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The Texas Heart Institute's commitment to education is one of the dimensions that sets it apart from other major centers. Postdoctoral and allied training programs, seminars, symposia, conferences, publication of scientific and clinical findings, training materials, and public education are all part of the Institute’s educational thrust.
Sharing New Knowledge
The award-winning THI website was redesigned in 2005 to offer a full spectrum of research, education and patient care information. More than 2.5 million unique visitors logged on to the THI website (texasheart.org) last year, and the number continues to rise steadily. Because nearly 30 percent of our website visitors are Spanish-speaking, all 153 of the Heart Information Center topics on the website have now been translated into Spanish.
Two new websites were developed as an extension of the THI website. The new Continuing Medical Education website (cme.texasheart.org) provides a comprehensive array of online educational programs designed to keep physicians up-to-date with the latest information available on the prevention and treatment of heart disease. The website offers recent THI satellite symposia, cardiology grand rounds, courses in ethics and heart sounds auscultation, and case studies in peripheral vascular disease, electrophysiology, and echocardiography. The site offers free CME credits and saw 25,000 visitors last year. Physicians may also register online for upcoming symposia.
In 2005, THI also launched the Project Heart website (texasheart.org/projectheart), a heart-smart resource for teachers, parents, and students. With lesson plans at its core, the site is designed to help teachers develop activities for the classroom about the heart, healthy eating, and an active lifestyle. The curriculum was developed with volunteer assistance from Houston-area teachers, so the materials comply with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills criteria—a key standard for teachers to be able to use the curriculum. The site, which continues to expand the curriculum, saw over 15,000 visitors last year.
THI’s Heart Information Center (HIC) continues to see steady growth with over 10,000 visitors last year. The HIC staff also responded to more than 3,500 e-mail inquiries and calls for information. The facility, which is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, is located on the first floor of the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital – The Denton A. Cooley Building at 6770 Bertner. The HIC provides assistance through a toll-free telephone number, 1-800-292-2221.
Improving the Skills of Heart Specialists; Training the Next Generation
THI sponsors live symposia on cardiovascular intervention and cardiovascular surgery, many in conjunction with major national meetings. Circulation for the newly designed THI Journal has been increased to 45,000 cardiovascular physicians across the country and the goal is to increase the frequency from four times to six times a year. The circulation for the scientific bulletin Heart Watch has also been expanded to 35,000. Numerous manuscripts are published each year, and at any given time, more than 150 are in the editing process. A Library and Learning Resource Center teaches health professionals and researchers how to use new technologies and electronic systems to access a large amount of rapidly evolving information about cardiovascular disease and to deliver medical services more efficiently. In addition, each year 100 young heart specialists improve their knowledge and skills through their participation in our postdoctoral programs. THI’s postdoctoral programs have now trained more than 2,600 heart specialists from 44 states and 47 countries.
Surgical teams from heart centers across the country come here to learn new surgical techniques, especially those involving new heart assist devices. In 2005, THI opened a new
Center for Cardiac Support for allied health professionals, including cardiopulmonary perfusionists, nurses, biomedical engineers, and other technical staff. Students learn how to safely and effectively set up, operate, and maintain mechanical cardiac support systems. Instructors for the Center teach students the knowledge and skills they will need to properly care for patients being supported by cardiac support technology. Health professionals also come to the simulated catheterization laboratory studio at THI where they learn how to use the evolving percutaneous interventional technology for treating heart disease.
Contact Information
See the individual program for specific contact information. The Texas Heart Institute is located in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas.
| Educational activities of the Texas Heart Institute are supported in part by the W.T. and Louise Jarrett Moran Endowment Fund for Cardiovascular Education. |
Updated March 2007
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