In MeMorIaM - Texas Heart Institute

shut off the ability to renew themselves after one week of life. He has provided great insights into that
pathway and this work should lead an ability to regulate that pathway and turn that ability back on to
help the heart repair itself.
SUDDEN DEATH IN YOUNG PEOPLE
The Kinder Outreach Program continues under the THI Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies
with a significant research project into the causes of sudden cardiac death in young people, particularly
in young athletes. THI followers will recall that the research includes the screening of 10,000 middle
school students in the Houston area. Since the project was launched late last year, our mobile imaging
unit has been stationed at two Houston middle schools, and we have screened more than 600
students. According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, young adults (ages 14-24) SUFFER
over 3,000 cardiovascular-related death per year. I am fortunate to be the principal investigator in
this program, along with CCAA medical director, Dr. Paolo Angelini, an acknowledged expert in this
field.
WOMEN’S HEART HEALTH
The THI Center for Women’s Heart and Vascular Health, under the
direction of Dr. Stephanie Coulter, is now six months old and has launched into
its mission of more research, education and improved treatment for women with
heart and vascular disease. Almost 43 million women in the U.S. suffer from
some form of cardiovascular disease. Community outreach events, heart health
screenings in Houston area underserved communities, expanded research, and a
new digital women’s heart health newsletter from Dr. Coulter are all under way
and going strong.
ASK A DOCTOR
Finally, Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor, something people can get nowhere else, continues to
be incredibly popular and is growing explosively. As you may know, people from all over the world
can submit a question to our website and, usually within 48 hours or so, one of almost three dozen of
the world’s top heart doctors will respond with an answer. Many of the answers are posted online as a
resource to all.
To date, we’ve had questions submitted from virtually every U.S. state and from 80 different
countries around the world. Through the first quarter of 2010, we had approximately 36,000 visits
to the website. In the same period this year, we’ve passed 57,000. That is remarkable growth and
illustrates the real need for, and interest in, this kind of information and access for patients.
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