5 minute read
Interventional cardiologist shares knowledge, expertise and insight
Dr. Neal Kleiman
“I view young physicians as a talent pipeline.” “As a student under
Dr. Kleiman, nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. He makes you think.”
Dr. Sonia Jacob
One hallmark of a genuine leader is the desire to mentor to others —
to enrich the world by passing along lessons learned. One such leader is interventional cardiologist Neal Kleiman, a premier researcher who possesses an innate ability to find meaning in massive volumes of research data. Kleiman has shared his insight and expertise with more than 150 fellows who have studied with him.
Kleiman is one of the nation’s foremost researchers in the area of blood clots and antiplatelet therapy (the use of medications to prevent platelets from clumping and blood from clotting). His research lab is recognized nationally for platelet research. There, Kleiman and his associates examine the effects of antiplatelet therapy in patients with coronary artery disease, who undergo angioplasty procedures.
LESSONS LEARNED:
Leading interventional cardiologist mentors up-and-coming researchers
BY ERIN FAIRCHILD
Over the years, Kleiman has gained prominence, and he has shared more than his knowledge of cardiovascular medicine; he also has mentored up-and-coming physician researchers.
“I view young physicians as a talent pipeline,” Kleiman said. “Our real aim is to advance the entire field. Despite the prevailing wisdom, you can’t do that if you don’t have a constant stream of new ideas and viewpoints.
“Young investigators or fellows can’t contribute much if they don’t have the sense that their ideas and input are taken seriously and viewed respectfully by their mentors.”
Dr. Juan Granada,medical director of the Skirball Center for Cardiovascular Research at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation at Columbia University Medical
School in New York, said Kleiman stands apart from other researchers partly because of his transparency. Because of Kleiman, Granada says he is equipped with the knowledge to design and write a scientific manuscript, which is, “a skill that is very difficult to acquire.
Cardiologist Sonia Jacob,who is “Dr. Kleiman is a true academician,” he said. “I believe his greatest legacy is that he now in private practice at Methodist, teaches fellows (physicians in advanced trainstudied under Kleiman for 18 months as part of a general ing) how to read data. He changed the way I cardiology fellowship and later completed an interventional look at data, research and analysis.” cardiology fellowship with him. Kleiman was Granada’s direct supervisor
“Dr. Kleiman is a very patient, very humble man who always during his cardiology fellowship at The puts the patient first,” Jacob said. “He never gives up. Where Methodist Hospital and was his mentor others might quit, he always has other options for the patient.” during Granada’s interventional cardiology
She says that while he’s a brilliant scientist, it’s not just in the fellowship. After completing the fellowships, catheterization lab where Kleiman has impact; he has a real he worked for Kleiman for two years. focus on patient care. Granada is now building a reputation of
“As a student under Dr. Kleiman, nothing is handed to you on his own at Columbia in the validation of a silver platter. He makes you think,” she said. “He makes you emerging technologies to diagnose the harddo everything yourself but with his guidance. Because he to-detect vulnerable plaques that cause heart helped me figure out how to help the patient, he has helped attacks and strokes. He also is involved in build my character as I deal with my own patients. He showed research on the use of stem cells for myocarme how to think for myself, and he demonstrated a great care dial repair (the repair of damaged heart for the patient above all else.” tissue) and drug eluting stents.
Kleiman says that after a certain point, one’s academic career Kleiman gave his fellows scientific depth, is no longer measured in terms of publications and awards but, Granada said. “He’s a different kind of scien-
“By how much one has developed a group of junior investiga- tist because he also really enjoys clinical work tors — this is how one spawns a field.” — interacting with patients. He showed us that there is real potential to be a scientist and still maintain clinical skills,” he said. Granada also says Kleiman is a model for how physicians can apply the positive results of research to patients in their practices. “Dr. “He changed the way I look at Kleiman does both very well. Plus, he’s a master of
Dr. Juan Granada data, research and analysis.” data analysis.”
Dr. Guillermo Torre-Amione,who is medical director of cardiac transplantation at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center,
has gained a national reputation as a heart failure researcher. He too was a Kleiman protégé. “Dr. Kleiman instilled in me the ability to offer an unbiased analysis of research in the cardiovascular arena,” he said.
He attributes Kleiman’s guidance as a key factor in his ability to conduct quality research. “Without the mentoring I received from Dr. Kleiman, I would not have the skills I’ve needed to help my patients manage and overcome heart failure,” he said.
Torre, whose research focuses on heart failure and transplantation, divides his time between an active clinical practice and research. He has 15 active research protocols and 12 planned protocols that are in varying stages of development. His investigator-initiated research (research that is not funded by a pharmaceutical company) includes a study with cardiac transplant patients designed to impact the cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart) that naturally follows transplantation.
It also includes a novel study for advanced heart failure patients that involves plasma exchange — a process in which a patient’s plasma is removed and exposed to stresses, then injected back into the body, triggering an inflammatory response that helps heal the heart muscle.
“Because of what I learned from Dr. Kleiman, I have been confident in submitting investigational new drug applications to the FDA for approval, and I have seen these ideas turn into wonderful success stories for my patients and their families,” Torre said. “I know I speak not only for myself but for many of my patients and their loved ones when I say I am grateful for the knowledge, expertise and insight that Dr. Kleiman shared with me.”
Dr. Guillermo Torre-Amione
The Methodist Hospital is ranked among the country’s top hospitals in12 specialties in U.S.News & World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Hospitals” issue. Methodist is ranked in more specialties than any hospital in Texas.
The magazine ranked the country’s top 50 hospitals in 16 specialties based on a combination of clinical data, number of discharges and reputation.
