Division Reports - Faculty of Health Sciences - McMaster University

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REPORTS: DIVISION DIRECTORS
Educational Activities
Program Director: Dr. Alison Montgomery
The Cardiology Residency Program has expanded
to a total of 12 trainees, 4 of whom are Gulf
State Trainees. Presently, all educational activities
occur at the Hamilton General Hospital, with
the exception of the two months of Pediatric
Cardiology and Adult Congenital at McMaster.
Plans are underway to expand learning opportunities
at HGH and Juravinski to accommodate the
‘Access to the Best Care’ centralization of cardiac
services and shift in the General Internal Medicine
Clinical Teaching Unit. Dr. Sherryn Rambihar,
PGY5, received the Gold Medal 2010 for oral presentation
at the annual Department of Medicine
Research Day.
Daily teaching rounds are provided with extensive
curriculum development over the past
three years, as well as multiple evaluative tools
(OSCE’s, written and oral examinations), which
have resulted in continued success for our
trainees in their subsequent Fellowships and
RCPSC exams.
Research Program
Dr. Stuart J. Connolly
MD, FRCPC
Division Director
Cardiology
Divisional members play leading roles as Principal/Lead Investigators,
working through national and international networks.
The major research programs in the Division are
in clinical trials, epidemiology and laboratory-
based studies on the major factors affecting our
cardiovascular health. These are on the following
themes in which divisional members play leading
roles as Principal/Lead Investigators, working
through national and international networks:
acute coronary syndromes and myocardial infarction,
cardiac arrhythmias (sudden death, implantable
defibrillators, rhythm and anti-thrombotic
management in atrial fibrillation), heart failure
(in-hospital and community management), prevention
of cardiovascular disease (primary and
secondary prevention, risk factors), and quality of
care initiatives. While most of these studies are
carried out under the umbrella of the Population
Health Research Institute (e.g. INTERHEART,
OASIS 5 & 6, ONTARGET, POISE, HOPE-TOO,
DREAM and EpiDREAM, ACTIVE, ORIGIN, PURE,
GIFT, WAVE, FAMILY, BENEFIT), individual members
also collaborate and lead other studies with
national and international colleagues in addressing
major questions in cardiology and cardiovascular
diseases (e.g. CHARM, DINAMIT, ASSERT,
I-PACE, RAFT, COURAGE, FATE, ASTRONOMER,
AIM HIGH).
All of these studies will have a large impact on
the understanding and treatment of almost all
aspects of cardiac and cardiovascular risk factors
and diseases. Funding for these studies comes
from numerous sources, including national grant-
ing agencies and industry partners. Members
have been successful in obtaining major grants
from the CIHR, Heart and Stroke Foundation and
other granting authorities. A major strength of
the Division continues to be the mentorship,
help and support provided to junior colleagues
with research programs to help them become
established. Reflecting broad involvement by
members and the large areas of research, the
Division continues to maintain a prolific publication
productivity with over 100 publications per
year. Findings from the research have influenced
the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular
diseases globally.
Major Achievements
The Cardiology Division continues a very active
role in cardiovascular research. It is associated
closely with the Population Health Research
Institute (PHRI) and many members of the
Division of Cardiology are active scientists within
this institute.
Future Directions
Major new directions for the Division of
Cardiology will be to align our services through
‘Access to the Best Care’, with changes occurring
in all four hospitals in the City. Cardiology
consolidation has been in the planning stages
for many years and will be realized as ABC is
implemented. A major initiative is the development
of a peri-operative high-risk management
unit at the Juravinski Hospital to provide clinical
care and research opportunities related to the
management of patients at high risk for cardiovascular
adverse events while undergoing noncardiac
surgery. Another major initiative will be
consolidation of the non-invasive cardiac diagnostic
units at Hamilton Health Sciences under
single leadership and hospital management.
The plan is to upgrade these services, especially
echocardiography, to continue to provide a high
level of clinical care.
Andrew Ha, Sherryn Rambihar, Craig Ainsworth and Raymond Chan review an interesting case with Dr. Girish Nair in the electrophysiology lab.