EP 102: Nobility in Small Things with Cardiac Surgeon, Dr Craig R Smith
In this week's episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra's guest is Dr Craig R Smith, Cardiac Surgeon and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
In 2020, The Wall Street Journal called Dr Smith the pandemic's most powerful writer. Each day throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Dr Smith provided the faculty and staff with updates on pandemic response and priorities, offering both vital information and unwavering support. This month, Dr Smith released his book, 'Nobility in Small Things: A Surgeon's Path’.
In this inspiring episode, Dr Smith delves into the story behind his book and the motivating circumstances that led him to become an author. Dr Kalra asks Dr Smith about his experience as a leader during the pandemic as a surgeon. Dr Smith shares the story of his unconventional journey into medicine, emphasizing how hard physical labor built his resilience and prepared him for his residency. Dr Kalra also asks about Dr Smith's experience as a surgeon for President Bill Clinton in 2004. We learn more about some of the highlights of Dr Smith's book and his advice for listeners aspiring to become writers.
Nobility in Small Things is available for purchase here: us.macmillan.com/books/9781250278…ityinsmallthings
Questions and comments can be sent to “podcast@radcliffe-group.com” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode.
Guest: Dr Craig R SmithHost: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCARDIO.
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In this informative episode, Dr Kumar shares what led his team and the CCS to introduce a new classification scheme for acute MI. He discusses how research from the past 15 years highlighted the need to incorporate tissue changes resulting from acute myocardial infarction (MI) into clinical practice. Dr Kumar outlines the four stages of CCS-AMI, and we gain insight into how this novel classification scheme could impact bedside medicine.
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What are the key pillars of self-care and what do dirty windshields have to do with it? How can you take meditation “off the matt”? What has chronobiology and Ayurveda taught us about working with, rather than against, our circadian rhythm?
In the final episode of our burnout and resilience series, Kavitha and Ankur give you some practical tools of self-care to help you avoid burnout. Kavitah Chinnaiyan, MD, is an award-winning author and, Cardiologist and Director of Cardiac CT Research at Beaumont Health, MI. Send us your thoughts to this episode for Ankur to share in future episodes: podcast@radciffe-group.com. Guest @ChinnaiyanMD.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
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In the final episode of our burnout and resilience series, Kavitha and Ankur give you some practical tools of self-care to help you avoid burnout. Kavitah Chinnaiyan, MD, is an award-winning author and, Cardiologist and Director of Cardiac CT Research at Beaumont Health, MI. Send us your thoughts to this episode for Ankur to share in future episodes: podcast@radciffe-group.com. Guest @ChinnaiyanMD.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
What does mindfulness have to do with burnout? Is our definition of success driving our stress and anxiety? How can we channel our ego into something positive?
In our second episode on burnout and resilience, Kavitah Chinnaiyan, MD, and Ankur take a deeper dive into mindfulness and training the brain to move from Default-Mode to Task-Positive Networks. Kavitah is an award-winning author and, Cardiologist and Director of Cardiac CT Research at Beaumont Health, MI. Send us your thoughts to this episode for Ankur to share in future episodes: podcast@radciffe-group.com. Guest @ChinnaiyanMD.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
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In our second episode on burnout and resilience, Kavitah Chinnaiyan, MD, and Ankur take a deeper dive into mindfulness and training the brain to move from Default-Mode to Task-Positive Networks. Kavitah is an award-winning author and, Cardiologist and Director of Cardiac CT Research at Beaumont Health, MI. Send us your thoughts to this episode for Ankur to share in future episodes: podcast@radciffe-group.com. Guest @ChinnaiyanMD.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
How do you nurture resilience in the midst of competition, envy and individualism? What is moral injury? Is the current healthcare landscape driving physicians to burnout? Are we too focused on data and study results? These are some of the questions discussed by Kavitah Chinnaiyan, MD, award winning author and Cardiologist and Director of Cardiac CT Research at Beaumont Health, MI, and host Ankur, in the first episode of this three-part series on burnout and resilience. Send us your thoughts to this episode for Ankur to share in future episodes: pocast@radciffe-group.com. Guest @ChinnaiyanMD.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
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Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
Madhav Swaminathan joins Ankur Kalra for a dynamic conversation about diversity, inclusion and leadership. Madhav shares how, as President of large organisation like the American Society of Echocardiography, he works to create an inclusive platform with opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Ankur and Madhav also discuss positive traits of leadership, why we should embrace failure and the importance of mentorship throughout all stages of one’s medical career. Send us your comments to this episode for Ankur to share in future episodes: pocast@radciffe-group.com. Guest @mswami001.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
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Ankur and Madhav also discuss positive traits of leadership, why we should embrace failure and the importance of mentorship throughout all stages of one’s medical career. Send us your comments to this episode for Ankur to share in future episodes: pocast@radciffe-group.com. Guest @mswami001.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
Following the recent controversy surrounding physician portraits displayed in medical hallways, Ankur spoke to Harriette GC Van Spall MD to unpick this hot topic brought back to life by a recent article penned by Jeffrey Flier (former Dean of Harvard Medical School) in The Boston Globe.
Harriette is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Department of Medicine, Cardiology and the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, ON, Canada. In this episode, Ankur and Harriette discuss why this issue is so contentious, what the current state of medical walls represents, why this may be an issue and what alternative medical walls could look like. Harriette also shares her thoughts on how this topic relates to the maintenance of hierarchical power structures in academic institutions, calling for more collaborative leadership and management styles. Guest @hvanspall.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
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Harriette is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Department of Medicine, Cardiology and the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, ON, Canada. In this episode, Ankur and Harriette discuss why this issue is so contentious, what the current state of medical walls represents, why this may be an issue and what alternative medical walls could look like. Harriette also shares her thoughts on how this topic relates to the maintenance of hierarchical power structures in academic institutions, calling for more collaborative leadership and management styles. Guest @hvanspall.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
In celebration of this month’s ‘National Eat Your Vegetables Day’, this week’s guest is @TheVeggieMD, one of the most prominent physicians on social media! Dr Danielle Belardo MD is a Cardiology Fellow, American Board of Internal Medicine certified and a member of the American College of Cardiology Nutrition and Lifestyle Sub-Committee.
In this episode, Ankur and Danielle speak about the evidence in favour of a whole-food plant-based diet to improve cardiovascular health, the ACC prevention guidelines, how to talk to patients about positive dietary change, the issue of lack of nutrition training in cardiovascular fellowships and what Danielle’s diet looks like as a busy whole-food plant-based cardiology fellow. On her own podcast ‘Nutrition Rounds’ Danielle has discussions about evidence-based plant-based nutrition with physicians who are leading experts in nutrition and health.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology.
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In this episode, Ankur and Danielle speak about the evidence in favour of a whole-food plant-based diet to improve cardiovascular health, the ACC prevention guidelines, how to talk to patients about positive dietary change, the issue of lack of nutrition training in cardiovascular fellowships and what Danielle’s diet looks like as a busy whole-food plant-based cardiology fellow. On her own podcast ‘Nutrition Rounds’ Danielle has discussions about evidence-based plant-based nutrition with physicians who are leading experts in nutrition and health.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology.
Listen to our first episode with two guests! Ankur spoke with Emmanouil S Brilakis, MD and Michael Megaly, MD from the Minneapolis Heart Institute, Abbott Northwestern Hospital about their article on the role of drug-coated balloons in small-vessel coronary artery disease (SVD) published in US Cardiology Review 13.1. Percutaneous coronary intervention of SVD remains challenging due to difficulties with device delivery and high restenosis rate, making drug-coated balloons an attractive emerging option in patients with SVD.
In this brilliant conversation, Ankur, Emmanouil and Michael unravel the potential advantages, challenges and practical realities of using drug-coated balloons in SVD, and the findings of the latest randomised controlled trials studying this area.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology. [Disclaimer: The use of drug-coated balloons in coronay intervention is still off-label; it has not been approved by the FDA.]
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In this brilliant conversation, Ankur, Emmanouil and Michael unravel the potential advantages, challenges and practical realities of using drug-coated balloons in SVD, and the findings of the latest randomised controlled trials studying this area.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology. [Disclaimer: The use of drug-coated balloons in coronay intervention is still off-label; it has not been approved by the FDA.]
We have observed a lot of developments in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over the past 12 months with the publication of various studies and trials. This week, Ankur spoke with J. Dawn Abbott, MD, Associate Professor of Cardiology at Warren Medical School of Brown University about her recently published US Cardiology Review 13.1 article on the significant developments in PCI over the past 12 months.
Dawn is an associate editor of the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions and is widely known for her research program on PCI and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Ankur and J. Dawn discuss multiple trials/studies that were published in 2018, including ORBITA, PIONEER-II and ABSORB. J. Dawn also shares her thoughts on the latest stent technologies.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology.
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Dawn is an associate editor of the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions and is widely known for her research program on PCI and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Ankur and J. Dawn discuss multiple trials/studies that were published in 2018, including ORBITA, PIONEER-II and ABSORB. J. Dawn also shares her thoughts on the latest stent technologies.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology.
This week’s podcast guest needs no introduction! Prof Athena Poppas is one of the most widely known cardiologists in the US and current Vice-President of the American College of Cardiology! Ankur spoke to Athena about her recently published US Cardiology Review 13.1 article on whether early management of hypertension by GPs can improve outcomes.
They discuss the importance of preventative medicine, their experience of reducing hypertension with non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical methods, and the significance of the integrated “team approach” when treating comorbid conditions such as hypertension. Athena also shares her thoughts on cardiologists’ responsibility to shape their patients’ lifestyle choices.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology.
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They discuss the importance of preventative medicine, their experience of reducing hypertension with non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical methods, and the significance of the integrated “team approach” when treating comorbid conditions such as hypertension. Athena also shares her thoughts on cardiologists’ responsibility to shape their patients’ lifestyle choices.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology.
Ankur is back with his second #AudioArticle! This week he spoke with Santiago Garcia from the Minneapolis Heart Institute about Santiago’s US Cardiology Review 13.1 article on the role of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hscTn) assays and their ability to rapidly rule in or rule out acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with improved sensitivity.
Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for an emergency room visit in the US, with almost 6 million ER visits annually, yet there is no consensus on how to compare the results from various hscTn assays. Tune in to hear Santiago outline the advantages and limitations of using hscTn as a standard biomarket to evaluate patients with suspected ACS in the ER.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology.
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Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for an emergency room visit in the US, with almost 6 million ER visits annually, yet there is no consensus on how to compare the results from various hscTn assays. Tune in to hear Santiago outline the advantages and limitations of using hscTn as a standard biomarket to evaluate patients with suspected ACS in the ER.
Hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCardiology.
In this stimulating and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Kalra and Dr. Anavekar delve into the topic of measuring success in medicine. Dr. Anavekar puts forward the argument that the ambiguous definition of academic achievement often results in damaging biases that have long-term repercussions on the medical field. As a program director, Dr. Anavekar believes that the number of published articles should not be the only or most crucial criterion for evaluating early-career faculty. He argues that it's important to also consider the "distance travelled" by candidates. Dr. Kalra raises pertinent questions about the practical implications of this approach, and Dr. Anavekar provides candid insights into his responsibilities.
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Dr Mahmoudi and Dr Täuber teamed up to explore bullying in academic settings. Together with Dr Kalra they discuss why bullies thrive in such environments and the ways institutions enable such behaviour. Dr Täuber offers solutions and a critical overview of institutional narratives, while Dr Mahmoudi highlights the long-term effects on academic work and medicine. They call for action against toxic behaviour and for stakeholders to eliminate incentives for universities to support perpetrators.
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In 2018, the loss of a friend to suicide compelled Dr Anavekar to embark on a profound journey of contemplative self-exploration. Now, he uses his experience to encourage and guide trainees to pose thought-provoking questions that challenge the status quo of the materialistic approach to medicine, ultimately leading to a more outcome-focused perspective.
What is the Global Cardiology University project? How does Dr Anavekar encourage trainees to re-examine their role in patient care? What is his advice to our listeners?
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What is the Global Cardiology University project? How does Dr Anavekar encourage trainees to re-examine their role in patient care? What is his advice to our listeners?
In the latest episode of Parallax, Dr. Ankur Kalra invites Dr Vijay Rao, the Governor of the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, to share his experience and insights with the audience.
As Dr Kalra asks Dr Rao about the ways in which early career faculty members can get involved with the organization at a state level. Dr Rao shares his insider tips and highlights key events where individuals can further their participation.
How can you get involved with your local ACC chapter? How can you improve your leadership skills? What is Dr Rao’s advice for our listeners?
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As Dr Kalra asks Dr Rao about the ways in which early career faculty members can get involved with the organization at a state level. Dr Rao shares his insider tips and highlights key events where individuals can further their participation.
How can you get involved with your local ACC chapter? How can you improve your leadership skills? What is Dr Rao’s advice for our listeners?
Dr Vuyisich shares his personal journey with rheumatoid arthritis and how it led him to explore the intersection of nutrition and the gut microbiome function.
He explains how the complexity of nutrition and the compounds generated by the gut microbiome can impact our health. We learn more about three compounds produced by our gut microbiome that have a strong connection with heart disease.
Through this conversation, Dr Vuyisich invites us to reframe our approach to nutrition and prevention as a question of food education and data-driven science.
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He explains how the complexity of nutrition and the compounds generated by the gut microbiome can impact our health. We learn more about three compounds produced by our gut microbiome that have a strong connection with heart disease.
Through this conversation, Dr Vuyisich invites us to reframe our approach to nutrition and prevention as a question of food education and data-driven science.