The Heart of Innovation with Kym McNicholas

Innovation To Make It Easier For Testing Poor Circulation

A new study in Science Direct, shows a disturbing trend in a younger demographic of patients with an advanced stage of Peripheral Artery Disease, or poor circulation in their legs. It’s known as Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI). The study shows an increase in CLI patients age 18 to 40 from 2016 – 2020. One reason is an increase in adolescent diabetes T2. Another reason is doctors telling patients they’re too young to have poor circulation. It’s typically an ‘old person’s disease’. So, younger p...

Paitents Share Their Candid Journy With PAD And Limb Loss

How To Reverse Diabetes Type 2

Dr. Michael Dansinger is leading our discussion during this episode about how to fix the Diabetes epidemic that the American Diabetes Association says impacts one in every two U.S. adults. He talks to hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips about his new Diabetes Reversal Program that's launched in Massachusettes, which he hopes to scale across America. One of his patients will join the discussion to talk about how the program has helped her and where she still struggles to remain complia...

Save My Piggies 03-30-24

Tune Into a special episode of the Heart of innovation though our save my piggies deep dive.

Through Hope & Heart and Aorta's

Today's show is heart felt conversation with special guest Carin Anderson of Aortic Hope: President/Co-Founder/Director of PR & AHTV.

Losing Hope To Giving Hope: Carin's Journey To Creating Aortic Hope

The Heart of Innovation hosts Emmy Award-winning Journalist Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips talk to Aortic Hope founder Carin Andersen about her journey as a patient that led her to create a foundation to help others at-risk of and suffering from an aortic aneurysm. We talk about signs and symptoms of an aneurysm as well as how to talk to your doctor about checking if you are at-risk. We also discuss the support system she's created through Aortic Hope...

Heart Of Innovation 03/16/2024

In this episode of "The Heart of Innovation," hosts Kym McNicholas and Special Guest: Dr. Anahita Dua take front and center stage with discussions on blood thinners and talking with callers. 

Revolutionizing Limb Salvage and Longevity: The Bioelectric Breakthrough

In this episode of "The Heart of Innovation," hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips delve into the groundbreaking advancements in limb salvage tools and techniques for patients with advanced stage peripheral artery disease, also known as Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI). Join us as we interview Howard Leonhardt, the Executive Chairman & CEO at Leonhardt Ventures LLC and Lionheart Health, a pioneering figure at the forefront of research and development in the field. Leonhardt sheds light on ...

How Unconscious Bias is Putting Patients At-Risk For Amputation

Amputations within the African American community occur at a staggering 3-4 times higher rate than their white counterparts, underscoring the urgent need to galvanize the community and other stakeholders to engage in candid discussions about the prevalent gaps in communication and care for a disease more prevalent and deadlier than all cancers combined, except lung cancer, known as peripheral artery disease (PAD). Hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips talk about the key takeaways from T...

Why ABC's Steve Osunsami Reports On A Disease Deadlier Than Most Cancers

Diabetes has a deadly secret. Even one extra sugar molecule floating around your blood can damage your arteries putting you at risk for heart attack, stroke, and amputation. ABC News Live Correspondent Steve Osunsami knows this all too well from watching his Dad suffer from Diabetes and one of its most prevalent and deadly complications, known as Peripheral Artery Disease, which is poor circulation mainly in the legs due to plaque build-up. In this episode, Steve talks to The Heart of Innova...

Why People of Color May Mistrust Healthcare

Amputations within the African American community occur at a staggering 3-4 times higher rate than their white counterparts, underscoring the urgent need to galvanize the community and other stakeholders to engage in candid discussions about the prevalent gaps in communication and care. In this episode, The Heart of Innovation seeks to provide a platform for diverse stakeholders to discuss some of the disparities patients feel are interfering with timely, effective, life and limb-saving care...

The Role of Micronutrients in Preventing and Managing Chronic Diseases

Join Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips and Emmy Award-winning Journalist Kym McNicholas in a compelling episode of "The Heart of Innovation." This week, our guest is micronutrient expert and health coach Steph Vukovich, known for her specialization in micronutrients and their impact on overall metabolic health. In today's world, chronic diseases stand as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, presenting a formidable global health challenge. Understanding the interplay ...

Why Leg Pain Can Indicate Your Risk for a Heart Attack

This week on *The Heart of Innovation*, hosted by Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips and Emmy Award-winning journalist Kym McNicholas, the focus is on the relationship between leg pain and heart health. Since February is American Heart Month, we invited Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Jason Yoho, who practices in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas, and his patient Douglas, to share a life-saving story. Douglas had what's called, Peripheral Artery Disease, which is poor circulat...

Save My Piggies: Talking with Two John's on Hypercoaguability

Welcome to the first Episode of Save My Piggies on the Heart of Innovation in 2024! Today Dr. John Phillips Leads the discussion with Dr. John Robert Coates a Primary Care Physician, from Ontario Canada, on a story talking about Hypercoaguability. It is a huge issue, as advanced blood work doesn't show a known risk factor for blood clots and yet his and other families have fallen victim in some form to them. The story on today's show focuses on his sister Melissa. She was a model & wrestl...

Break Through Treatment for High Blood Pressure

This week on *The Heart of Innovation* Hosted by Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Philips and Emmy Award Winning Journalist Kym McNicholas, The focus is on groundbreaking treatment for hard-to-treat blood pressure. The featured guest is Interventional Cardiologist Dr Eric Secemsky, Director of Vascular Intervention at BIDMC and Section head of Intervetional Cardiology and Vascular research at the Richard. A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology at BIDMC. Dr. Sece...

How To Find A Restaurant That Meets Your Special Diet Needs

Fisayo Oluwadiya is a principal software engineer for a large organization, working remotely from Manhattan who's side hustle is developing a web application to help people with special dietary requirements find the best restaurants that meet their needs. This idea stemmed from her self-proclaimed obsession with food. While working as an engineer for big name organizations such as JP Morgan, Major League Baseball, and Nordstrom, she has always written restaurant reviews as a food blogger. It...

Behind The Scenes: Doctors Talk Shop on Vascular Care

While show co-host Kym McNicholas is on assignment in the Pacific exploring how Princess Cruise Lines adapts its service for vascular and cardiovascular patients, Dr. John Phillips takes the reigns and invites two other renowned vascular and cardiovascular specialists from Texas for a candid conversation about patient care. Vascular Surgeon Dr. Miguel Montero Baker and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Lucas Ferrer discuss not only their draw to practicing medicine but also the frustrations in...

Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease Share Limb-Saving Stories

Doctors don't always have the opportunity to hear about the impact they've had on their patients. So, Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips and Emmy Award-winning journalist/patient advocate Kym McNicholas talk to patients who have a disease that's deadlier than all cancers combined, except lung cancer, called Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). PAD is a circulation issue in the legs that left untreated can lead to amputation, stroke, and heart attack. Patient Alan offers his thanks to ...

A Daughter's Fight to Save Her 90-Year-Old Mom's Leg

In the latest episode of "The Heart of Innovation," hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips delve into the challenging journey of Dee and her 90-year-old mother, who is facing the complex issue of non-healing wounds caused by Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), restricted blood flow in mainly the leg arteries that can prevent critical nutrients, including oxygen, from reaching muscles, tissue, and nerves clear to the foot - nutrients that are essential for wound healing. Dee's mother has bee...

A Daughter's Plight To Save Her Dad's Life From Blood Clots

In this episode, host Kym McNicholas shares a personal story about her father's battle with blood clots. Joined by InterventionalCardiologist Dr. Jay Mathews and Pain Specialist Dr. Efrain Rivera, they delve into the challenges her father faced after a fall and subsequent sedentary recovery period. Initially misdiagnosed with back issues, they explore how the discovery of blood clots in his lungs and leg veins changed the treatment approach. Together, the medical experts provide guidance on ...

Managing Struggles with Vascular Issues and Chronic Pain

Co-host Kym McNicholas is LIVE at the CLI-F Multidisciplinary limb salvage conference by The Limb Saver Society in El Paso, Texas. She is joined by conference co-founder Lorena Henderson to talk about its focus, which is on complex revascularization techniques, wound care, podiatry and infectious disease best practices for amputation prevention. Also joining Kym is Podiatrist Dr. Gary Grindstaff and Pain Specialist Dr. Efrain Rivera to talk about managing patients with vascular issues and ch...

How One Doctor Saved Life and Limb of Two Sisters

Show co-host Kym McNicholas surprises co-host Dr. John Phillips with a live thank you from a patient after saving her limb and her sister's life. You don't want to miss the story these two sisters share of their fight against genetics and the lessons both physicians and patients need to learn in order to prevent heart disease and peripheral artery disease from reaching advanced stages where heart attack, stroke, and amputation are imminent. 

How To Make Your Thanksgiving Heart Healthy

  Innovative Food software company Innit's CEO Kevin Brown shares some easy ways to make your Thanksgiving Day favorites just a little bit healthier. He is cooking alongside show co-host Kym McNicholas in his home kitchen while a patient with peripheral artery disease, which is blocked arteries in mainly the legs, shares her favorite farro stuffing recipe. Don't go shopping until you find out some quick and easy substitute ingredients that will sacrifice calories and fat, not flavor. Sho...

Efforts to Improve African American Men's Health

We were live ahead of the The African American Male Wellness Agency Walk in Los Angeles talking to their director Jhade Barnes to talk about the need to improve access and care for African American Men. Since 2004, The AAMW agency has produced a 5K Walk & Run (The Walk) in over 15 cities as an awareness campaign to spotlight the fact that Black Men get Peripheral Artery Disease and Diabetes related amputations at 4x that of their white counterparts and die on average 12 years earlier than th...

A Diabetes Patient's Journey From Amputation to Advocacy

Salih Hendricks was diagnosed with diabetes as a teen and no one warned him of the potential for vascular complications that comes with an imbalance of sugar in the bloodstream. He shares his personal experience with diabetes, which includes facing challenges such as the rupture of blood vessels behind his eyes, which nearly caused him to lose his vision, as well as the amputation of his leg due to the accumulation of plaque in his leg arteries, restricting blood flow to his foot. Salih has ...

Innovation Providing Relief for Peripheral Artery Disease and Neuropathy Pain

Individuals with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) describe the pain caused by artery blockages restricting blood flow to their feet as having a tourniquet wrapped tightly around their thigh and calf causing their muscles, tissues, and nerves below to scream for much needed oxygen and other nutrients. Timing is critical to diagnose and treat PAD whether with medication, lifestyle modifications, and/or interventional/surgical approaches because once tissue and nerves are damaged due to lack of ...

A Kidney Transplant Patient’s Fight To Save His Legs

Charles Winters thought he could breathe a sigh of relief after the gift of a lifetime, a kidney transplant, saved his life. But after his fight for life, he found himself fighting for limb. Doctors hadn’t told him Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients are at an increased risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), blocked arteries in mainly the leg arteries which restrict blood flow, and steps that could be taken such as with diet and exercise to prevent it. So, after he recovered from a kidn...

Breaking Barriers: How Terry Litchfield is Fighting to Improve Care for CKD and PAD Patients

Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease have an increased risk of developing limb-threatening plaque build-up in their leg arteries that restricts blood flow, a disorder known as peripheral artery disease (PAD). That’s why Terry Litchfield, who fought alongside her husband Bill who was a dialysis dependent CKD patient for more than 50 years, is sinking her teeth into prevention efforts and advances in treatment for those with advanced disease that tends to settle in the calf and foot arterie...

A Paradigm Shift On How To Treat Blood Clots.

Blood clots are a common occurrence that can have fatal consequences. However, they can be prevented by understanding the risk factors, recognizing the signs, and seeking prompt medical attention. This is an important topic, especially with World Thrombosis Day taking place annually on October 13. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) organizes this global initiative to raise awareness about thrombosis, a condition that is often overlooked or misunderstood. Thrombos...

Insurance Claim Denials Lead To Paitent Suffering

Interventional Cardiologist Barry Tedder has been advocating for months for one of his patients to undergo a potentially life-saving procedure that uses minimally invasive methods instead of surgery. Unfortunately, their insurance has denied coverage for it, causing frustration for Dr. Tedder and unimaginable suffering for his patient. This situation is not unique - insurance companies are consistently denying reimbursement requests from physicians for minimally invasive procedures that aim ...

The Power of Patient Empowerment

Why You Need A Second Opinion Before Surgery For Blocked Leg Arteries

Get ready for the unscripted, candid stories of patients and their experiences along their journey with a disease more prevalent and deadlier than all cancers combined except for lung cancer. It's called Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), which is poor circulation in mainly the leg arteries. Juanita talks about her experience that led her to amputation without a PAD Diagnosis. Without a PAD diagnosis, she didn't know that her arteries need to and could potentially be opened up by an advanced ...

Patients Say, "Stop The Brush-Off!"

This show started out with a conversation about Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.) Awareness Month where I shared my experience meeting and presenting alongside Congressman Henry Cuellar and Mission Heart & Vascular Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Pedro Mego MD FSCAI about this circulation issue that is more prevalent and deadlier than all cancers combined except for lung cancer. It was part of the South Texas CLI (Critical Limb Ischemia, advanced stage of P.A.D.) and Limb Salvage Club’s (...

The Secret To Providing Better Care To Vulnerable Populations

The most vulnerable populations suffering from poor circulation, known as Peripheral Artery Disease Who are at-risk of amputation, are those living in Medical Deserts. A "medical desert" describes a community lacking access to medical necessities, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. For the PAD patient, that medical necessity is a vascular specialist. One-third of hospitals across the U.S have postings for vascular surgeons, and because of that patients are progressing to a limb-...

The Smartest and Most Personalized Food App Available

Insufficient nourishment is responsible for 20% of deaths worldwide (INHME) and contributes to a range of chronic illnesses. The costs associated with unhealthy eating habits have surpassed $11 trillion, exceeding the value of the global food industry, which stands at $9 trillion according to WEF reports. While our health care system has yet to find an effective approach to improving poor dietary habits on a large scale,fortunately, technological advancements are bridging the gap by offering...

Meet An Innovator Who's Cleaning Up Surgeries And Lowering Complication Rates

Cotton gauze, Telfa pads, Raytec sponges, lap pads and surgical towels release lint that can put patients at risk. Significant complications have been associated with lint being introduced into the body. Norm "Fuzzy" Furbush is the Founder/CEO of Syntervention that develops innovative products that reduce lint contamination, procedure time, and overall costs to the hospital. He talks to hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips about how he's come up with these inventions and offers advice ...

The Resilient Strings: Unraveling the Remarkable Recovery of a Paralyzed Violinist

How To Talk To Your Doctor About Reducing Your Stroke Risk

The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2021, 1 in 6 deaths from cardiovascular disease was due to stroke. In fact, some in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds and dies of a stroke every 3 minutes and 14 seconds. A stroke occurs when a vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked and prevents brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. What are the symptoms of a stroke? How do you prevent a stroke? How do you know if your local hospital can effectively treat a stroke? Th...

To Improve Your Vascular Health...Just Breathe

Engaging in a mere five-minute daily fitness routine, termed as "strength training for your breathing muscles," can significantly lower blood pressure and enhance certain vascular health indicators. This is equally or even more effective than aerobic workouts or medicines, according to fresh research from University of Colorado Boulder. Sid Garza-Hillman, Wellness Director for California, luxury, plant-based eco-resort The Stanford Inn along the Mendocino Coast joins hosts Kym McNicholas and...

Should Allergies Be Classified As A Blood Disorder?

Chronic illnesses can be classified under multiple umbrellas. But allergies are only official classified as an immune disorder. Should allergies be classified as a blood disorder as the histamine response occurs in the blood stream? Histamine is the chemical that is found in mast cells. When they leave the mast cells,histamines boost blood flow in the area of your body the allergen affected which can lead to certain symptoms depending on the part of the body where the histamine release occur...

Important Considerations Before Surgery to Treat Poor Leg Circulation

Once a procedure is performed to improve blood flow in the legs for a circulation issue known as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), it starts the clock for the next one. PAD is a progressive disease in which the best treatment lay in patient compliance to appropriate medications and lifestyle modifications, including smoking cessation, diet, and diabetes management. That's why Interventional Cardiologists Dr. John Phillips and Dr. Ashish Gupta discuss the importance of ensuring all conservativ...

Debates Over The Treatment of Narrowed and Blocked Carotid Arteries

Getting diagnosed with a constriction or blockage in the arteries that supply blood to your brain can be quite daunting, as Nancy from South Carolina can confirm. She discovered she had carotid artery disease,which put her in danger of having a stroke. The carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, are crucial blood vessels that provide blood to the brain, neck, and face. About one-third of all stroke cases are associated with diseased carotids. This disease arises when fatty residues, ...

How A Nurse Practitioner Turned Her Scary Heart Attack into an Inspiring Mission!

Deidre Arms, a medical professional specializing in women's health, was an energetic 46-year-old who cycled up to 32 miles a day. Despite her family's medical history, she believed her medical knowledge,passion for nutritious diet and supplements, and commitment to exercise were adequate in reducing her chances of suffering a stroke or heart attack. However, her cycling endurance suddenly plummeted, leaving her feeling easily worn out and short of breath. Medical professionals dismissed her ...

Peripheral Artery Disease: Treatment Options To Prevent Amputation for Deion Sanders and Others

Deion Sanders courageously shared his struggles with a circulation issue that puts him at-risk of losing his foot in a video posted on social media. It may have been left on the editing room floor, but critical information about this circulation issue and treatment options to prevent amputation were not shared in the video or across other media covering this story. In this episode, hosts Emmy Award-winning Journalist Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips are joined...

The Evolution of Treating Blocked Arteries

We have the Godfather of Interventional Cardiology Dr. John Simpson and world renowned Interventional Radiologist Dr. Lorenzo Patrone on to share the evolution of how physicians started using minimally invasive methods to unblock arteries in the legs and heart. You don't want to miss the incredible stories of how some of these physician-inventors used themselves as guinea pigs to further the science of saving life and limb.

Doctors Fight Medicare Cuts To Continue Saving Life and Limb

Every year, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) is updated to determine the reimbursement rates for physicians. The powers that be decide which areas require more funding and which areas need to see a decrease in reimbursement to maintain budget neutrality. However, the latest reimbursement cuts have hit the "limb savers" hard, including vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and interventional radiologists, who provide amputation prevention services for patients, with a circ...

How a Bypass Incision Almost Lead to an Amputation

Thomas loves working with people and his job as a casino supervisor kept him on his feet his entire eight hour shift. But peripheral artery disease, which is plaque buildup in mainly the leg arteries, was slowing him down and putting his job in jeopardy. So, he trusted his vascular surgeons to perform whatever procedure was needed to keep him on his feet. But he didn't know the advances in treatment for PAD and that minimally invasive options were available until complications occurred follo...

Behind Bars: How One Woman's Chronic Pain Led to Jail Time

Many individuals who suffer from vascular diseases such as Peripheral Artery Disease and Chronic Venous Insufficiency are plagued with chronic pain. This ongoing pain can cause a sense of helplessness and frustration, as those affected struggle to regain control over their lives. Take Helen, for example, who finds herself buried under medical bills and unsure of where to turn for relief. She doesn't want to burden her family, but the prospect of managing her chronic pain seems overwhelming. ...

How To Improve Patient Safety and Outcomes

We are LIVE at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Intervention, or SCAI, Conference in Phoenix, Arizona learning about physicians and medical device makers are trying to make procedures safer and improve patient outcomes. One of the technologies we discuss on this episode is an Intravascular Ultrasound, or IVUS, which is an imaging technique that uses a transducer to generate sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of blood vessels. Physicians are mainly using this device dur...

Chronic Venous Insufficiency 101

Ten years ago, I took my first overseas flight and it was a short turnaround for my return. I took supplements to help me sleep almost the entire flight to Sydney, Australia and the additional connection to Perth (another five hours) to help the time pass quicker. While there, it was two days filled with a whirlwind of meetings, panel moderation on stage, dinners, and evening festivities. I'm not sure if I even slept more than a few hours each night. On the third day I was back on a plane to...