Adam's Heart Valve Surgery Blog – Page 30
Ask Me Anything #1: “Does Mitral Regurgitation Cause Tricuspid Regurgitation?”
By Adam Pick on October 8, 2015
You asked the questions! We got the answers! That’s right… We’re ready to start our “Ask Me Anything” video series that was just filmed at the Heart Valve Summit in Chicago.
Let’s start with George’s question, “Does mitral valve regurgitation cause tricuspid valve regurgitation?” To get the answer, I was very fortunate to connect with Dr. David Adams, one of the course directors of the Heart Valve Summit and the Cardiac Surgeon-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Many thanks to George for his questions and a special thanks to Dr. David Adams for his extraordinary support of our patients and our community. So you know, Dr. Adams has successfully treated over 100 patients at this website!
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Yes Karen! We Just Launched A MitraClip Microsite!
By Adam Pick on September 25, 2015
I’ve shared the wonderful MitraClip success story of Kato Pomer before.
However… I’ve been much less vocal about the success story of Karen Pomer, Kato’s daughter. If you didn’t know… It was Karen who tenaciously advocated for her 92-year old mother to receive the MitraClip, in 2009, when the device was still in a clinical trial. (Originally, Kato was told that she did not qualify to participate in the clinical trial.)
Now… Six years later…
- Kato just celebrated her 98th birthday. Yay!
- Karen continues to drive awareness to the device that Kato calls the “Miracle Clip”.
- The MitraClip has gone on to receive FDA-approval and help patients all over the world.
- I’ve received many patient inquiries about this transcatheter mitral valve repair therapy.
For these reasons… I’m very excited to announced the launch of the MitraClip Microsite. I designed this educational platform to provide a boat-load of information and patient success stories about the MitraClip on one simple page. See the Mitraclip Microsite here.
At 14,505 Feet, Dave is a Mountain of Inspiration!
By Adam Pick on September 22, 2015
A man. A bicuspid aortic valve. A heart valve surgery. A mountain of inspiration.
This is the story of Dave Augustus…
In March of 2014, I was told during my annual visit to the cardiologist that it was time to replace my bicuspid aortic valve. Even though I have known for over 30 years that this was in my future, nothing could have prepared me for the range of emotions that I processed after hearing those words from my doctor.
Surgeon Q&A: Are There Alternative Access Points For Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement?
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: James Wudel, MD
Page Last Updated: May 13, 2025
I’m getting a lot of questions about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. A common question I get has to do with the different access points by which a TAVR can be implanted.
Sentara Heart Hospital Launches Heart Valve Microsite!
By Adam Pick on September 17, 2015
Earlier this year, I was very fortunate to tour the Sentara Heart Valve Center in Norfolk, Virginia. During my visit, I met several members of the Sentara team and filmed an educational video with Dr. Philpott about the concomitant treatment of heart valve disease and atrial fibrillation.
Today, I am very excited to announce that Sentara Heart Hospital just launched a Heart Valve Clinic Microsite at HeartValveSurgery.com! To experience it, click here.
What Happened When 100 Heart Valve Patients & Caregivers Met for “Patient Day” at Edwards Lifesciences?
By Adam Pick on September 2, 2015
When I started this website nine years ago, I had a dream. My dream was that someday heart valve patients would connect in real-time to share their experiences as a community.
Well, that dream transformed into reality when Edwards Lifesciences, a leading heart valve manufacturer, volunteered to host “Patient Day” at its headquarters in Irvine, California. To capture the special moments of this event, Edwards hired our team to film this video.
On behalf of the patients and the caregivers of HeartValveSurgery.com, I want to extend a mighty thanks to Carla Asta, Amanda Fowler, Katrina Headle, Sarah Huoh, Mike Mussallem and the entire Edwards team for empowering the patient voice at “Patient Day”.
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Surgeon Q&A: What are the Top 5 Misconceptions about Atrial Fibrillation?
By Adam Pick on September 1, 2015
If you didn’t know, September is National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. This is really important for our community as up to 35% of heart valve patients are more likely to have atrial fibrillation (AFib).
As you might imagine… Many patients are often confused when diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. For this reason, I reached out to Dr. Gan Dunnington, a heart surgeon who specializes in AFib therapy, to learn more. During our exchange, I asked Dr. Dunnington the question, “What are the Top 5 Misconceptions About Atrial Fibrillation?”
Inside Access: What Should All Patients Know About the Mitral Conclave?
By Adam Pick on August 18, 2015
Did you know that over 1,000 surgeons and cardiologists recently met in New York City for the Mitral Conclave conference? Curious to know why and how this extraordinary, two-day event is transforming heart valve therapy?
To answer these questions, I filmed this video to take you inside the… Mitral Conclave.
Isn’t the Mitral Conclave amazing? I mean… 1,000 doctors… Spending two days… Talking about the mitral valve and related cardiac disorders. And, why? To improve the health and the lives of patients — like you and me. Wonderful! 🙂
Minneapolis Heart Institute Launches Heart Valve Microsite!
By Adam Pick on August 18, 2015
I am very excited to announce that the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital just launched a Heart Valve Clinic Microsite at HeartValveSurgery.com!
During the past year, I’ve learned a lot about the Minneapolis Heart Institute from Dr. Robert Saeid Farivar, its Chief of Cardiac Surgery, and its patients including Tammi Gunwall and Julie McDonald-Lundgren. So you know, the Minneapolis Heart Institute has developed specialized skills and expertise related to the diagnosis and treatment of heart valve disease.
Most recently, we featured the Minneapolis Heart Institute for its innovative work specific to transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) devices. As you can read here, Dr. Farivar and his team has successfully implanted TMVRs during the Tendyne feasibility study.
Many Thanks to Minneapolis Heart Institute!
On behalf of our patient and caregiver community, many thanks to the entire Minneapolis Heart Insitute team for supporting this website and our community! A special thanks goes out to Dr. Farivar, Dr. Sorajja, Dr. Eales, Dr. Grehan, Andrea Sweeney and Elizabeth Przybyiski!
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Surgeon Q&A: “Is It Common for Heart Valve Patients to Need an Aortic Aneurysm Fix?” asks Patty
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: Eric Weiss, MD, President of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center
Page Last Updated: June 3, 2025
I just received great questions from Patty about heart valve disease and aortic aneurysms. In her email, Patty writes, “Is it common for patients with heart valve problems to also need a fix for an aortic aneurysm as well? If so, why? Also, what is the best treatment for patients needing valve and aneurysm surgery?”
Patty asked several great questions. I wanted to get Patty several great answers. For that reason, I contacted Dr. Eric Weiss, the President of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida. So you know, Dr. Weiss has successfully treated several members from our community — including Deidre Hallat, Maureen Hoffman and Oscar Rodriguez.
Patient Update: After Four Emergency Room Visits, Nina Finally Gets A TAVR!
By Adam Pick on August 5, 2015
Nina Bamford was taken to the emergency room four times due to symptoms including shortness of breath. Nina was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. Nina was told that open heart surgery was “too risky” for her.
At 81 years old, Nina wanted to live.
This is her story…
Thanks to Nina for sharing her inspirational story with us. And, a special thanks to Dr. Marc Gerdish and the Alliance for Aging for supporting the filming of this educational patient success story about TAVR.
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Surgeon Q&A: “What’s the Latest Research About Less Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery?”
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: May 6, 2025
I get a lot of questions about aortic valve surgery. Lately, my inbox has swollen with questions about less invasive aortic valve procedures.
Don’t Miss: The 31st Marfan Syndrome Family Conference Next Week in Chicago!
By Adam Pick on July 31, 2015
As many patients in our community have Marfan Syndrome, I wanted to share that the 31st Annual Marfan Syndrome Family Conference will be held next week, August 6-9, in Chicago.
So you know… Marfan Syndrome is a life-threatening genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue which helps hold the body’s cells and tissues together. The heart’s valves, especially the aortic and the mitral valves, can be affected by Marfan Syndrome.
If you would like to learn more about this wonderful conference, you can download the conference program here. Also… If you would like to register for the event, click here.
Thanks to Dr. S. Chris Malaisrie for making me aware of this event!
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Patient Week Finale: In the Dominican Republic, Dionicio Gets a “Second Chance” at Life!
By Adam Pick on July 19, 2015
We’re excited to wrap up our first “Patient Success Week” with a story of hope!
In March, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation hired our team to film a mini-documentary about an extraordinary heart valve mission in the Dominican Republic. To see how patients, like Dionicio Garcia, got a “Second Chance” at life during this mission, please enjoy the video below.
I would like to thank the incredible medical teams from the University of Virginia, including Dr. Scott Lim and Dr. Kimberly Chadwell, Heart Care Dominicana, including Dr. Pedro Urena and Dr. Freddy Madera, and Clinica Corazon Unidos who hosted this mission.
And… To Amanda Fowler, Tom Maloney, Katrina Headle, Jade Jordan, Becky Kibbey and the entire team at the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, many, many, many thanks for the opportunity to attend the mission, film this video and share it with our community!
Patient Success Week: Thanks to Her Dad’s Memory, Sophie Got the Screening & Treatment She Needed!
By Adam Pick on July 18, 2015
After the unfortunate loss of her dad to a heart attack, Sophie Marsh decided it was time to see a cardiologist for a heart disease screening. The test results surprised Sophie, Geoff, her husband, and their two daughters.
Even though Sophie had no symptoms, her echocardiogram revealed that Sophie had severe mitral regurgitation and severe tricuspid regurgitation. This is Sophie’s story…
While Sophie was asymptomatic, I think it’s a good idea to share some of the common symptoms associated with heart valve disease in this post… just in case you’re wondering. Symptoms include:
Patient Success Week: Tammy Pilcher & Cris Dykeman, Our Community Rockstars!
By Adam Pick on July 16, 2015
I’ll admit it. I love our community. I love seeing patients inspire each other. I love seeing patients educate each other. And, I loooooooooove when patients use the community in ways that I never imagined.
For example, some patients have Spring Break reunions in Florida.
Other patients connect in the hospital after meeting in our community.
Patient Success Week: From a Cardiac Arrest to Running Across the Finish Line, This is Brian’s Story
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 8, 2025
A cardiac arrest. A medical coma. A mitral valve prolapse. An enlarged heart.
A will to live. A family to love. A desire to run.
This is the story of Brian Walsh…
Many thanks to Brian, Shea, Logan, Levi and Kyle for sharing their story with us during Patient Success Week. In addition, I would like to thank Dr. David Adams and the Mount Sinai Hospital team — Gideon Sims, Flo Kelemen and Lauren Woods — for their ongoing support and care provided to this community.
Keep on tickin’ and runnin’ Brian!!!
Adam
Patient Success Week: Linda Gets Back to Gardening After Mitral Valve & Maze Procedure
By Adam Pick on July 14, 2015
As we roll-out “Patient Success Week”, I am excited and honored to share the success story of Linda Kincaid, a mitral valve and Maze procedure patient. I first met Linda at her home in Indianapolis, Indiana. I instantly connected with this fun, mother-of-three as we filmed an educational video to support the launch of LivingWithValveDisease.org, a new community designed to support seniors with heart valve disease.
During our time together, I learned a lot from Linda. I learned about her struggles with mitral stenosis (which resulted from rheumatic fever) and atrial fibrillation. I learned how Linda’s symptoms impacted her quality of life — which limited her ability to garden and travel. I also gained unexpected insights during an emotional interview with Kristen Boyce, Linda’s daughter, who shared her experiences from the caregiver perspective.
This is Linda’s success story…
Fyi… I spoke to Linda this morning. She’s doing great!!!
As mentioned in her video, Linda’s passion for gardening has returned thanks to her concomitant heart valve and atrial fibrillation operation.
As you can see below, Linda’s garden is full of zucchini, cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes.
Announcing the “2015 Patient Success Week” to Raise Awareness for Heart Valve Disease to 1,000,000 People!
By Adam Pick on July 13, 2015
Is it just me? Or, have you noticed that heart valve disease gets very little public awareness? I mean… Compared to other medical conditions… Doesn’t it feel like heart valve disease gets no “love” when you consider that 5 million people are diagnosed with valve disorders every year?
Well… Starting right now… With your help, I’d like to change that. Thanks to this wonderful community, we’re launching the “2015 Patient Success Week” to raise awareness for heart valve disease. Like all campaigns, we need a goal. Our goal is to reach 1,000,000 people in just 7 days.
To learn more about this much-needed effort, please watch the video below.
Now comes the big question…
Will you join us in this global effort? We don’t need any financial support or donations. All we ask is that you be on the look-out for some great patient stories this week. Then, if you like the stories, simply share them via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. It’s that easy. You really can make a difference with a click!!!
Special Video: The Final “Ask Me Anything” from the Mitral Conclave
By Adam Pick on June 30, 2015
Great news! Our ‘Ask Me Anything’ video series from the Mitral Conclave Conference has been an educational hit!
In this… The final video, we wanted to do something special. We didn’t just answer one question. Nope! We wanted to jam-pack this educational video with some of the most important and the most commonly asked questions you submitted about mitral valve surgery. So, in the video below, you will find six questions answered!
Many thanks to Drs. Adams, Anyanwu, Boateng, El-Eshmawi and Swain for taking the time to answer your questions in this final Ask Me Anything from the Mitral Conclave!!!
To watch our other AMA videos:
Heart Hospital Map
Search for heart hospitals that specialize in heart valve treatment.
