11^th Annual Cardiology Summit September 12-13, 2016 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Biography:

With over 35 years of non-profit management experience, Mary McGowan currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease to ensure the successful implementation of the organization’s strategic direction and increase its visibility and brand recognition nationally. Prior to joining WomenHeart in 2010, McGowan served as Executive Director of the Allergy & Asthma Network. She held various positions with the American Academy of Pediatrics during her service of 18 years. McGowan earned a Masters Degree in Human Resources Development from the George Washington University and a B.A. from Trinity University.

Abstract:

WomenHeart is the only patient-centered organization solely devoted to improving the healthy and quality of life of the 42.7 million American women living with and at risk for heart disease. We have thousands of members, including women heart patients and their families, health care providers, advocates and consumers committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. We provide an array of support programs for women nationwide, including our 110 local Support Networks in 40 states, each led by trained women heart patient volunteers – WomenHeart Champions. Support Networks meet monthly at National Hospital Alliance (NHA) member hospitals. The NHA, comprised of 40 hospitals, is the nation’s only partnership program between WomenHeart and progressive hospitals across the country committed to advancing women’s heart health and gender specific cardiovascular care in their communities. This valuable alliance gives women heart patients leverage to improve their own lives, which results in better patient outcomes and lower readmission rates. Through the NHA, WomenHeart supports the trained WomenHeart Champions and provides an educational curriculum for their Support Network meetings. Additionally, we work with the hospitals' clinicians to improve their continuing education with quarterly webinars and media and co-branding opportunities. In 2015, WomenHeart launched its NHA Capacity Building Program, giving grants to hospitals who could otherwise not afford the membership in order to reach women heart patients in underserved communities. Our next step is to further expand the NHA by using predictive analysis to target hospitals that show high rates of readmission for specific heart conditions. 

Biography:

With over 35 years of non-profit management experience, Mary McGowan currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease to ensure the successful implementation of the organization’s strategic direction and increase its visibility and brand recognition nationally. Prior to joining WomenHeart in 2010, McGowan served as Executive Director of the Allergy & Asthma Network. She held various positions with the American Academy of Pediatrics during her service of 18 years. McGowan earned a Masters Degree in Human Resources Development from the George Washington University and a B.A. from Trinity University.

Abstract:

WomenHeart is the only patient-centered organization solely devoted to improving the healthy and quality of life of the 42.7 million American women living with and at risk for heart disease. We have thousands of members, including women heart patients and their families, health care providers, advocates and consumers committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. We provide an array of support programs for women nationwide, including our 110 local Support Networks in 40 states, each led by trained women heart patient volunteers – WomenHeart Champions. Support Networks meet monthly at National Hospital Alliance (NHA) member hospitals. The NHA, comprised of 40 hospitals, is the nation’s only partnership program between WomenHeart and progressive hospitals across the country committed to advancing women’s heart health and gender specific cardiovascular care in their communities. This valuable alliance gives women heart patients leverage to improve their own lives, which results in better patient outcomes and lower readmission rates. Through the NHA, WomenHeart supports the trained WomenHeart Champions and provides an educational curriculum for their Support Network meetings. Additionally, we work with the hospitals' clinicians to improve their continuing education with quarterly webinars and media and co-branding opportunities. In 2015, WomenHeart launched its NHA Capacity Building Program, giving grants to hospitals who could otherwise not afford the membership in order to reach women heart patients in underserved communities. Our next step is to further expand the NHA by using predictive analysis to target hospitals that show high rates of readmission for specific heart conditions. 

Biography:

Guy H Fontaine has made 16 original contributions in the design and the use of the first cardiac pacemakers in the early 60s. He has serendipitously identified ARVD during his contributions to antiarrhythmic surgery in the early 70s. He has developed the technique of Fulguration to replace surgery in the early 80s. He has been one of the “216 individuals who have made a significant contribution to the study of cardiovascular disease since the 14^th century”, one of the “500 greatest geniuses of the 21th century” (USA Books), one of the “100 life time of achievement” (UK Book). He has 900+ publications including 201 book chapters. Reviewer of 23 scientific journals both in basic and clinical science. He has served as a member of the Editorial Board of Circulation during 5 years after reviewing during decades papers for this Journal. He has given 11 master lectures of 90’ each in inland China in 2014. He has developed new techniques of hypothermia for neurologic brain protection in OHCA, stroke and spinal cord injury. He is the first to have resuscitated his wife at home with an external defibrillator (Schiller) still working after 30 years. He has also invented a high-tech device which can be considered as the ultimate in palliative care

Abstract:

ARVCs is covering a spectrum of mostly inherited cardiomyopathies of increasing interest because od a relatively small number of mututions have been identified in 60% of patients (Fressart Europace 2014). The mechanisms of EGS anomalies are btter understood as well as their long term prognosis leading to CHF (Hulot Circulation 2004)

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD) is mostly due to PKP2 desmosomal mutation with increased RV size with apoptotic thinness of the free wall and segmental anomalies of contraction. This is also due to the presence of fat and interstitial fibrosis mostly observed in the RV free wall and LV apex. This disease is frequent in the general population 3.7% but become clinically apparent in a small number of cases (Fontaine AJC 2014). Clinical presentation is mostly ventricular arrhythmias which can lead to unexpected sudden cardiac death especially in young people and during endurance sports. Some of these patients seen at a late stage of the disease can be misclassified as IDCM. However, in some rare patients, the disease can stop completely its progression.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) has a unique ECG pattern of coved type observed only in lead V1.  Structural changes are sometimes producing a Phenotype suggesting ARVD. However, these dkiseases are two different entities with some degree overlap both phenotypically and genotypically in a small number of cases.

Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Ventricular Tachycardia (ROVT VT) is generally benign but one personal case of SD with pathologic documentation demonstrated a localised infundibular anomaly suggesting localised ARVD.

Naxos disease has been identified in the Greek eponym disease is the homozygous form with associated palmoplantar keratosis. This led to the identification of the first mutation Plakoglobin leading to the discovery of multiple candidate genes and finally other mutations.

UHL’s anomaly is rare form which suggests major early apoptosis creating an arrhythmogenic substrate which proved importaznt to demonstrate the re-entrant mechanism of ventricular arrhythmias.

These cardiomyopathies can be affected by a genetically superimposed myocarditis which is frequently the determinant of prognosis (Lopez-Ayala HR 2016).

Experimental ablation of the disease has been demonstrated on the Zebra fish and the mouse opening new vistas for its treatment and prevention (Saffitz Science 2015).