Innovative Defibrillator Alternative for Regulating Heart Rhythms
On July 26 this past summer, two cardiologists at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute implanted a defibrillator. Nothing out of the ordinary, you would think. It is something they do almost daily to provide lifesaving therapy for patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. But this was out of the
Heart Wise Exercise Expands to Toronto
Five years ago, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute launched the Heart Wise Exercise (HWE) program in the national capital to both assist people with heart disease and prevent its onset. The program has since broadened its mandate to prevent or limit the effects of living with a chronic health
Introducing the New Chief of Cardiology
In March, Dr. Rob Beanlands was appointed Chief of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He brings extensive career experience in cardiovascular imaging and a passion for patient-centred care and education to his new position. Dr. Beanlands takes over from Dr. Terrence Ruddy, Chief
Using the Right Tools to Manage Heart Failure
Heart failure is a disease that challenges the patient and the health care system alike. An often progressive condition with many potential causes and no cure, it can be effectively managed. Doing so is a complex effort that requires diligence and careful monitoring, but a recent study evaluating
A Quarter-Century of Recognizing Research Excellence
Participants at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s 25th Annual Research Day attend a research presentation. The program included more than 75 presentations in the categories of basic science, clinical science, and allied and population health. May 7, 2012, marked the 25th Annual Research Day
Update: RAPID GENE in The Lancet
RAPID GENE, the first-ever bedside genetic test, has received peer-reviewed validation in The Lancet, the world’s leading general medical journal. As first reported in The Beat (Volume 7, Issue 1), RAPID GENE is a point-of-care genetic test that uses a simple cheek swab to assess whether a patient
Adapting the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation for the Solo Practitioner
Family medicine is an important setting for managing cardiovascular risk factors and preventing the onset of heart disease, as well as managing risk factors following a cardiac event. If a patient is a smoker, explained Dr. Andrew Pipe, Chief of Prevention and Rehabilitation at the University of
Introducing the New Chief of Cardiac Anesthesiology
To new cardiac anesthesiology residents, Dr. Jean-Yves Dupuis explains that it may be hard for them to predict the twists and turns their careers might take. “I tell them that the day I finished my internship back in 1979, I swore I would never go back to a university hospital—I wanted to travel the
Building a Community for a Revolutionary Surgical Technique
For a groundbreaking new technique to gain traction within the global surgical community, it must have a community of practice—“a community of surgeons,” explained Dr. Marc Ruel, “performing it regularly, who can give feedback to each other and develop new approaches and tricks within the technique
Helping to Modernize Cardiac Care in China
Qingdao is a metropolis on the northeastern coast of China. Like many Chinese cities, it has seen explosive growth. In the past decade, Qingdao’s population has more than tripled to nearly 9 million people. Such growth has spurred the need to expand and modernize medical facilities and programs. In