December 25, 2010
Dr. Billy Cohn on the human heart
From the Houston Chronicle's Eric Berger, an episode in the "11 for '11" series provides insights from THI cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. William "Billy" Cohn on advances in mechanical circulatory support.
December 23, 2010 
Repairing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with FDA-Approved Device
THI interventional cardiologist Zvonimir Krajcer, MD, performed an endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) using a stent graft. The 80-year-old patient became the second in the nation to be treated with the newly approved device. Read the St. Luke's news release.
December 15, 2010
HeartMate Pump Making Lives Better
Patient with congestive heart failure gets new lease on life with heart assist device. View the video (1 min.) from WXII-TV, in Winston-Salem, South Carolina.
December 14, 2010
Holbrooke's Artery Tear Is Rare, Often Fatal Condition, Heart Doctors Say
Dr. James T. Willerson provides insight in Bloomberg article about the torn aorta that claimed the life of Richard Holbrooke, U.S. envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
December 6, 2010
Texas Children's Hospital's surgeon-in-chief receives award
Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, surgeon-in-chief and chief of congenital heart surgery at Texas Children's Hospital received the Ray C. Fish Award.
December 3, 2010
Exploring medical cooperation
THI President James T. Willerson, MD, exchanges gifts with Dr. Li Hongshan, Director General of the Chinese Ministry of Health's International Health Exchange and Cooperation Center in Beijing, and Jane Jian Wang, Director of External Relations during their visit [photo].
December 1, 2010
Bionic bride's wedding was emotional 'rebirth'
THI patient Ally Smith Babineaux [photo] discusses beating the odds with Matt Lauer on the Today Show. (Video 6:43)
November 29, 2010
Influenza increases heart attack risk
Interview with Dr. Mohammad Madjid, THI senior research scientist, on Houston's KUHF National Public Radio. (Audio 2:09 min.)
November 26, 2010
Don't ignore cardiac risks during holidays
Studies show a 4-5% increase in death rates around the holidays, but Dr. Scott Sherron, THI cardiologist, discusses ways to avoid becoming a statistic. Houston's public radio, KUHF. (Audio 2:45 min.)
November 24, 2010
Holiday eating could give you a heart attack
Dr. James Wilson, THI cardiologist, offers some healthy advice for the holiday season. Interview from FOX 26 Morning News. (Video 3:52 min.)
November 18, 2010
Get Flu Vaccine and Help Cut Heart Attack Risks, Advise Doctors
November 12, 2010
GNTs are A-OK for MRIs: Tests show bright future for gadonanotubes in stem cell tracking
November 11, 2010
THI, Houston ISD announce medical research program to screen/study 10,000 students/athletes for heart conditions associated with Sudden Cardiac Death.
November 1, 2010
2010 Great Pumpkin Fun Run race results and event photos posted.
October 14, 2010
Chilean miners should watch health
"Dr. Virendra Mathur [THI cardiologist] said it is extremely important for those miners who were malnourished to gently regain their original weight." Read the full report from the Medill School, Chicago.
October 12, 2010
Texas Heart Institute to honor Mrs. Laura W. Bush with Denton A. Cooley Leadership Award at January event.
October 7, 2010
Texas Heart Institute establishes new Center for Women's Heart and Vascular Health. Read the press release and view a video clip of Houston Mayor Annise Parker [photo] at City Hall.
September 9, 2010
Weight-loss surgery prevents diabetes, reverses heart disease?
Dr. Reynolds Delgado, THI cardiologist, and Dr. Heinrich Taegtmeyer, THI professional staff, discuss the implications of weight-loss surgery and its potential for reversing heart disease. Read the ABC13 report and watch the video: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/health&id=7656937
August 17, 2010
Doctors & patients: Watch for six signs of heart failure
As a follow up to Karen King's story [see below], THI cardiologist, Dr. Roberta Bogaev advises catching heart failure early. Read the Houston Chronicle "MedBlog": http://blogs.chron.com/medblog/archives/2010/08/post_19.html
August 16, 2010
For heart patient, the beat is going strong
Weariness gone, pump brings a year of vigor
Karen King, an LVAD patient, is featured along with THI cardiologist, Dr. Roberta Bogaev and THI heart assist device pioneer, Dr. O.H. Frazier in this Houston Chronicle article:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7154584.html
August 12, 2010
Dr. James "Mike" Wilson to be presented Key to the City–Jena, Louisiana–on August 20. Mayor McMillin, especially proud of native son, invites Dr. Wilson's friends to the ceremony. [See details in Accolades.]
August 11, 2010
Improved Stroke Prevention Procedure Performed on Patient with Heart-Assist Device
Doctors at THI perform carotid artery stent procedure on patient implanted with an LVAD.
August 4, 2010
David L. Printy [left in photo], President and CEO of Oasis Hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, makes a presentation to THI President James T. Willerson, MD, during a day-long visit here. The Texas Heart Institute is exploring collaborations in the UAE region.
August 3, 2010
THI Inaugurates "Boot Camp" for Echocardiography
More than 100 attendees participated in the inaugural Echo Review Boot Camp in July in Houston.
July 21, 2010
Top Honor to Texas Heart Institute Editor Marianne Mallia
American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) to present 2010 Swanberg Award to THI's Manager of Scientific Publications.
July 19, 2010
A New Pumping Device Brings Hope for Cheney
Texas Heart Institute's Dr. O.H. Frazier is quoted in this article from the New York Times about left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and other mechanical pumps.
www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/health/20docs.html
July 15, 2010
Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital Moves Up in National Heart Center Rankings to No. 4
Listed in U.S.News & World Report Top 10 for 20th Consecutive Year
July 12, 2010
Baylor University President Ken Starr (right), with his wife Alice, visited Texas Heart Institute and met with Dr. Denton A. Cooley (left) and THI President, Dr. James T. Willerson [see photo].
July 10, 2010
Q&A: Insight on rare, but deadly, threat
Surgeon tries to educate public on syndrome
In this Houston Chronicle article, Texas Heart Institute adult cardiac surgery chief Dr. Joseph Coselli talks about Marfan Syndrome.
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7102793.html
June 28, 2010
Mr. Tain-tsair Hsu, the mayor of Tainan, Taiwan, presented a gift to James T. Willerson, MD, President and Medical Director of the Texas Heart Institute, upon the occasion of a Taiwan delegation visit to the Institute (see photo). The delegation also included Tainan Secretary-General Shih-Chieh Hsieh, and the Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston. Tainan is home to National Cheng Kung University.
June 18, 2010
An Historic Joint Meeting of Cooley and DeBakey Surgical Societies
The reconciliation of renowned cardiovascular surgeons Denton A. Cooley and Michael E. DeBakey led to the jointly sponsored surgical symposium in June.
June 8, 2010
The Texas Heart Institute hosted a large delegation from the southern Chinese city of Xiamen and from Xiamen University to discuss potential collaborations. THI President James T. Willerson, MD, presented a small gift to Xiamen Vice Mayor Pan Shi Jian [see photo], and a medical textbook to Xiamen University President Chongshi Zhu [see photo].
May 27, 2010
Houston's Mayor Annise Parker attended a breakfast discussion hosted by the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, with leaders from throughout the Texas Medical Center. The group discussed ways for the TMC and City Hall to enhance cooperation. [See photo.]
May 26, 2010
The Today Show and People magazine feature Dr. Roberta Bogaev and Ally, a THI heart failure patient supported by the HeartMate II device, who is preparing for her wedding next month. Read the story and view the video at TODAYshow.com.
May 25, 2010
THI Reaches Milestone in Improved Stroke-Prevention Procedure: Carotid Artery Stenting.
May 15, 2010
Get your heart-health question answered: "Cardiac physicians at the state's leading heart hospital (THI) are taking questions on a Web service called 'Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor'." Read the Houston Chronicle's MedBlog at
http://blogs.chron.com/medblog/archives/2010/05/get_your_heart.html.
May 6, 2010
Stress can be a real pain in the chest. THI cardiologist Dr. Scott R. Sherron is quoted in this Beaumont Enterprise article (PDF).
May 5, 2010
$1.5 million NIH grant awarded for study of adult stem cells and heart assist devices as combined therapy for heart failure.
May 4, 2010
Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) editorial discusses role of influenza and pneunomia vaccines in reducing risks of heart attack, stroke.
May 3, 2010
House Speaker Joe Straus, who has been a THI friend in the Texas Legislature, visited THI to learn more about the cutting-edge research and other work taking place at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. With the Speaker were THI Board Chairman Meredith Long, President and Medical Director Dr. James T. Willerson, Board Member Elyse Lanier and THI founder and President Emeritus Dr. Denton A. Cooley. [See photo.]
April 29, 2010
Research shows simple blood test can monitor heart transplant rejection.
April 22, 2010
Research findings could help improve stem-cell treatments for damaged hearts.
April 20, 2010
Eat right, stay active, stay healthy. Dr. Cooley wants you to take care of your heart and your body so you don't need the skills of our cardiologists and surgeons. Read the Houston Chronicle article.
April 14, 2010
Dr. Denton A. Cooley receives highest award from nation's oldest surgical society.
April 12, 2010
International Cooperation: Drs. Xinsheng Wang and ZhiMin Miao, Vice President of China's Qingdao University and Dean of its Medical College, were greeted by Dr. James T. Willerson, THI President and Medical Director. During the visit, the delegation discussed ways for their respective institutions to collaborate. Qingdao Medical College operates 6 affiliated hospitals and 11 teaching hospitals in China. [See photo.]
March 16, 2010
A to-do list for better health "Sometimes the simplest lifestyle changes can result in the biggest health payoffs." Read the Houston Chronicle article. Dr. Mehdi Razavi, THI cardiologist, contributed to this compilation of "a list of simple things anyone can do to improve his health."
March 10, 2010
Using own skin cells to repair hearts on horizon: Robert Schwartz, Cullen Distinguished Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston, has pioneered a breakthrough technique for turning ordinary human skin cells into early-stage heart cells. Read the news release from the University of Houston. (March 2, 2010)
March 9, 2010
Godstone Ranch Motorsports and THI Double Down at Miami-Homestead.Two "heart" cars–#07 and #05–ran in separate events in Miami dressed in the red livery of the Texas Heart Institute. For details on the racing team's efforts benefitting THI, see www.godstoneranchmotorsports.com.
February 3, 2010
The Lance Armstrong foundation on the web, livestrong.com, references THI as authority on cardiovascular exercise. Read the blog entry:
How to Do Cardio Exercise
February 22, 2010
View this new U.S.News & World Report slideshow, "What makes a great heart center," highlighting THI among the nation's very best.
Top 10 Hospitals for Heart Care
February 16, 2010
Read this USA TODAY report about a life-saving heart assist device:
New HeartMate II pump is latest bridge to life
February 4, 2010
Doctors Caution You to Guard Your Heart on Super Bowl Sunday
February 4, 2010 (Update: March 30, 2010)
Saluting Generosity & Service–Denton A. Cooley Leadership Award
Presented to Jan and Dan Duncan
January 21, 2010
Texas Heart Institute Recognized for National Excellence
January 21, 2010
FDA Approves Assist Device for Permanent Treatment of Advanced Heart Failure
January 15, 2010
Research Director Awarded Recovery Act Grant from National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
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