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A New Era of Heart & Vascular Care
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AN ESTABLISHED CARDIOVASCULAR PROGRAM IS NOTHING NEW FOR THE COMMUNITIES OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA. FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE HEART AND VASCULAR EXPERTS AT NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM (NGHS) HAVE SERVED OUR COMMUNITIES WITH DEDICATION, EXPERTISE AND INTERDEPENDENCE. AS ONE PATIENT, MELISSA ANN HULSEY, CAN ATTEST, THE COMPREHENSIVE AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO CARE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE - AND ULTIMATELY SAVES LIVES.
“There was a chance I could’ve ended up in a wheelchair – or I may not even be here today,” reflected Melissa Ann Hulsey, 54-year-old grandmother of two. “Looking back, I remember struggling to walk short distances and the near constant leg pain – it was excruciating.”
That’s when Melissa learned that she had peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition that affects upwards of 3 million Americans every year. Not only was she coping with severe plaque build-up in her aorta and the iliac arteries in her legs, she was also experiencing chest pain and needed heart care.
“I met Dr. Kolakalapudi, a cardiologist with The Heart Center, when I was admitted to the hospital for chest pain,” said Hulsey. “She was so wonderful and helped coordinate all of my diagnostic testing and care, including my cardiac intervention and stents with Dr. Mohammed. Their teamwork and collaboration made it an extremely easy and smooth process.”
While her heart health was rapidly improving, Melissa and Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) vascular surgeon, Sumona Smith, MD, knew that the blockages in her aorta and iliac arteries needed to be treated – and quickly. She received an aortobifemoral bypass, a surgery that uses a specialized tube to connect the aorta and femoral arteries, restoring normal blood flow to the legs and allowing blood to travel around (bypass) any blockages. “Going forward with surgery was high risk due to the fact that I was taking blood thinners at the time — but I had complete faith in Dr. Smith’s skillset and expertise,” said Hulsey. “I trusted her, Dr. Kolakalapudi, Dr. Mohammed and their collaboration with the entire care team. Together, they did an incredible job.”
Now, nearly four months out from surgery, Melissa is feeling healthy, strong and grateful to get back to doing what she enjoys most – walking and playing with her grandchildren. And, in her mind, none of this would’ve been possible without Dr. Smith’s life-saving care.
“It’s hard to put into words how amazing, strong and caring Dr. Smith truly is,” expresses Hulsey. “Her dedication and bravery were apparent, as she did whatever it took to save my legs and my life – even when the odds were against us. She is the reason I am here today, and, because of that, she will always be my hero.”
In addition to NGHS’ Vascular Services, all of the cardiology subspecialties – non-invasive cardiology, heart failure, electrophysiology, cardiovascular surgery, structural heart care and interventional cardiology – have seen recent expansion and innovation, impacting countless lives along the way.
To ensure women fully understand their distinct heart health needs, The Heart Center of NGMC has created a specialized program, offered at The Heart Center of NGMC’s locations in Braselton, Cumming and Gainesville, and includes: • A multi-disciplinary team of experts focused on identifying and treating women’s heart health needs • Specialized services and screenings to identify heart conditions unique to women in their earliest, most treatable stages • Educational resources aimed at empowering women to better understand and take charge of their heart health
Meet our women’s heart & vascular experts and schedule your appointment at heartngmc.org/women GROWTH IN NON-INVASIVE CARDIOLOGY
In August of 2020, The Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) made history when it welcomed six new cardiologists to the practice – four of whom specialize in non-invasive and general cardiology. This significant growth helped make it easier to schedule appointments with the experts who focus on preventive care, disease diagnosis and long-term treatment at NGHS.
In addition to expanding our team of non-invasive experts, it was essential to add more and better imaging technologies to ensure the most thorough and in-depth diagnoses. To make that possible, The Heart Center of NGMC added a new heart CT scanner at the flagship location in Gainesville and will add a PET CT scanner later this summer.
“This new imaging technology is extremely important for all of our heart and vascular patients” says Ioannis Parastatidis, MD, PhD, a non-invasive cardiologist at The Heart Center of NGMC. “Having the most innovative technology available ensures that we detect both common conditions and complex diseases as quickly and precisely as possible, and that leads to better care and outcomes.”
PIONEERING HEART FAILURE CARE
With one of the most established and innovative heart failure programs in the state, The Heart Center of NGMC continues to develop this important subspecialty. In fact, in August of 2020, two new heart failure and transplant cardiologists, Vikram Raje, DO, and Nitya Sthalekar, MD, joined the program to work alongside Ugochukwu Egolum, MD, chief of Cardiology and medical director of NGHS’ Advanced Heart Failure Program.
“Heart failure services at The Heart Center of NGMC are rapidly expanding,” said Dr. Egolum. “As we continue to lead in heart failure care, our primary focus is simple – to improve our patients’ quality of life. That’s why we’re utilizing the most innovative treatments available – like the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) – participating in clinical trials and providing educational and support resources throughout the care journey.”
“I had been in and out of the hospital for months coping with heart failure, and that’s when I met Dr. Egolum,” said Charlotte Childs, a 53-year-old mother of four. “I remember that day so clearly because I had never met anyone like him. He was so well-versed in heart failure care and he took the time to truly listen and connect with me as a person.”
Now, Charlotte feels better than ever before. Thanks to a personalized medication regimen and ongoing disease management, she’s able to live her life without any limitations and is genuinely excited for the future.
“Heart failure can stop you in your tracks,” said Charlotte. “Before you know it, simple, everyday tasks, like getting dressed or showering, can become too difficult to do on your own. That’s a scary reality that most people can’t even imagine, but Dr. Egolum gave me my life back.”
ADVANCEMENTS IN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
Arrythmias affect the heart’s electrical system and are one of the most common types of heart disease. Working closely with NGPG’s cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons, the electrophysiologists at The Heart Center of NGMC provide the most innovative procedures available for patients with arrythmias – including left atrial appendage closure devices, like Watchman, biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillators and more. They also have ample experience in performing radiofrequency ablations and cryoablations, which are some of the most common and proven techniques for treating arrhythmias.
After meeting Salem Sayar, MD, an electrophysiologist at The Heart Center of NGMC, Doug learned that his best option for long-term relief would be a transcatheter ablation, which is a quick, minimally-invasive procedure.
Dr. Sayar is just an amazing physician,” said Doug. “He’s caring and personable, but also a very experienced and knowledgeable doctor – and Kristin Gilmore, RMA, along with his entire team is the same way. He not only saved my life, but the care he provided drastically improved my overall quality of life.”
To be able to care for more patients like Doug, The Heart Center of NGMC’s team of electrophysiologists expanded last year when Shalabh Chandra, MD, joined the practice, bringing years of experience and a special interest in mind-body wellness.
SETTING THE STANDARD IN CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
Led by NGPG’s cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons, NGHS has built one of the most respected and well-known cardiac surgical programs in the state.
This goes beyond the minimally-invasive valve reconstruction surgery – one that only a handful of surgeons from around the country can perform – to encompass a multitude of different procedures that treat conditions of the heart, lungs, esophagus and blood vessels.
With more than 100 years of collective experience, the NGHS heart and vascular surgeons have consistently been recognized by the American College of Cardiology and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for having outstanding results in clinical care and patient outcomes.
Plus, with the recent additions of Dimitrios Tsirigotis, MD, who specializes in cardiovascular surgery, and Jason Budde, MD, who specializes in advanced treatment of esophageal cancer, NGHS now has six fellowship-trained surgeons and a team of eight advanced practice providers all dedicated exclusively to cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.
WHAT IS WATCHMAN? Also known as a left atrial appendage closure, Watchman is a specific kind of implantable device designed to reduce the risk for stroke in patients living with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). The Watchman device, which is roughly the size of a quarter, is placed using a minimally-invasive approach where a specialized catheter guides and secures the device to the left atrial appendage — the part of the heart most likely to form blood clots. This prevents future clots from escaping and causing a stroke.
By utilizing the most innovative techniques and approaches to care, this team can effectively treat all valvular diseases, aneurysms, congenital heart diseases and blockages, even the most complex and serious, like multi-vessel coronary artery disease and severe aortic stenosis.
Once the diagnosis settled in, Jim continued to manage his condition with medication and lifestyle adjustments; however, his symptoms only continued to worsen. That’s when surgery became one of the few options he had left.
“There’s a lot of fear and uncertainty that surrounds heart surgery, of course,” said Jim. “Dr. Dan Winston was patient, thorough and extremely knowledgeable, but what impressed me the most was the reputation he had earned among other surgeons across the state. It was a truly great experience because of Dr. Winston and the entire cardiovascular and thoracic surgical team, and I am still amazed by how smoothly it all went.” INNOVATION IN STRUCTURAL HEART
Traditionally, when there was disease affecting the heart wall, valves or muscles, the only real treatment option was open heart surgery. Now, many of those treatments are available through minimally-invasive procedures.
“The world of structural heart care is always rapidly evolving and advancing,” says Pranav Kansara, MD, medical director of the NGHS’ Structural Heart Program. “That’s why it’s so important to stay up-to-date on the newest techniques, procedures and devices available – and by doing so, we’re ensuring our patients receive the most innovative care possible for some of the most complex conditions.”
The NGHS Structural Heart Program pulls expertise from interventional cariology and cardiovascular and thoracic surgery to provide truly comprehensive care. In fact, this multi-disciplinary collaboration begins with NGHS’ Valve Clinic long before a patient ever receives surgery. Cardiologists, surgeons and advanced practice providers in the NGHS Valve Clinic all review a patient’s unique health needs and risks to determine the safest and most effective treatment possible.
Peggy Vardeman, an 87-year-old retired science teacher and long-time volunteer at NGHS, experienced this team approach when she needed Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), which she underwent in March of last year.
“I’ve known Dr. Winston for several years and have the utmost faith in his abilities – he really is the best,” reflects Peggy. “But the level of care and attention I received from the entire team, namely, Structural Heart Coordinator, Ansleigh Setzer, nurse practitioner, was just remarkable. I am grateful for my care team and for longtime friends, like Ashley Simpson, nurse practitioner.
WHAT IS A TAVR? Also known as a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, a TAVR is a minimally-invasive procedure used to treat aortic valve stenosis. When a narrowing or blockage of the aortic valve occurs, a replacement valve is inserted to correct the opening and restore normal blood flow. This procedure is performed with both an interventional cardiologist and a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon.
Having experienced multiple heart and vascular interventions in the past, Peggy was prepared for a lengthy recovery after her TAVR procedure, but she’s still amazed at how quickly she recovered – and how great she’s feeling.
“The innovative treatments and technology they have now are just absolutely amazing – heart care has come so far,” said Peggy. “I didn’t realize how bad I was feeling before the procedure or recognize all the symptoms I had, but this procedure has helped me to feel so much better. It really is a miracle.”
LIFE-SAVING INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY
“If people could plan for heart attacks or cardiac arrest, these conditions wouldn’t be quite so deadly,” says Nima Ghasemzadeh, MD, interventional cardiologist at The Heart Center of NGMC. “Because they’re unforeseen, it’s our job to have an extremely effective and rapid response system in place. This ensures patients receive the exact care they need in life-threatening situations.”
The highly-trained interventional cardiologists at NGHS have a strong partnership with local first responders and as a result, all four of NGMC’s hospitals recently became the first in the state to be designated as Emergency Cardiac Care Centers (ECCC).
“This designation doesn’t change the high-level of interventional care we’ve always provided in emergent situations,” says Kevin Meyer, NGMC’s director of Invasive Cardiology. “However, it has taken the streamlined and standardized system of cardiac care that NGHS has pioneered over the past decade and made this the expectation across the entire state. This pivotal legislation provides a framework that first responders, hospital staff and patients alike can all understand and reference.”
Each ECCC facility is designated as a level 1, 2, or 3 based on its capabilities, services and resources: • Level 1 hospitals perform open heart surgery and interventional cardiac catheterizations. • Level 2 hospitals perform interventional cardiac catheterizations. • Level 3 hospitals stabilize patients until they are transported to a Level 1 or
Level 2 center.
Based on these specifications, NGMC Gainesville received Level 1 designation, NGMC Braselton received Level 2 designation and NGMC Barrow and NGMC Lumpkin both received Level 3 designation.
“Being the first in the state with ECCC-designated hospitals is a huge achievement for our system, but the true accomplishment comes with knowing we are getting each patient the precise care they need as quickly as possible,” says Meyer. “Ultimately, this all comes down to ensuring more lives are saved.”
There’s so much to love about heart care at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where leading cardiologists and surgeons are making breakthroughs for us every day. To schedule an appointment at any of our 13 locations or a video visit, go to heartngmc. org/more-to-love.
A NEW, RENOWNED LEADER
Earlier this year, NGMC welcomed internationally-known physician, Habib Samady, MD, as the clinical service line leader for Heart & Vascular Services.
Before joining NGMC, Dr. Samady served more than a decade as the Director of Interventional Cardiology for the Emory University Hospital System. In that role, he performed complex procedures including coronary interventions; oversaw 14 cardiac catherization laboratories for four hospitals and more than 24 interventional cardiologists; trained more than 30 clinical cardiologists and five interventional cardiology fellows per year; and helped establish Emory University’s complex coronary centers and women’s heart disease program among the top in the nation.
“During my time at Emory University – as a cardiologist, a teacher and a researcher– I learned about the tremendous teamwork it takes to elevate a program from being recognized locally and statewide to becoming nationally and internationally renowned,” says Dr. Samady. “Here at NGMC, we’re building on an extremely strong foundation of excellence in heart and vascular care and looking ahead to an even brighter future.”
Dr. Samady has also served as a Professor of Medicine and is recognized as one of the foremost international experts in coronary physiology. He guides a leading international clinical research program, is extensively published in leading medical journals and has a passion for innovation – serving as the Director of the Emory Cardiovascular Biomechanical Core Laboratory and the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Covanos, an advanced cardiovascular imaging company.
“I am extremely impressed by NGMC’s collaborative team of exceptional cardiologists, skilled surgeons, advanced practice professionals and frontline staff,” expresses Dr. Samady. “Our passion for excellence and deep interdependence is driving all of us to aim higher, work harder and provide even better care – all while focusing first and foremost on our patients. Our program is truly better and stronger now than ever before.”
THERE’S SO MUCH TO LOVE
Here in Northeast Georgia, we all have so much to love, like knowing we have leading heart hospitals right here. Where clinical experts use advanced imaging and biomechanics to find blockages, place stents and perform the most complex surgeries – supporting a lifetime of heart health through technology and cutting-edge research. More reasons to love Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
Schedule your appointment by visiting heartngmc.org/love l 770-874-5134
