On this episode of Advances in Care , host Erin Welsh and Dr. Craig Smith, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia discuss the highlights of Dr. Smith’s 40+ year career as a cardiac surgeon and how the culture of Columbia has been a catalyst for innovation in cardiac care. Dr. Smith describes the excitement of helping to pioneer the institution’s heart transplant program in the 1980s, when it was just one of only three hospitals in the country practicing heart transplantation. Dr. Smith also explains how a unique collaboration with Columbia’s cardiology team led to the first of several groundbreaking trials, called PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic TraNscatheteR Valve), which paved the way for a monumental treatment for aortic stenosis — the most common heart valve disease that is lethal if left untreated. During the trial, Dr. Smith worked closely with Dr. Martin B. Leon, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Chief Innovation Officer and the Director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Center for the Division of Cardiology. Their findings elevated TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, to eventually become the gold-standard for aortic stenosis patients at all levels of illness severity and surgical risk. Today, an experienced team of specialists at Columbia treat TAVR patients with a combination of advancements including advanced replacement valve materials, three-dimensional and ECG imaging, and a personalized approach to cardiac care. Finally, Dr. Smith shares his thoughts on new frontiers of cardiac surgery, like the challenge of repairing the mitral and tricuspid valves, and the promising application of robotic surgery for complex, high-risk operations. He reflects on life after he retires from operating, and shares his observations of how NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia have evolved in the decades since he began his residency. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances…
It is a simple fact that everyone will have at the least one date with death in their lifetime. His dark humor and particular taste for the finer things in life make him an interesting guest, welcomed or not. Each human has a unique story to tell, from their most tender moments to their darkest evils. Those stories provide a look into the human condition from all walks of life, viewed in those last moments before being escorted to the crossing over. It’s nothing personal – he’s just doing hi ...
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Ralph Baker is a 53 year old small town attorney with big league dreams. He fooled himself into believing he was a meticulous shark. Perhaps he was in his day, but now Ralph is caught in a rut and a slave to his mistress. Poor Ralph. If he only knew what had escaped him, perhaps he would be ready for his time.…
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What is it about authority that puts some men on edge? Ones unwillingness to conform to the laws of the land could put them in places they would rather not be. But if the heart judges an act as justifiable, there are no limits to the steps one would take to prove it. Some would say death row inmate Alan Ness was a product of his upbringing. As he r…
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It is a simple fact that everyone will have at the least one date with death in their lifetime. His dark humor and particular taste for the finer things in life make him an interesting guest, welcomed or not. Each human has a unique story to tell, from their most tender moments to their darkest evils. Those stories provide a look into the human con…
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continue reading
It is a simple fact that everyone will have at the least one date with death in their lifetime. It’s nothing personal really – he’s just doing his job.
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continue reading