meant.”
In August, Taylor and her husband decided to sail Lake
Superior to northwestern Ontario to attend the Red Rock
Folk Festival. After sailing such a great distance, Taylor had no
idea that a dance would be the event that would put her in the
hospital.
“I got up to do a circle dance and sat down feeling bad. Before
I knew it, I was in a Canadian hospital. They had me.” She was
advised that she needed surgery as soon as possible.
Before she had left for Canada, Taylor had transferred her
records to the Minneapolis Heart Institute® and was able to
get an appointment with interventional cardiologist, Michael
R. Mooney, MD, upon her return. “The experience was a
complete 180,” she said. “I felt so confident that I was in the
right place.”
During her visit, Taylor was presented the option of being
a part of the TRIFECTA study at the Minneapolis Heart
Institute Foundation, which was evaluating the safety and
efficacy of the Trifecta heart valve replacement manufactured
by St. Jude Medical, Inc.
“The valve, which is made from animal tissue, is thicker, more
durable, and has no stitching which makes it less likely to
come apart,” said Peg Demmer, RN, senior research nurse
clinician at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation.
Judith Taylor and Vib R. Kshettry, MD
One of the most important benefits to Taylor was that unlike
other valve replacement options, she would not need to be on
blood thinners for the rest of her life. “Blood thinners are not
compatible with wilderness sailing!” she said. “It was crystal clear
that this was the best option for me.”
On August 21, Taylor had the Trifecta valve implanted by Vib R.
Kshettry, MD, cardio-thoracic surgeon at the Minneapolis Heart
Institute®. Today, Taylor is experiencing no complications and
feels great. In fact, she is doing so well that her cardiovascular
rehabilitation was cut short in favor of her returning to Zumba
and Jazzercise.
Dr. Kshettry said, “We are so grateful that patients like Judith
decide to participate in research. It is only through research that
we can advance science and offer the newest and best technology
to patients.”
“Without research, how are you ever going to move forward?”
Taylor said. “I feel like the luckiest person ever. One hundred
years ago my family would be planning my funeral.” Instead,
they are now planning how to make the best of the many years
she has left.
MHIF is among the top three centers in the United States for
lowest complications with the Trifecta valve among 22 centers
chosen for the clinical trial. Dr. Kshettry has been asked to do a
teaching video to educate other physicians on the procedure.
Did you know?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommend at least 150 minutes per week of
moderate-intensity aerobic activity. If this sounds like a lot to
you, split it up in to more manageable chunks. Try going for
three brisk ten-minute walks a day, five days a week.
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
920 East 28th Street, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55407
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
PERMIT NO. 3298
The Face of Heart Disease
Name: Kurt
Age: 53
Condition: Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy
Status: Excited for a new decade
of promise and good health and
looking forward to his 54th birthday!
Subscription Information
Stay up-to-date with the latest heart healthy news. For a
subscription to Heart Matters, or for information on making a
financial contribution, contact Meghan Bethke at 612-863-5410
or [email protected].
Breakfast Taco on the Go
2 corn tortillas
1 tbsp salsa
2 tbsp shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup liquid egg substitute, such as Egg Beaters
Top tortillas with salsa and cheese. Heat in the microwave until the cheese is melted, about 30 seconds. Meanwhile coat a small nonstick skillet
with cooking spray. Cook over medium heat, add egg substitute and cook, stirring, until the eggs are cooked through, about 90 seconds. Divide the
scrambled egg between the tacos.
Nutrition information: 153 calories, 2 g fat, 17 g protein, 15 g carbohydrates, 0 g dietary fiber
Upcoming Events
In Touch with Heart Health Screening: Take Steps to Prevent
Heart Disease and Stroke
February 20 and 22 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1720 E.
Minnehaha Pkwy., Minneapolis. Day 1: Cholesterol, glucose and
blood pressure screening. Day 2: Heart Health Presentations and
Displays. Cost is $40 for both days. Pre-registration is required.
For information: www.mplsheart.org. To schedule a screening
appointment, call 612-863-3979.
Women and Heart Disease: A Summit to Eliminate Untimely
Deaths in Women
April 29-30 at the Marquette Hotel Minneapolis. For more
information or to register, visit www.mplsheart.org/women.
Contact Eva Kovacs at [email protected] or 612-863-1657.
2010 MHIF Summer Research Internship Program
June-August, 2010 at MHIF. Physicians and research staff members
mentor premed and other health profession undergrads in this
outstanding and highly competitive program. Application due February
7. Visit www.mplsheart.org/internship for more information.
Women’s Only Cardiac Support Group
6:30-8:00 p.m. Mondays in the Minneapolis Heart Institute® lobby.
Weekly program for women to provide support, encouragement
and helpful information on improving heart health. Everyone is
welcome and parking is validated. Contact Denise Windenburg at
[email protected] or 612-863-3816.