Henry Low Heart Center Annual Report, 2007 - Hartford Hospital!

2007 ANNUAL REPORT
REBUILDING THE HUMAN HEART
INFUSION CENTER
CMS BEST-OF-LIST
DPH GRANT
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE CENTER
CARDIOLOGY COLLEGE
NEW FACILITIES (BLUE BACK SQUARE)

Contents:
1 Introduction
2 Infusion Center
3 Henry Low Heart Center Retreat
4 CMS Best-Of-List
5 Stop Smoking for Life Receives Grant from DPH
6 High Fashion, with a Heart
7 Evidence-based Practice Center
8 New Echocardiography Director
9 Annual Cardiovascular Symposium
10 Training Cardiologists of the Future
11 Cardiology College
12 Cardiology at Blue Back Square
13 Cardiologists Listing
14 Research Publications

Introduction
It is with great pleasure that we look back on 2007 to bring you this report from the Henry Low Heart Center.
Hartford Hospital’s heart center had a banner year, attaining recognition from Medicare as one of only 17 US hospitals
whose survival rate after myocardial infarction was better than predicted by risk indicators, attesting to the overall
excellence of Hartford Hospital’s cardiac care. As Figures 1 and 2 show, Hartford Hospital exceeds the national
benchmarks for getting patients with heart attacks into lifesaving angioplasty surgery within 90 minutes of hospital arrival
and has lower mortality rates than the national average for patients with non ST elevation acute cardiac events.
Figure 1
ST Elevation MI Door to Balloon Time
October to December 2007
(Percent of patients serviced within 90 minutes)
ST Elevation MI ST Door Elevation to Balloon MI Door Time to - Balloon October Time to December - October to December
Morbidity & Mortality Morbidity for & Non Mortality ST Elevation for Non Acute ST Elevation Cardiac Acute EventsCardiac Events
2007 (Percent of 2007 patient (Percent serviced of patient within serviced 90 minutes) within 90 minutes)
100.0%
87.5%
75.0%
62.5%
50.0%
100.0%
87.5%
89%
75.0%
62.5%
89%
80%
50.0%
Hartford Hospital
Hartford Hospital
*Benchmark
Hartford Hospital Average: 69 minutes
Hartford Hospital Hartford Average: Hospital 69 minutes Average: 69 minutes
*Benchmark: As tracked by the American College for
Cardiology National *Benchmark: Cardiac As tracked Data by the Registry American Database
*Benchmark: As tracked by the American
College for Cardiology National Cardiac
College for Cardiology National Cardiac
Data Registry Database
Data Registry Database
80%
*Benchmark
5.00%
3.75%
Figure 2
2.50%
1.25%
0%
5.00%
3.75%
2.50%
2.7%
1.25%
Morbidity & Mortality for Non ST
Elevation Acute Cardiac Events
Mortality 2007 Mortality 2007
0%
Hartford Hospital
Hartford
National Hospital
Average National
Best Practice Average
Hospitals
Best Practice Hospitals
In 2007 we were fortunate to recruit two new cardiologists, Detlef Wencker, MD, and David I. Silverman, MD, to lead our
heart failure and echocardiography programs, respectively. The Division’s faculty published more than 60 scientific publications
in peer-reviewed journals and was awarded more than $3.5M in research funds. A variety of community events ranging from
a fashion show to a new consumer education program called Cardiology College were well attended by the public. Many new
services and programs have opened at Hartford Hospital and our newest satellite location is now opened in West Hartford
at Blue Back Square. Hartford Hospital is home to some of the most sophisticated technology available to diagnose and
treat heart disease. We are committed to our patients and grateful to our superb team of medical specialists for their pursuit
of excellence in the delivery of patient care. We hope you will enjoy this 2007 report from the Division of Cardiology.
2.7%
3.9%
3.9%
3.6%
Data Source: ACTION Registry (formerly CRUSADE)
Data Source: ACTION Registry (formerly CRUSADE)
Data Source: ACTION Registry (formerly CRUSADE)
3.6%
The Division of Cardiology Collaborative
Management Team
Paul D. Thompson, MD
Chief of Cardiology
Karen Habig, RN, MS
Nurse Director, Cardiovascular Services
Robert E. Rice, MS
Director, Cardiology Administration
Ellen A. Dornelas, PhD
Director, Cardiology Community Education
and Outreach
Introduction

Infusion Center Opens at Hartford Hospital
In January of 2008, Hartford Hospital opened its state-of-the-art outpatient Infusion Center offering specialized care for advanced
heart failure syndrome. As the only center of this kind in the region and as an integral part of the Heart Failure and Transplant
Center at Hartford Hospital, this Infusion Center provides comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services to patients suffering
from acute heart failure exacerbation. Instead of long hospitalizations, heart failure patients can be managed on an outpatient basis
and then returned to the privacy of their homes.
Instead of long hospitalizations, heart failure patients
can be managed on an outpatient basis and then returned
to the privacy of their homes.
The team, led by heart failure expert Detlef Wencker, MD, will provide individualized
management to include intravenous administration of diuretics, vasodilators and other
medications, facilitating rapid recovery from the decompensated heart failure state.
In addition, one-on-one nutritional counseling, social support and skilled nursing care
will help patients better understand and adhere to diet, oral medical therapy and cardiac
rehabilitation. The new outpatient infusion center at Hartford Hospital is an efficient,
timely and cost-effective approach for patients with acute heart failure syndrome.
It offers highly effective, alternative treatment in a friendly and comfortable outpatient
atmosphere that prevents readmission to the hospital, keeps the patient mobile and
active, which, in turn, translates into better overall cardiovascular outcomes.
Dr. Detlef Wencker
Infusion Center

Henry Low Heart Center Retreat
Physicians, nurses and senior leadership from Cardiology
assembled at the Hartford Club for a retreat in November
of 2007. J. Bryan Simmons, Vice President for Planning
and Facilities Development, moderated the retreat and
underscored that Hartford Hospital’s vision is to be
“the regional destination provider of innovative and
complex care.” Francis Kiernan, MD, Director of the
Catheterization Laboratory, focused on critical steps
that reduce the amount of time needed to diagnose
and treat patients with heart attack. Jeffrey Kluger,
MD, Director of the Heart Rhythm Management
Center, pointed to the services provided at satellite
sites stretched across Connecticut, in Wallingford,
From left to right: J. Bryan Simmons; Dr. Henry Low; Dr. Francis Kiernan
New Milford, Torrington, Avon, Glastonbury, West Hartford and Enfield. “We have a loyal and committed staff and a culture
of excellence here at Hartford Hospital,” stated Dr. Kluger. Karen Habig, RN, Nurse Director of Cardiovascular Services, noted
that the accomplishments of the cardiology nurses has been extremely impressive. “Our nurses, Michele Kolios and Ruth Zafian,
were recipients of the Nursing Spectrum awards and the Bliss 10 I team received the 2007 Critical Care Beacon Award from the
American Association of Critical Care Nurses for the second consecutive
year.” Dr. Henry Low, for whom the heart center is named, summed up
the day’s events with the following: “I have been at Hartford Hospital
for the past 55 years. Tremendous changes have occurred during these
years. Fifty-three years ago the Department of Cardiology consisted of
only three private practice cardiologists, and there was no cardiac surgeon.
Now we have full-time and private practice cardiologists specializing
in several different fields of cardiology, and eight cardiac surgeons.
With so many people involved and so many needs, the Cardiology and
Cardiac Surgery Divisions are far more complex than in years past.”
From left to right: Karen Habig, RN, MS; Ann Vale, RN
and Michele Kolios, RN
Retreat

Best-Of-List
Two State Hospitals On ‘Best-Of’ List. Hartford Hospital, St. Vincent’s Rate High In 30-Day Heart Attack Survival, June 23, 2007
WHERE SHOULD YOU GO IF YOU’RE
HAVING A HEART ATTACK?
FINALLY, THERE’S AN ANSWER.
Hartford Hospital named one of 17 sites in the country
Hartford Hospital is among a tiny percentage of US hospitals—.4%, or only 17
nation-wide—that scored “Better Than US National Rate” in a new comparison
of heart attack mortality rates. On June 21 the federal government released a
study of how the nation’s hospitals perform when it comes to saving heart attack
patients. This was the first time in nearly 20 years that the government undertook
such an initiative. The rankings compared almost 4,500 hospitals and were
released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The results were divided into three categories: “Better Than US National Rate,”
“ No Different Than US National Rate,” or “Worse Than US National Rate.”
The data show that only 17 hospitals scored better than the national death
rate in the 30-day period following a heart attack.
In Connecticut, only Hartford Hospital and a hospital in Fairfield County were
ranked in the top category.
What makes Hartford Hospital’s cardiac program so good? Comprehensive care:
24-hour catheterization lab operated Leading-edge imaging capability
by physicians who do nothing else
Extensive cardiac surgery experience
A dedicated angioplasty ICU
The Chest Pain Center
Superior Emergency Department
“front door”
Heart transplantation/VAD program
24/7 ON-SITE SPECIALISTS
in more areas provide critical service
when they’re most needed.
HARTFORD’S ONLY LEVEL 1
TRAUMA CENTER is home to
fast, critical care like LIFE STAR
air ambulance.
www.hartfordhospital.org/heart
THE FIRST 64-SLICE
SCANNER IN THE STATE
captures detailed 3-D images in just
five heartbeats
Congratulations to our superb cardiac clinicians and staff.
By WILLIAM HATHAWAY, Courant Staff Writer. Survival rates for heart attack patients were among the best in the nation
at Hartford Hospital and St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, according to a new database placed online by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. No Connecticut hospitals were ranked among the nation’s seven worst - only
seven had numbers statistically significant enough to make a “worst” list - according to the latest addition to the
website, designed to give consumers more information about the quality and cost of care at local hospitals. The
two Connecticut hospitals were ranked among the top 17 of nearly 4,500 hospitals surveyed on the percentage
of patients who survive 30 days after a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, according to HHS. It was the
first such ranking published by HHS after decades of objections from many hospital officials, who felt release
of the data might mislead the public. “We have been building a comprehensive program for many years and are
delighted to see our efforts reflected in these results. It’s no surprise to us that our physicians, nurses and clinical
staff rank among the best in the country,” said Dr. Paul Thompson, director of cardiology at Hartford Hospital.
But the data did not make distinctions between the great majority of the nation’s hospitals. More than 99 percent
of hospitals, including all others in Connecticut, were lumped into the category “not significantly different than
the national average.” All Connecticut hospitals fell into the average category when survival from heart failure
- a separate category from heart attack - was measured. “In this first year of reporting, [Centers for Medicaid
Preventive care
And, most importantly,
skilled and dedicated
Services, an HHS agency] took a very conservative approach to identifying better and worse hospitals,” an HHS
doctors, nurses, APA/NPs,
PCAs, PAAs and other
support staff
spokeswoman explained. “We wanted to be highly certain that we were describing performance accurately and in
a way consumers understand. So we only put hospitals in the worse or better category if we are very certain of the
results - that is, the results have a high level of statistical significance.” Twenty-one hospital health care measures
A CARDIAC CATH LAB THAT
NEVER CLOSES staffed only by are currently available on the website for consumers to view, including: eight measures related to heart attack
cardiac catheterization specialists.
care, four measures related to heart failure care, seven measures related to pneumonia care, and two related to
surgical infection prevention. The website also contains information on hospital pricing and patient volume and is
run by the Centers for Medicaid Services, an agency of HHS.
Hartford Hospital is a not-for-profit charitable organization that relies
on tax deductible contributions to help support its mission.
MORE WAYS TO MAKE YOU BETTER ṢM

Stop Smoking for Life Program Receives Grant from Department of Public Health
Hartford Hospital was one of nine agencies in Connecticut to receive a grant from
the Department of Public Health in 2007 to support a smoking cessation program
for people who are uninsured or are insured by Medicaid and Medicare. Counseling is
provided in group or individual sessions and free nicotine replacement is provided.
The program provides up to two months of nicotine patches or gum to tobacco users and
works collaboratively with smoking cessation specialists at CT QuitLine, 1-866-END-
HABIT (1-866-363-4224), Connecticut’s free tobacco help line. “There has been a great deal
of interest in this program,” states Jeremy Barbagallo, LPC, manager of the Stop Smoking
for Life Program at Hartford Hospital. “More than 70 people registered for the program in
a matter of months.” Connecticut residents have been very enthusiastic about this program
as it has allowed them to access free treatment for nicotine dependence. Marie Perry, a 63-
year-old Hartford resident, was one of the participants in this grant program. “I just want to
thank you all from the bottom of my heart for helping me quit smoking. I’ve tried to quit so
many times before, but could never afford the patches. This program really gave me hope.”
Hartford Hospital was one of nine agencies in Connecticut
to receive a grant from the Department of Public Health in 2007.

High Fashion, With A Heart
On February 2, 2008, Hartford Hospital hosted its annual fashion show at the
Hartford Stage. Emceed by WFSB anchor Denise D’Ascenzo and WTIC-FM
on-air personality Jeannine Jersey, the show featured fashions by BK and Company
and make-up and hairstyling tips from Mathew Philips Salon. Proceeds from
the ticket sales benefited the Women’s Heart Program and the Hartford Stage
Educational Fund. Featured in the program was JoAnn DeWind, an art teacher
from Farmington, who was chosen from many respondents to be the makeover
contestant featured throughout the show. Ms. DeWind underwent a heart checkup
in Preventive Cardiology, received nutrition and exercise counseling from
Dr. Christine Greene at the Healthy Weight and Wellness Center, hairstyling and
make-over from Matthew Philips Salon and was clothed by BK and Company.
Hartford Hospital employees Jeanne Bodett,
Brenda Davilla, Jennifer DeStefano and Heather
Sullivan joined the professional models on stage
and Cardiologist Melissa Ferraro-Borgida, MD,
from Cardiology PC opened the fashion show. Dr.
Denise D’Ascenzo with JoAnn DeWind
Ferraro-Borgida closed her address to the sold-out crowd of 400 women with
“Every woman should understand what her risk factors are for heart disease and
what she can do to prevent it.”
Jennifer DeStefano
Heather Sullivan

Evidence-Based Practice Center Grant Awarded to Hartford Hospital/UCONN
Hartford Hospital’s Division of Cardiology and Departments of Pharmacy and Research
Administration have teamed up with the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Schools of
Pharmacy and Business to create a health outcomes and policy conglomerate. This group has
been selected as an Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) by the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality (AHRQ), a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human
Services. Jeffrey Kluger, MD, Jeffrey Mather, MS, and Robert Quercia, MS, represent the core
multidisciplinary team of Hartford Hospital researchers contributing to this effort, while
C. Michael White, PharmD, and Craig Coleman, PharmD, are UCONN faculty members with
practice sites at Hartford Hospital. AHRQ has only designated 14 Evidence-based Practice
Centers (EPCs) throughout North America and joined groups such as Tufts/New England
Medical Center and Vanderbilt University. EPCs use the scholarly modality of systematic review
that includes reviewing and summarizing current data, performing meta-analyses and simulation
Jeffrey Kluger, MD and
Michael White, PharmD studies, and applying cost-effectiveness or health policy models to translate the results to the
health care environment. EPCs are an invaluable resource for Medicaid, Medicare, other federal agencies, medical organizations, and
payers as they make evidence-based policy decisions.
EPCs are an invaluable resource for Medicaid, Medicare,
other federal agencies, medical organizations, and payers as
they make evidence-based policy decisions.
The Heart Rhythm Service has developed an extensive patient care database. Drs. Kluger, Coleman and White have recently
harnessed this database to answer important patient care questions. They have determined that statins can reduce mortality in
patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) and can improve the safety of the devices by reducing inappropriate
shocks. In a meta-analysis, they determined that women might not benefit to the same extent as men when given an ICD which
opens up a new area for future investigation.

New Echocardiography Director
In 2007 The Henry Low Heart Center welcomed David I. Silverman, MD, as Director of Hartford Hospital’s Echocardiography
Laboratory. Dr. Silverman completed his medical doctorate at the University of Illinois, received his master’s degree from the
University of Chicago and his baccalaureate from Yale College. He has served in a variety of clinical and teaching positions in
Boston and in Hartford.
Over 7,000 studies are performed in the lab annually.
Hartford Hospital’s Echo Lab was the first in the state of
Connecticut to offer Three-Dimensional Echocardiography.
The Echocardiography Laboratory, or “Echo Lab,” includes six echocardiography machines, a stress laboratory, and a procedure
room. Over 7,000 studies are performed in the lab annually. Hartford Hospital’s Echo Lab was the first in the state of Connecticut
to offer Three-Dimensional Echocardiography. With this technology, sound waves are emitted and reflected back by the heart
tissue. Computers take these reflections and build an image of the heart in three dimensions. Compared with traditional
two-dimensional echocardiography, three-dimensional echocardiography may allow physicians to
more clearly define the anatomy of the heart, and more accurately find any problems.
Dr. Silverman brings with him much experience in many areas. He is committed to comprehensive
patient care, clinical research and medical education.
Dr. David I. Silverman

23rd Annual Cardiovascular Symposium
The 23rd Annual Cardiovascular Symposium at Hartford Hospital was held October 10, 2007. Guest
speakers included: Laurence M. Epstein, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Edward A. Fisher, MD,
PhD, of New York University School of Medicine; Lars Svensson, MD, PhD, of the Cleveland Clinic; Neil
J. Weissman, MD, of Georgetown University and Washington Hospital Center; Detlef Wencker, MD, of
Hartford Hospital; and C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, FACC, of Cedars-Sinai Heart Center. Dr. Bairey Merz
is well known as an authority on the topic of women and heart disease and
spoke on this topic. Currently, she is chair of the National Institutes of Health
C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD
(NIH)-sponsored WISE (Women’s Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation) initiative,
which is investigating potential methods for more effective diagnosis and evaluation of coronary
artery disease in women. Dr. Bairey Merz has received numerous awards and honors, including the
2005 Red Dress Award For Leadership in Cardiovascular Research in Women and the 2006 Alvin
Wednesday
October 10, 2007
7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
P. Shapiro Award by the Psychosomatic Society for excellence in clinical research. Dr. Bairey Merz
Hartford Hospital
Education & Resource Center
is currently the national spokesperson for a campaign which seeks to raise awareness of heart disease
560 Hudson Street
Hartford, Connecticut
Save the Date Symposium Postcard1 1
in women. According to Paul D. Thompson, MD, “Our Cardiovascular Symposium speakers are
recognized nationally as the leading experts in their fields. Advancing knowledge about the treatment of heart disease in women is
one of our topmost priorities and we were truly honored to have Dr. Bairey Merz as one of this year’s presenters.”
23rd Annual
Cardiovascular Symposium at Hartford Hospital
3/26/2007 7:47:02 AM
Our Cardiovascular Symposium speakers are
recognized nationally as the leading experts in their fields.

Hartford Hospital: Training the Cardiologists of the Future
The Henry Low Heart Center is home to one of the region’s most competitive and extensive cardiology training programs.
Physicians enter the three-year program to receive training in basic cardiovascular diseases, clinical cardiology and subspecialty
practices. These include cardiac catheterization, preventive cardiology, arrhythmia, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography,
cardiovascular surgery, pacemaker techniques and interventional electrophysiology. At the completion of the cardiovascular disease
program, the fellow is qualified to enter the practice of cardiovascular diseases in invasive, non-invasive or clinical areas. Gary V.
Heller, MD, directs both Nuclear Cardiology and Hartford Hospital’s Cardiology Fellowship. “We could not be more proud of
our fellows,” reports Dr Heller. “For example, in 2007, Kirkeith Lertsburapa, MD, one of our cardiology fellows, competed in
the national American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Young Investigators Award Program.” Each year, five fellows graduate from
Hartford Hospital/University of Connecticut’s Cardiology Fellowship Training Program. Dr. Heller is the author of many scientific
articles and books, including the recently published book, Nuclear Cardiology: Technical Applications.
Division of Cardiology Fellowship Graduation n June 2007
10

Cardiology College: Only at Hartford Hospital
More than 40 students enrolled in the first semester of Cardiology College in October, 2007. Paul
D. Thompson, MD, Chief of Cardiology, developed this innovative program for the lay public as a
method to teach people who have an interest in medicine about heart disease. Over a period of five
weeks, students gathered in the education room at Hartford Hospital’s Wellness Center in Blue Back
Square in West Hartford. Students included many people with diagnosed heart disease, high school
students with an interest in medicine and professionals from a variety of health-related industries.
Classes began with an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system and
covered the topics of cardiac catheterization, treatment of heart rhythm disorders and congestive heart failure. Expert faculty
members, Drs. Jeffrey Kluger, Francis Kiernan, Christopher Clyne, Detlef Wencker, Justin Lundbye and Paul D. Thompson were
There has long been a need for education about
heart disease, designed for the consumer.
unanimous in their praise of Cardiology College. “There has long been a need for education about heart disease, designed for the
consumer,” remarks Dr. Thompson. One class that students were particularly enthused about was taught at Hartford Hospital’s
Simulation Center, where a human-like manikin was used to teach students what actually transpires when a patient suffers an acute
cardiac event. Students gave the program high marks for being informative, interesting and allowing useful dialogue between faculty
and students. Cardiology College will offer this 5-week class in the Fall and Spring
semester each year.
11

Cardiac Care Associates, PC and Hartford Hospital Division of Cardiology at Blue Back Square
Cardiology began operations at the Hartford Hospital Wellness Center at Blue Back Square in West
Hartford Center, working with the cardiologists of Cardiac Care Associates, PC. Services include
Nuclear Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Management, Smoking Cessation, Stress Management Counseling,
Nutritional Counseling, and Pacemaker Clinic at this brand-new facility. These services are provided
in conjunction with the cardiologists of Cardiac Care Associates, PC, whose consultative cardiology
practice provides a full spectrum of non-invasive cardiology assessment and treatment. The Cardiac Care physicians are: David
Casey, MD; Steven Horowitz, MD; Anthony LaSala, MD; Reza Mansoor, MD; Lawrence Pareles, MD and Ronald Pariser, MD.
These services are provided in conjunction with the
cardiologists of Cardiac Care Associates, PC, whose consultative
cardiology practice provides a full spectrum of non-invasive
cardiology assessment and treatment.
Also at the new facility are cardiologists: Jeffrey Kluger, MD; Christopher Clyne, MD; Ravi Yarlagadda, MD; dietician Charlotte
Meucci, RD; smoking cessation counselor Jeremy Barbagallo, MA, LPC and psychologist Ellen Dornelas, PhD. The Cardiac
Rehabilitation Program at Blue Back Square opens in the Spring of 2008.
12

Hartford Hospital, Division of Cardiology
Henry Low Heart Center
at Hartford Hospital
(860) 545-2880
Paul Thompson, MD, Director
Behavioral Health Programs and
Smoking Cessation
(860) 545-3127
Ellen Dornelas, PhD, Director
Nuclear Cardiology
(860) 545-5518
Gary Heller, MD
Nutritional Counseling
(860) 545-1212
Charlotte Meucci, RD, CD-N
Preventive Cardiology
(860) 545-1695
Paul Thompson, MD, Director
Consulting Cardiologists, PC
(860) 522-0604
James Dougherty, MD
Andrew Feingold, MD
John Grandquist, MD
Stephen Kastoff, MD
Michael Rossi, MD
Kevin Tally, MD
Jeffrey Walden, MD
Christine Beechum, APRN
Carol Campbell, APRN
Cardiac Intensive Care and
Hospitalist Program
(860) 545-5295
Justin Lundbye, MD, Director
Hospitalists
Shafeeq Ahmed, MD
Naeem Humayun, MD
Ravi Kalaga, MD
Aravind Kokkirala, MD
Richard Ruffin, MD
Saadi Siddiqi, DO
Lisa Chaderjian, APRN
Eileen Cusick, APRN
Echocardiography
(860) 545-2976
David I. Silverman, MD, Director
Heart Rhythm Management Center
and Electrophysiology Laboratory
(860) 545-2883
Jeffrey Kluger, MD, Director
Christopher Clyne, MD
Ravi Yarlagadda, MD
Danette Guertin, APRN
Angel Rentas, APRN
Tammy Sajkowicz, APRN
Heart Failure and Transplant Center
(860) 545-1212
Detlef Wencker, MD
Lynn O’Bara, APRN
Transplant Coordinator
(860) 545-4156
Emily Pelletier, RN
Private Parctices
Cardiac Care Associates, PC
(860) 249-9175
David Casey, MD
Steven Horowitz, MD
Anthony LaSala, MD
M. Reza Mansoor, MD
Lawrence Pareles, MD
Ronald Pariser, MD
Cardiology, PC
(860) 522-5712
James Cardon, MD
Brett Duncan, MD
Melissa Ferraro-Borgida, MD
James Kallal, MD
Dariush Owlia, MD
Asad Rizvi, MD
Lenora Thomas, APRN
Connecticut Cardiothoracic
Surgical Associates, LLC
(860) 524-5905
Daniel Fusco, MD
Jonathan Hammond, MD
Paul Preissler, MD
David Underhill, MD
Connecticut Multispecialty Group
(860) 241-6077
Carol Gemayel, MD
Kenneth Merkatz, MD
Fred Rubin, MD
Bekir Melek, MD
Christine McArdle, PA
Johanna Cahill, PA
Wallace Hamel, PA
Goldblatt & Ruffett, LLC
(860) 246-8881
Steven Goldblatt, MD
Donald Ruffett, MD
Hartford Cardiac Lab, PC
(860) 545-5083
Francis Kiernan, MD, Director
Daniel Fram, MD
Jeffrey Hirst, MD
Raymond McKay, MD
Joseph Mitchel, DO
Charles Primiano, MD
Christine Lynch, PA
Hartford Cardiothoracic &
Vascular Group, PC
(860) 522-7181
Robert Gallagher, MD
Chester Humphrey, MD
Hiroyoshi Takata, MD
Robert Ficara, PA
Monika Hoang-Skawinska, PA
Agatha Ritchie, PA
13

List of Research Publications, 2007
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9.
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Ahlberg AW, Baghdasarian SB, Athar H, Thompsen JP, Katten DM, Noble GL, Mamkin I, Shah AR, Leka IA, Heller GV. Symptom-limited exercise
combined with dipyridamole stress: Prognostic value in assessment of known or suspected coronary artery disease by use of gated SPECT imaging.
J Nucl Card. In press.
Angelopoulos TJ, Sivo SA, Kyriazis GA, Caplan JD, Zoeller RF, Lowndes J, Seip RL, Thompson PD. Do age and baseline LDL cholesterol levels
determine the effect of regular exercise on plasma lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels? Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007 Nov;101(5):621-8.
Anglade MW, Kluger J, White CM, Aberle J, Coleman CI. Thiazolidinedione use and postoperative atrial fibrillation: a US nested case-control study.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Oct 4;
Baker WL, Gutierrez-Williams G, White CM, Kluger J, Coleman CI. The Effect of Cinnamon on Glucose Control and Lipid Parameters. Diabetes Care.
2007 Oct 1;
Baker WL, White CM, Kluger J, Denowitz A, Konecny CP, Coleman CI. Effect of perioperative corticosteroid use on the incidence of
postcardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation and length of stay. Heart Rhythm. 2007 Apr;4(4):461-8.
Baggish AL, Thompson PD. The Athlete’s Heart 2007: Diseases of the Coronary Circulation. Cardiol Clin. 2007 Aug;25(3):431-40.
Boden WE, O’Rourke RA, Teo KK, Hartigan PM, Maron DJ, Kostuk WJ, Knutson M, Dada M, Casperson P, Harris CL, Chaitman BR, Shaw L, Gosselin
G, Nawaz S, Title LM, Gau G, Blaustein AS, Booth DC, Bates ER, Spertus JA, Berman DS, Mancini GB, Weintraub WS; COURAGE Trial Research
Group. Optimal medical therapy with or without PCI for stable coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2007 Apr 12;356(15):1503-16.
Clyne CA, Shah A, Yarlagadda R, Migeed M, Kluger J. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: Hartford Hospital experience. Conn Med. 2007
Feb;71(2):69-76.
Coleman CI, Rigali VT, Hammond J, Kluger J, Jeleniowski KW, White CM. Evaluating the safety implications of aprotinin use: the Retrospective
Evaluation of Aprotinin in Cardio Thoracic Surgery (REACTS). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2007 Jun;133(6):1547-52.
Coleman CI, Makanji S, Kluger J, White CM. Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers on the frequency of
post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation.Ann Pharmacother. 2007 Mar;41(3):433-7.
Dale KM, Lertsburapa K, Kluger J, White CM. Moxifloxacin and torsade de pointes. Ann Pharmacother. 2007 Feb;41(2):336-40.
Dale KM, White CM, Henyan NN, Kluger J, Coleman CI. Impact of statin dosing intensity on transaminase and creatine kinase.
Am J Med. 2007 Aug;120(8):706-12.
Dale KM, Coleman CI, Shah SA, Patel AA, Kluger J, White CM. Impact of gender on statin efficacy. Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Mar;23(3):565-74.
Review.
Dornelas, E.A., Fischer, E.H., Stepnowski, R.R., Thompson, P.D. Urban ethnic minority women’s attendance at health clinic vs. church-based exercise
programs. Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology. 2007 22:129-136.
Dornelas, E.A. (in press). Psychotherapy for Cardiac Patients: Behavioral Cardiology in Practice, Washington, DC: American Psychological
Association Press.
Dornelas, E.A. and Fischer, E.H. Effect of season, city size and recruitment source on Latinos’ participation in a statewide smoking cessation program.
Journal of Smoking Cessation, 2007, 2, 1-5.
Dornelas, E.A. & Thompson, P.D.. Smoking Cessation for Cardiac Patients. Preventive Cardiology, 2007 Suppl.1, 21-33.
Dornelas, E.A. and Burg, M. (2007). Behavioral Cardiology in E. Topel (Editor) P. Thompson (Section Editor for Preventive Cardiology) Textbook of
Cardiovascular Medicine, Third Edition, Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Fernández A, Sorokin A, Thompson PD. Corneal arcus as coronary artery disease risk factor. Atherosclerosis. 2007 Aug;193(2):235-40.
Gadarla MR, Pullatt RC, Thompson PD. Role of Cardiac Rehabilitation after Acute Coronary Syndromes. Acute Coronary Syndromes. 8:49-55, 2007.
Guertin D, Faheem O, Ling T, Pelletier G, McComas D, Yarlagadda RK, Clyne C, Kluger J. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and arrhythmic events
in ICD patients undergoing gastrointestinal procedures. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2007 Jun;30(6):734-9.
Haskell WL, Lee IM, Pate RR, Powell KE, Blair SN, Franklin BA, Macera CA, Heath GW, Thompson PD, Bauman A. Physical Activity and Public Health.
Updated Recommenda tion for Adults From the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2007 Aug 1.
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Haskell WL, Lee IM, Pate RR, Powell KE, Blair SN, Franklin BA, Macera CA, Heath GW, Thompson PD, Bauman A.Physical activity and public health:
updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007
Aug;39(8):1423-34.
John S, Sorokin AV, Thompson PD. Phytosterols and vascular disease. Curr Opin Lipidol. (1):35-40, 2007.
Kalaga RV, Malik A, Thompson PD. Exercise-Related Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Case Report and Literature Review. Medicine &
Science in Sports & Exercise. 39(8):1218-1220, 2007.
Kapetanopoulos A, Ahlberg AW, Taub CC, O’Sullivan DM, Katten DM, Heller GV. Post-stress Wall Motion Abnormalities from Electrocardiographic-
Gated Tc-99m Sestamibi SPECT Predict Cardiac Events. In Press J Nucl Cardiol 2007
Kapetanopoulos A, Katsetos MC, Kluger J. Intraoperative hypothermia increased defibrillation energy requirements.
J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2007 Sep;8(9):741-3.
Kapetanopoulos A, Zambuto DA, Primiano CA. Congenital left main atresia in an adult diagnosed with multidetector computed tomography. Eur
Heart J 2007 Sep;28(17):2093.
Kostek MA, Pescatello LS, Seip RL, Angelopoulos TJ, Clarkson PM, Gordon PM, Moyna NM, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Thompson PD, Hoffman EP, Price
TB. Subcutaneous fat alterations resulting from an upper-body resistance training program. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 Jul;39(7):1177-85.
Mamkin I, Elkoustaf RA, Zhang Q, Mather JF, Kiernan FJ, McKay RG. Drug-eluting stent implantation results in effective treatment of small coronary
artery disease (DESIRE Small CAD). Conn Med. 2007 Oct;71(9):517-22.
Mamkin I, Mather JF, Kiernan FJ, McKay RG. More studies are needed on gender-based outcomes in percutaneous coronary intervention with drugeluting
stents. Am J Cardiol. 2007 Aug 1;100(3):560-1.
Marcoff L, Thompson PD. The role of coenzyme Q10 in statin-associated myopathy: a systematic review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 49(23):2231-7, 2007.
Marcoff L, Thompson PD. Reply. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007 Nov 6;50(19):1911.
Maron BJ, Thompson PD, Ackerman MJ, Balady G, Berger S, Cohen D, Dimeff R, Douglas PS, Glover DW, Hutter AM Jr, Krauss MD, Maron MS,
Mitten MJ, Roberts WO, Puffer JC; American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Recommendations and
considerations related to preparticipation screening for cardiovascular abnormalities in competitive athletes: 2007 update: a scientific statement
from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology
Foundation. Circulation. 115(12):1643-455, 2007
Mc Bride BF, Kalus JS, Guertin DC, Dale KM, Kluger J, White CM. Impact of catecholamines on the QTc interval in patients at high risk of sudden
death.Conn Med. 2007 Sep;71(8):465-8. No abstract available. PMID: 17902384 [PubMed - in process]
Patel AA, Clyne CA, Henyan NN, White CM, Zembrowski BF, Migeed M, Yarlagadda R, Kluger J, Coleman CI. The use of protamine after
radiofrequency catheter ablation: a pilot study. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2007 Mar;18(2):155-8.
Patel AA, White CM, Shah SA, Dale KM, Kluger J, Coleman CI. The relationship between statin use and atrial fibrillation.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 May;23(5):1177-85.
Patten, C.A., Decker, P.A., Dornelas, E.A., Barbagallo, J., Rock, E., Offord, K., Hurt, R., Pingree, S. (in press). Changes in readiness to quit and selfefficacy
among adolescents receiving a brief office intervention for smoking cessation. Psychology, Health and Medicine.
Patten, C.A., Rock, E., Meis, T.M., Decker, P.A., Colligan, R.C., Pingree, S., Dornelas, E.A., Offord, K.P., Boberg, E.W., Gustafson, D.H. (2007).
Frequency and type of use of a home-based, internet intervention for adolescent smoking cessation. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, 437-443
Pescatello LS, Blanchard BE, Tsongalis GJ, Maresh CM, O’Connell A, Thompson PD. The alpha-adducin Gly460Trp polymorphism and the
antihypertensive effects of exercise among men with high blood pressure. Clin Sci (Lond). 2007 Sep;113(5):251-8.
Pescatello LS, Kelsey BK, Price TB, Seip RL, Angelopoulos TJ, Clarkson PM,Gordon PM, Moyna NM, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Gordish-Dressman HA,
Bilbie SM, Thompson PD, Hoffman EP. The muscle strength and size response to upper arm, unilateral resistance training among adults who are
overweight and obese. J Strength Cond Res. 2007 May;21(2):307-13.
Pescatello LS, Turner D, Rodriguez N, Blanchard BE, Tsongalis GJ, Maresh CM, Duffy V, Thompson PD. Dietary calcium intake and renin angiotensin
system polymorphisms alter the blood pressure response to aerobic exercise: a randomized control design. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2007 Jan 4;4:1.
Pistilli EE, Gordish-Dressman H, Seip RL, Devaney JM, Thompson PD, Price TB, Angelopoulos TJ, Clarkson PM, Moyna NM, Pescatello LS, Visich
PS, Zoeller RF,Hoffman EP, Gordon PM. Resistin polymorphisms are associated with muscle, bone, and fat phenotypes in white men and women.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Feb;15(2):392-402.
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Pullatt RC, Gadarla MR, Karas RH, Alsheikh-Ali AA, Thompson PD. Tendon rupture associated with simvastatin/ezetimibe therapy. Am J Cardiol.
100(1):152-3, 2007.
Ravishankar V.Kalaga, Fred Rubin, Gary V.Heller, and Justin B.Lundbye. Images of Prinzmetal’s Angina: A Case Report. J Nucl Cardiol 2007; 14(3):408-
411.
Ravishankar V.Kalaga, Amyn Malik, and Paul D.Thompson. Exercise-Related Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Case Report and Literature
Review. Med.Sci.Sports Exerc.2007; 39(8):1218-1220.
Ruaño G, Thompson PD, Windemuth A, Seip RL, Dande A, Sorokin A, Kocherla M, Smith A, Holford TR, Wu AH. Physiogenomic association of statinrelated
myalgia to serotonin receptors. Muscle Nerve. 2007 Sep;36(3):329-35.
Sewright KA, Clarkson PM, Thompson PD. Statin myopathy: incidence, risk factors, and pathophysiology. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2007 Nov;9(5):389-96
Shah SA, Kluger J, White CM. Monotherapy versus combination therapy with class III antiarrhythmic agents to attenuate transmural dispersion of
repolarization: a potential risk factor for torsade de pointes. Pharmacotherapy. 2007 Sep;27(9):1297-305.
Shah SA, Schlesselman L, Cios D, Lipeika J, Patel AA, Kluger J, White CM. Effects of echinacea on electrocardiographic and blood pressure
measurements. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2007 Aug 1;64(15):1615-8.
Shah SA, Sander S, Cios D, Lipeika J, Kluger J, White CM. Electrocardiographic and hemodynamic effects of coenzyme Q10 in healthy individuals: a
double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Ann Pharmacother. 2007 Mar;41(3):420-5
Shah AR, Tandon H, Navare S, Maksoud A, Mirza Z, Mather J, Mennet R, Kiernan FJ, McKay RG. Long-term follow-up of patients with ST-segment
elevation myocardial infarction treated with sirolimus-eluting stents. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007; 49 (9): 243A.
Singh B, Bateman TM, Case JA, Heller G. Attenuation Artifact, attenuatoin correction, and the future of myocardial perfusion SPECT. J Nucl Cardiol
2007 Apr 14(2):153-64.
Singh, B, Bateman TM, Case JA, Heller GV. Attenuation artifact, attenuation correction, and the future of myocardial perfusion SPECT. J Nucl
Cardiol 2007;14:153-64.
Sorokin A, Brown JL, Thompson PD. Primary biliary cirrhosis, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerotic risk: A systematic review. Atherosclerosis. 2007 Jan
19
Thomas JE, Lee N, Thompson PD. Statins Provoking MELAS Syndrome. A Case Report. Eur Neurol. 57(4):232-235, 2007.
Thompson PD, Estes III NAM. The Athlete’s Heart. In Textbook of Cariovascular Medicine 3rd Edition ed. EJ Topol. Lippincott-Raven 686-697, 889-
901, 2007.
Thompson PD, Franklin BA, Balady GJ, Blair SN, Corrado D, Estes NA 3rd, Fulton JE, Gordon NF, Haskell WL, Link MS, Maron BJ, Mittleman MA,
Pelliccia A, Wenger NK, Willich SN, Costa F; American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism; American Heart
Association Council on Clinical Cardiology; American College of Sports Medicine. Exercise and acute cardiovascular events placing the risks into
perspective: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism and the Council on
Clinical Cardiology. Circulation. 115(17):2358-68, 2007.
Thompson PD. Cardiovascular adaptations to marathon running : the marathoner’s heart. Sports Med. 37(4-5):444-7, 2007.
Uthurralt J, Gordish-Dressman H, Bradbury M, Tesi-Rocha C, Devaney J, Harmon B, Reeves EK, Brandoli C, Hansen BC, Seip RL, Thompson PD, Price
TB, Angelopoulos TJ, Clarkson PM, Moyna NM, Pescatello LS, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Gordon PM, Hoffman EP. PPARalpha L162V underlies variation in
serum triglycerides and subcutaneous fat volume in young males. BMC Med Genet. 2007 Aug 16;8:55.
Wencker, D., Acute Cardio-Renal Syndrome: (2007) Progression from Congestive Heart Failure to Congestive Kidney Failure, Current Heart Failure
Reports, 2007; 4(3), 134-138
Wencker, D., Feldschuh, J., Katz, S. D. (2007) Optimization of Volume Status and Arterial Perfusion Pressure in Chronic Heart Failure: A Rational
Approach Based on Direct Blood Volume Measurement. Journal of Cardiac Failure, (in press)
White CM, Kluger J, Lertsburapa K, Faheem O, Coleman CI. Effect of preoperative angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor
blocker use on the frequency of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: a cohort study from the atrial fibrillation suppression trials II and III. Eur J
Cardiothorac Surg. 2007 May;31(5):817-20.
White CM, Sander S, Coleman CI, Gallagher R, Takata H, Humphrey C, Henyan N, Gillespie EL, Kluger J. Impact of epicardial anterior fat pad
retention on postcardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation incidence: the AFIST-III Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007 Jan 23;49(3):298-303. Epub 2007 Jan 8
Zoeller RF, Ryan ED, Gordish-Dressman H, Price TB, Seip RL, Angelopoulos TJ, Moyna NM, Gordon PM, Thompson PD, Hoffman EP. Allometric
scaling of biceps strength before and after resistance training in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 Jun;39(6):1013-9.
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