Download Give Health Newsletter Spring 2016

News from
John Muir Health Foundation
ISSUE 6
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s p r in g 2 0 1 6
Cindy Warburton, R.N.
(left), and Rita Trachuk,
R.N., invite eligible cardiac
patients to participate in
clinical trials at John Muir
Health’s Clinical Research
Center. “We participate
in some of the same
important trials as major
academic medical centers,” says Trachuk. “Our
patients here can have
the same benefit as in the
larger institutions.”
Briefings
Cardiovascular Research at John Muir Health
Photography by Akim Aginsky
THROUGH OUR CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER, JOHN MUIR HEALTH PHYSICIANS,
NURSES AND STAFF PIONEER NEW FRONTIERS IN CARDIAC CARE
A fully dissolving coronary artery stent.
An MRI-safe implantable cardiac pacemaker.
Clinical research trials at John Muir Health
study these and other important advances in
technology and treatment every day.
As a community-based hospital system,
John Muir Health is unique in having the infrastructure to perform top-notch cardiovascular
clinical research. In addition to experienced
physician investigators, our Clinical Research
Center includes research nurses and staff
that provide regulatory oversight and patient
informed consent and assist with study enrollment and follow-up.
We have harnessed this valuable resource
to build a robust cardiovascular research
program and participate in numerous prestigious cutting-edge clinical trials. Many of
these studies evaluate new technologies or
investigational devices that are available to
patients only through participation in these
clinical trials.
Our mission is to include all cardiovascular
physicians and staff in our clinical research
enterprise, thereby enhancing our clinical
programs and introducing the best new treatments for our patients.
president’s message
J o h n M u i r H e a lt h F o u n d at i o n
2016 Board of Directors
David D. Woodworth
CHAIR M AN
Richard M. Del Monte
John Muir Health is proud to be a premier provider of
choice for cardiovascular care in the San Francisco Bay
Area. Our patient volumes and success rates rival those
of much larger medical centers, including hospitals at
local academic institutions. In addition to being a preferred choice among individual patients, we also serve
as a regional cardiac transfer center for surrounding
hospitals and communities. We hold the highest level
of accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers
and are designated as STEMI Receiving Centers for
severe heart attack patients.
We are particularly excited to be at the forefront of
innovative, minimally invasive cardiac surgical procedures that we can offer to patients who cannot tolerate
traditional open-heart surgery. John Muir Health is one
of few health care providers in the Bay Area performing
transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and
transcatheter mitral valve repair (MitraClip). By inserting a catheter into a small incision in the patient’s leg or
groin, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons can replace
or repair valves in the heart without opening the chest
cavity. John Muir Health has now performed more than
130 TAVR procedures and just launched the MitraClip
program last June.
Philanthropic contributions provide critical funding
for cutting-edge technology, precision equipment and
patient care enhancements that help save lives every
day. Thank you for your generous support.
SECRETAR Y/ TREASURER
Jack E. Thompson
CHAIR , G O V ERNANCE
& NO M INATIN G
CO M M ITTEE
F. Ryan Anderson, M.D.
P RESIDENT
CONCORD VOLUNTEERS
Laurie Doyle
P RESIDENT
J M M C- W C AU X ILIAR Y
Kathryn J. Bennett, M.D.
Paul R. Gray, Ph.D.
O F F ICER - AT- LAR G E
Alice D. Hunter, M.D.
Beverly A. Jones
Rev. Dwane L. Michael
O F F ICER - AT- LAR G E
Margaret S. Murphy
John C. Sayres
Elliot D. Stein
O F F ICER - AT- LAR G E
Patrick J. Carew
P RESIDENT
J M H F OUNDATION
Calvin K. Knight
P RESIDENT AND CEO
J OHN M UIR HEALTH
Richard O. Vandenberg, Jr.
HONORARY DIRECTORS
Jean and Ken Hofmann
Margery B. Sterns
AD V ISOR Y COUNCIL
Guy R. Henshaw
CHAIR M AN
Stephen P. Beinke
Linda Best
Chuck Bloch
Patrick J. Carew
Angela M. Coffee
Carlotta R. Dathe
Stephen L. Davenport
William H. (Hank) Delevati
Nourollah G. Ghorbani, M.D.
Peter D. Gruebele
Frederick M. Gutterson
Calvin K. Knight
Douglas M. Lange, M.D.
Michael L. Levine, M.D.
Robert S. Lowitz, M.D.
James V. Mitchell
Ronald E. Nunn
Irving M. Pike, M.D.
S. Donley (Don) Ritchey
Robert F. Saydah
Gerald D. Stroffolino
Anne Marie Taylor
Jack E. Thompson
Ken Wienholz
Vivian W. Wing, M.D.
Photography by mike McEuen
Mike Thomas
President and CAO
John Muir Medical Center,
Concord
Lolita Lopez
i m pa c t u p d at e
Your Gifts at Work
Photography by Akim Aginsky
TECHNOLOGY FOR INNOVATIVE HEART
PROCEDURE FUNDED BY DONOR SUPPORT
More than 4 million Americans—
nearly one out of 10 people age
75 and over—suffer from mitral
left atrium
regurgitation (MR), which is
caused by an anatomical defect
mitral valve
of the mitral valve of the heart.
The mitral valve facilitates blood
left ventricle
flow from the upper left chamber
of the heart (left atrium) to the
lower left chamber (left ventricle). MR is a debilitating, progressive and life-threatening disease
in which a leaky mitral valve causes a backward flow of blood in
the heart. The condition can increase the risk of irregular heartbeats, stroke and heart failure.
John Muir Health physicians are among the first in Northern
California to offer MR patients a new, minimally invasive, breakthrough treatment option. The procedure, known as transcatheter
mitral valve repair, or MitraClip, repairs the mitral valve without
the need for open-heart surgery. A clip device is delivered to
the leaky heart valve through a blood vessel in the leg and, once
implanted, fastens the opening of the leak, allowing the heart to
pump blood more efficiently.
During the procedure, physicians rely on cutting-edge ultrasound technology called 3-D transesophageal echocardiography
(TEE) to guide the positioning of the clips. The TEE provides
physicians with unprecedented scope and views to ensure optimal
placement of the clips.
With the support of philanthropic gifts, John Muir Health
recently purchased a new TEE machine, which makes lifesaving
procedures like MitraClip possible.
Cardiologist Perkin Shiu, M.D., controls the 3-D
transesophageal echocardiograph (TEE) to provide the
surgical team behind him with live images of the
patient’s heart. Inserted through the patient’s throat,
the TEE allows physicians to view the heart from multiple angles, with unprecedented clarity and detail.
During a MitraClip procedure, Dr. Shiu pinpoints the
exact location of the patient’s valve that needs repair.
The TEE images are visible to both Dr. Shiu at his control
terminal and also to the surgical team on a large monitor
above the operating table.
Through a small incision in the patient’s leg, cardiologist
Andrew Dublin, M.D., feeds a catheter holding the clip up
into the patient’s heart and is able to position it precisely
by referring to images Dr. Shiu provides using the TEE.
The MitraClip team also includes Faizul Haque, M.D.,
Paul McWhirter, M.D., Murali Dharan, M.D., and Jatinder
Dhillon, M.D.
Services Spotlight
They Don’t Miss a Beat Meet the Medical Directors of John
These seven
physician leaders
bring a wealth of
knowledge, skill
and passion to
of providing John
Muir Health
cardiovascular
patients with the
best possible
treatment and
care. Meet this
dynamic team of
committed
cardiologists
who are
advancing
cardiovascular
services at
John Muir Health.
Paul McWhirter, M.D.
Perkin Shiu, M.D.
Jatinder Dhillon, M.D.
Medical Director, Noninvasive
Cardiology and Rehab – Concord
Medical Director, Noninvasive
Cardiology and Rehab –
Walnut Creek
Co-Medical Director,
Cardiac Surgery
MY work: As a general car-
nary bypass grafting, which
improves blood flow of a
blocked vessel, and also
valve replacement. I’m also
on the MitraClip team.
i’m excited about: The vast
improvement in patients’
lives after valve replacement. They can return to
normal life.
I’m proud of: The fact that
for bypass grafting, valves
and other heart procedures,
we treat more patients than
some prestigious academic
medical centers.
ON MY Wish list: Upgraded,
tech-intensive operating
rooms specifically for cardiac surgery.
Bucket list item: Antarctica.
volunteer work: Medical
missions to India and the
Dominican Republic.
My work: I often see pa-
tients who are experiencing
the first symptoms of heart
problems. I mostly work as a
generalist, doing everything
from angiograms (images of
the heart’s blood vessels) to
implanting pacemakers and
ventricular devices.
i’m excited about: How
responsive the heart is. We
often deliver good results
very quickly. I’m also excited
about the breakthrough
medical technologies that
enable us to perform minimally invasive procedures
like TAVR and MitraClip.
on my Wish list: Cardiac
MRI. Currently, we send
patients out for this.
Bucket list item: Sail the
Southern Hemisphere.
on my Playlist: Opera,
Pearl Jam.
diologist, I see a broad range
of patients. I do diagnostic
angiograms, cardiac imaging
and implant pacemakers.
i’m excited about: The
speed of technological
advancements in cardiology.
Patients are wonderfully
unique. Treatment takes
scientific detective work.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT JOHN
MUIR HEALTH: My colleagues
are world-class. We’re pushing boundaries.
ON MY Wish list: A new
cardiac rehab gym. Rehab is
as potent as some medical
therapies.
Bucket list ITEM: Climb all
mountain peaks 14,000 feet
or higher.
outside of work: Biking,
skiing, former collegiate rower.
My work: A lot of coroPhoto of Dr. Eisenberg courtesy of John Muir Health. All other photography by Akim Aginsky.
their roles
COMMON SENSE
Muir Health Cardiovascular Services
Ramesh Veeragandham,
M.D.
Co-Medical Director,
Cardiac Surgery
MY work: I deal with every-
thing involving the heart and
blood vessels, i.e., blockages,
replacing or repairing leaky
valves, aorta issues and
electrical issues.
i’m excited about: Making
a critical difference at a critical time in patients’ lives.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT JOHN
MUIR HEALTH: Cardiac
surgery is a team sport. Our
program is second to none.
I’m most proud of the near
impossible things we achieve
as a team.
ON MY Wish list: Upgrading
our cardiac operating rooms
and building a rehab facility.
Bucket list item: Study
psychology.
Outside of work: Running daily to withstand long
hours.
.
When asked for their best advice for a healthy heart, all seven
physicians had one answer in common: Exercise regularly and
eat sensibly. As Dr. Shiu put it, “Use that heart—it likes it!”
Richard Chang, M.D.
Susan Eisenberg, M.D.
Gary Gershony, M.D.
Medical Director,
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Medical Director,
Cardiac Rhythm Center
Medical Director, Cardiovascular
Research, Education and Technology
MY work: As an interven-
MY work: I treat the electri-
tional cardiologist, I use
catheters inside blood vessels for tests or repairs like
angioplasties to widen narrowed vessels, pacemaker
insertions, opening blocked
arteries, or stents.
I’m excited about: In an
emergency, I can make a
dramatic difference. Also, evidence-based medicine doesn’t
get any better than cardiology!
I’m proud of: Our excellent
capabilities to save lives.
ON MY Wish list: A dedicated office building with
imaging near the cardiac
catheterization lab.
Bucket list item: Open a
charity hospital in the Philippines.
outside of work: Professional poker paid for medical
school.
cal system of the heart. Slow
heart rhythms are treated
with pacemakers. Fast heart
rhythms are treated with
either cold energy or hot energy, which is applied to the
site of the irregular beat.
I’m excited about: Curing
atrial fibrillation with cutting-edge technologies. Our
work rivals that of academic
centers.
MY work: As an interventional cardiologist, I perform
a lot of TAVR procedures. I
also direct research in landmark clinical trials, evaluating
new drug therapies, stents
and pacemakers.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT JOHN
MUIR HEALTH: Foresight and
support. New technologies
allow us to deliver the highest
level of care. Incredible staff.
ON MY Wish list: A new
3-D mapping system. This
is a quantum leap in medical
technology.
ON MY Playlist: ’80s rock.
Bucket list ITEM: Visit
Morocco and Tanzania.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT JOHN
MUIR HEALTH: Excellent
collaboration among forward-thinking administrators
and physician leaders.
I’m proud of: Our commitment to build a true heart
team for TAVR procedures.
Now, we can do more of them.
ON MY Wish list: High-tech
conference and teaching
center using live techniques.
Cardiac MRI.
BUCKET LIST ITEM: Skipper
my own boat and sail the
Mediterranean.
Outside of work: Sailing,
piano.
OUT AND ABOUT
Celebrate John Muir Health! 2nd Annual Gala
november 7, 2015
Thank you to all who participated in “Reaching New Heights,” our second annual
Celebrate John Muir Health! gala event, which raised $1.4 million to benefit John Muir
Health’s comprehensive cancer services program. The next issue of this Give Health
newsletter will feature a closer look at the gala, its attendees, sponsors, activities and
how funds raised will benefit cancer patients and programs at John Muir Health.
The gala “flight crew” was a team of 60 John Muir
Health employees who volunteered to help staff
the event on Nov. 7.
Gala Co-Chairs Maureen Knight
(left) and Margie Murphy
A tented reception area was
transformed into a bustling airport
terminal, complete with an Arrivals
Lounge, information kiosks and
Baggage Claim (coat check).
The decor of the dining area gave guests the
feeling of soaring high above the clouds.
Bidder paddles were raised high during the live
auction and “Make A Difference” fundraising
activity that night.
2016 UPCOMING FOUNDATION EVENTS
Mistress of
Ceremonies
Ann Notarangelo
April 13 Award of Distinction
May 22 Legacy Brunch
November 5 3rd Annual Celebrate John Muir Health! Gala
Photography by Akim Aginsky; dining area by blueprint studios
Concord jet center
L E AV E YO U R L E G AC Y
The Legacy Within
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ESTATE OF MYRTLE MCGREW
There is an emotional and spiritual legacy that lives inside each of us. Most
of us are unaware or have not taken the time to identify our own personal,
deeply abiding values and the powerful impact they have in our everyday lives. An individual’s value system, or “The Legacy Within,” is usually
formed over many years, through numerous experiences, and is often influenced by various traditions, teachers and mentors. Our personal legacy is
something that we have inherited and received through the sum of our own
life experiences. We quite naturally often desire to share this legacy and
have it live on through others.
The gift of philanthropy is that it provides an outlet to express the legacy
that lives inside each of us. It reminds us of what we value and what we
hope to share and pass on to others. Our legacy is about our values, not the
value of what we own.
“The Legacy Within” evolves over time, is connected to what we care
most about and can be discovered by contemplating such questions as
“What really matters most to me?” or “What difference would I like to make
for future generations?” or “How would I most like to be remembered?”
John Muir Health Foundation’s Office of Legacy Planning invites you into
this discovery process.
For more information on how you can discover and celebrate your
own “Legacy Within,” please contact Michael Crvarich, Vice President,
Legacy Planning and Major Gifts, at (925) 941-2120 or michael.crvarich@
johnmuirhealth.com.
Through her generous bequest, Myrtle
McGrew will continue to help John Muir
Health cardiovascular patients far beyond
her lifetime.
Myrtle McGrew’s
Legacy Within
Last year, donor Myrtle M. McGrew
(1915–2015) left an estate gift of more
than $2 million for the very first named
endowment to benefit Cardiovascular
Services at John Muir Health. Myrtle’s
values of healthy living, access to quality health care and the experiences of
caring for her siblings who suffered from
heart disease helped shape her “Legacy
Within,” which she was able to express
through her generous bequest. Her legacy
ensures that others in our community will
continue to receive the highest level of
cardiovascular care at John Muir Health
for generations to come.
Good News! IRA Charitable Rollover Permanently Extended
President Obama has signed legislation to permanently extend the IRA charitable rollover for 2015 and beyond. IRA owners age 70½ or older can transfer up to $100,000 from an IRA to a qualified public charity free
of federal income tax. The amount transferred can also be used to satisfy a donor’s required minimum
distribution. For more information about how an IRA rollover can be of benefit to you and John Muir Health,
please contact your IRA custodian or Michael Crvarich, Vice President, Legacy Planning and Major Gifts, at
(925) 941-2120 or [email protected].
NonProfit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
John muir
health
foundation
John Muir Health Foundation
1400 Treat Boulevard
Walnut Creek, CA 94597-2142
WHY we GIVE
The Heart of
the Matter
Photography by Akim Aginsky
ELMER AND GLORIA
KAPRIELIAN CHERISH
QUALITY HEALTH CARE IN
OUR community
More than 50 years ago, when
Elmer and Gloria Kaprielian were
raising funds to build John Muir
Memorial Hospital, they didn’t
know that John Muir Health would
become such an important part of
their lives. They made their first
gift in support of the new hospital
in 1959, before the facility even
opened, and have been loyal annual
donors ever since.
In the fall of 2012, their family
physician, Dr. Benjamin Sadoff, informed them that Elmer’s aortic valve
was “worn out.” He spoke of a new,
highly innovative, transcatheter aortic
valve replacement (TAVR) procedure
that could replace the valve without
Elmer, now age 94, diligently exercises for two hours every Tuesday and Thursday at the
Walnut Creek Cardiac Rehab Gym, while Gloria continues her service of the past 37 years as
a devoted John Muir Health volunteer.
performing open-heart surgery. The
valve would be replaced by feeding
a catheter to Elmer’s heart through a
small incision in his leg.
Elmer became the 10th patient
at John Muir Health to undergo the
minimally invasive TAVR procedure.
At the time, John Muir Health was
one of only three medical centers in
Northern California performing this
procedure. Since then, more than
130 TAVR procedures have been
performed at John Muir Health.
“It was a great experience,”
says Elmer. “Dr. Gary Gershony was
the lead cardiologist on the team,
and he was amazing. All the doctors
and nurses took care of me, and
they took care of Gloria, too. They
were there for us the whole time.”
The Kaprielians’ positive experiences have validated the reasons
why they helped rally support for
John Muir Memorial Hospital half a
century ago. ”We love that John Muir
Health is always looking to improve
and do more for the community,”
says Gloria. “We are so fortunate to
have this world-class health system
right here in our own backyard.”