Libin Life RESEARCH
EDUCATION
CARE DELIVERY
SPRING 2016
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta Magazine
REFLECTING
ON 50
SOME LIBIN MEMORABLE MOMENTS TO HONOUR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
RESEARCHERS FIND EARLY INTERVENTION NOT ALWAYS BEST IN DIALYSIS AUTONOMIC DISORDERS CLINIC FOR WESTERN CANADA OPENS IN CALGARY
Q & A WITH THE 2016 DR. E.R. SMITH LECTURER, DR. JACK TU MD, PhD
COMMUNITY WITH HEART TONY DILAWRI & KEN KING, GALA CO-CHAIRS, SHARE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE BEAT GOES ON GALA
WHAT TEACHING MEANS TO ME WORDS BY DR. PAUL FEDAK, MD, PhD
T
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
his spring, the University of Calgary will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Reflecting on this important milestone, I am reminded of the tremendous progress that has been made in cardiovascular care and research. From only a handful of dedicated clinicians in the early 1970s, there are now more than 100 cardiovascular specialists and an additional 100 researchers who make up the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. These individuals work closely with hundreds of dedicated front line cardiovascular health care clinicians who provide outstanding care for Southern Alberta. Trying to decide what the single most important advancement over this time period is challenging. To name just a few, the implementation of our core training groups such as the electrophysiology team comprised of worldrenowned specialists, then and now, such as Dr. D. George Wyse, MD, PhD has resulted in numerous lives saved and the increase in effective and lifesaving heart procedures. Our ability to translate discovery through the use of clinical trials such as Dr. Derek Exner’s REFINE ICD (an effort to predict sudden death) or large clinical databases/registries such as Dr. Merril Knudtson’s APPROACH (patient-focused outcomes database that collects and processes patient information to improve cardiac care) has advanced appropriate clinical decision making. Finally, our renewed efforts to identify subjects at risk is escalating and, led by Dr. Norm Campbell, our team is ensuring the advancement of health promotion and disease prevention initiatives are implemented resulting in improved lifestyle choices that could further reduce the risk of chronic diseases. It is these, and numerous other contributions from the Libin team, that have led to groundbreaking initiatives resulting in a healthier and thriving patient population. Currently our Libin team is updating its strategic research vision to be ready to prosper in the future. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Anne Gillis as the Deputy Director of the Institute. With a long history of research and leadership expertise, she will move the academic mission forward. In addition, Dr. Sofia Ahmed joins the leadership team as the Director of Research Training and Mentorship. She is a clinician-scientist who will bring her mentorship passion to enhance the educational offerings within the Institute. With many new recruitments underway we look forward to exciting opportunities that will allow us to ABOUT THE INSTITUTE continue to provide excellence in cardiovascular research, education The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta is an entity of both and care to our constituents. Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary. It is the only Canadian health institute to offer a single cardiovascular program that promotes quality standards across the city and region. It is made up of 1,500 members, staff, students, and clinical trainees that coordinate cardiovascular research and education, along with delivering world-class cardiac care to a population of over two million people in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and eastern British Columbia. The Institute is committed to developing outstanding cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention programs by translating innovative research into novel health-care solutions. To learn more about the Institute and how you can donate, please visit our website at www.libin.ucalgary.ca/donate.
DR. TODD ANDERSON Director
Libin Cardiovascular Institute Of Alberta @LibinDirector
Libin Life Libin Life is published semi-annually by the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, an entity of the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services (Calgary Zone). The Libin Life mission is to share news and information about the Institute’s impact in research, education, and patient care. Institute Director Dr. Todd Anderson @LibinDirector Institute Deputy Director Dr. Anne Gillis Institute Research Training & Mentorship Director Dr. Sofia Ahmed Institute Associate Director Al-Karim Walli @aswalli Editor Lauren Thorson Copy Editor Judy Siu Editorial Committee Barb Jones, Myrna Linder, Vaska Saydina, Dena Shlah, Judy Siu, Lauren Thorson, Jeannine Turnbull, Al-Karim Walli Contributors Dr. Todd Anderson, Dr. Sofia Ahmed, Crystal Boisselle, Riley Brandt, Don Campbell, Marlene Campbell, Pam Cantor, Freda Cook, Monique de St. Croix, Tony Dilawri, Glenda Durupt, Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD, Ken King, Myrna Linder, Bruce Perrault, Sharanya Ramesh, Adrian Shellard, Dena Shlah, Judy Siu, Cheryl Tarr, Lauren Thorson, Steven Tov, Jeannine Turnbull, Al-Karim Walli, Dr. D. George Wyse, MD, PhD, Brian Yuen, Colin Zak Design and Layout Steven Tov @madebysteventov Printer McAra Printing @mcaraprinting
Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta University of Calgary HSC G242, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1 P 403.210.6271 E libin@ucalgary.ca W libininstitute.org Twitter @libininstitute Editorial Inquiries Lauren Thorson Communications Coordinator lthorson@ucalgary.ca
Send comments, requests for magazine copies, digital magazine issue subscriptions or change of mailing address notifications to libin@ucalgary.ca. Please request permission to reproduce any part of
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this publication. All rights reserved. © 2016 Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta to share news and information about the Institute’s impact in research, education and patient care.
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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
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UPCOMING EVENTS
5
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
7
NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS
9
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
24 DONOR PROFILE
FEATURES
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REFLECTING ON 50 Some Libin memorable moments to honour the University of Calgary’s 50th Anniversary
COMMUNITY WITH HEART Tony Dilawri & Ken King, gala co-chairs, share the positive impact of The Beat Goes On Gala
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CARE DELIVERY
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AUTONOMIC DISORDERS CLINIC FOR WESTERN CANADA OPENS IN CALGARY NEW LEADERSHIP IN CARDIAC CARE
RESEARCH
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EARLY INTERVENTION TO PREVENT CLOTTING DURING KIDNEY DIALYSIS NOT ALWAYS BEST Researchers’ review of procedures reveals proactive approach can increase infections, other adverse effects
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INSIDE THE LAB: Q & A WITH CHERYL HALL (MEEK) DIVISION OF CARDIOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT FUND
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EDUCATION
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LIBIN INSTITUTE TRAINEE WINS RESEARCH AWARD FOR HEART FAILURE PATCH WHAT TEACHING MEANS TO ME Words by Dr. Paul FedaK, MD, PhD, associate professor and cardiac surgeon WHAT MENTORSHIP MEANS TO ME Words by Sharanya Ramesh, MD/PhD student Q & A WITH DR. JACK TU, MD, PhD
TRAINEE PROFILES
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CONTENTS / SPRING 2016
DEPARTMENTS
TINE HAWORTH CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH DAY
CANADA-CHINA SYMPOSIUM
UPCOMING EVENTS
JULY 29 - AUGUST 1, 2016
APRIL 7, 2016
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta will host the 4th Biennial Canada-China Symposium on
The Libin Institute’s Tine Haworth Cardiovascular
Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
Research Day will be held on April 7, 2016 at the
(CCS-ATVB) on July 29-August 1, 2016. Chaired by
Foothills Campus in the HRIC atrium and the Libin
Xi-Long Zheng, PhD, this international event will bring
Lecture Theatre. This annual event will include
together leading researchers, clinician scientists, and
presentations from external and internal speakers
trainees from Canada and China at the University of
that will showcase insightful, cutting edge
Calgary. Attendees will have the opportunity to
cardiovascular research, poster presentations,
network, share advanced information and
rapid fire talks from Libin trainees, and the Dr. E.R.
technologies in the areas of ATVB, discuss future field
Smith Lecture presented by Toronto’s Sunnybrook
directions, and share their visions and wisdom of
Research Institute’s Lead, Dr. Jack Tu. For 2016, the Baay Chair Lecture is being presented in conjunction with the Tine Haworth Cardiovascular Research Day and will be delivered by Dr. David Wheeler from the University College London. For more information and tickets please go to libin.eventbrite.ca.
education and research. Abstract submission deadline is April 22, 2016 and early bird registration is June 15, 2016. For more information, please go to www.canada-china-symposium-atvb.com. Further questions may be directed to Xi-Long Zheng at xlzheng@ucalgary.ca.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR APPLIED CARDIOVASCULAR BIOLOGY (ISACB) MEETING SEPTEMBER 7 - 10, 2016 The 15th biennial ISACB meeting will be held in Canada for the first time at the Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta on September 7-10, 2016. The ISACB biennial meeting is a unique event that brings together clinicians, engineers, scientists from academia, and industry with a mix of junior and senior investigators and trainees. The conference is a forum to share advancements in the basic sciences, engineering, and clinical practices towards understanding cardiovascular health and disease, along with highlighting achievements in new tools and approaches for improved cardiovascular wellness worldwide. This year the theme is, “Transforming Approaches to Cardiovascular Health and Disease: Enabling biology and engineering in prevention, diagnosis, therapeutics, and devices.” Abstract submission is now open and will close on April 1, 2016. Chaired by Tina Rinker, PhD, a member of the ISACB Executive Council, the local organizing committee also includes Elena Di Martino, PhD, and Drs. Randy Moore and Paul Fedak, MD, PhD. For more information please go to www.isacb.org/biennial-meeting. Further questions may be directed to banff2016@isacb.org or Tina Rinker at kdrinker@ucalgary.ca.
THE BEAT GOES ON GALA SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 On September 10, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta will host its third annual The Beat Goes On Gala. This years’s premier fundraising event brings co-chairs Tony Dilawri and Ken King, philanthropists, and the community together for a fantastic evening full of great food, comradery, and incredible entertainment from multi-JUNO Award winner Jim Cuddy and his group The Jim Cuddy Trio and a surprise musical prodigy. More details coming soon on libinbeat.ca. #LibinBeat
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ABOUT THE COVER To commemorate the University of Calgary’s 50th anniversary, the Libin Institute has compiled 50 of some of its memorable moments over the past half century. The images on the cover are just a few examples of what can be seen in the timeline feature. For more information on the images and for the full timeline, please refer to page 11.
For recognition for his overall excellence, Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD has been awarded the Watanabe Distinguished Achievement Award. The Watanabe Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes extraordinary contributions made by an individual to the Cumming School of Medicine. Such recognition is only given to one faculty member per year and is awarded for overall excellence. Dr. Fedak is a cardiac surgeon, associate professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, and principal investigator in the Marlene and Don Campbell Family Cardiac Research Laboratory at the Cumming School of Medicine.
BILL COLE, PhD RECIEVES VAN DE SANDE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR MENTORSHIP Bill Cole, PhD has been awarded the Cumming School of Medicine’s Van de Sande Distinguished Achievement Award for Mentorship. Devoting countless hours outside of the classroom to ensure his students receive the advice, support, and encouragement they need to succeed, Cole has been an outstanding mentor to hundreds of students, both undergraduate and graduate. He has also led the development of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology’s new mentorship program.
CARDIOLOGY FELLOW, DR. ZARDASHT OQAB, WINS C-SPIN RESEARCH PROPOSAL AWARD On January 19, Dr. Zardasht Oqab was the recipient of the Best Clinical Research Proposal in Canada at the second annual Canadian Stroke Prevention Intervention Network (C-SPIN) workshop in Toronto, Ontario. Held annually, this [L-R] Dr. Jeff Healey and Dr. Zardasht Oqab workshop brings up-andPhoto by Crystal Boisselle coming cardiology fellows, residents, and PhD candidates together to train the next leaders in stroke research. Dr. Oqab was selected from a variety of trainees from all over Canada due to his current research focusing on how an accurate diagnosis of frailty, a complex syndrome not synonymous with old age, in elderly patients who have atrial fibrillation, irregular heartbeats, can prevent debilitating strokes. He is a first year cardiology fellow supervised by Dr. Robert Sheldon.
Photo by Adrian Shellard
DR. NORM CAMPBELL’S, CM YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
DR. PAUL FEDAK, MD, PhD WINS WATANABE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Last year, Dr. Norm Campbell was honoured for his dedication to the betterment of health care with four prestigious accolades including the University of Calgary’s Peak Scholar Award, the Canadian Medical Association’s Frederic Newton Gisborne (FNG) Starr Award, the Alberta Medical Association’s Medal of Distinguished Service, and the Rx&D 2015 Health Research Foundation’s Medal of Honour. Dr. Campbell won the Peak Scholar for his work on dietary sodium evidence; the FNG Starr Award for his role in promoting best practices in the prevention and treatment of hypertension and his work in making the reduction of dietary sodium a priority; the Distinguished Service award for his dedication to research, education, and prevention related to hypertension; and the Medal of Honour for leading the creation of a clinical guideline program that has been associated with a five-fold increase in the control of hypertension in Canada. Dr. Campbell is a professor of medicine whose research specialty lies in the field of health promotion and disease prevention.
Photo provided by Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) [L-R] Cheryl Cann, Dr. Norm Campbell, Dr. Theodore Warkentin, Dr. John Kelton, Dr. John Bergeron (CNW Group/ Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D))
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CANADIAN CARDIOVASCULAR CONGRESS AWARD WINNERS Photos courtesy of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society
DR. HOLLY MEWHORT
[FAR RIGHT] Dr. Holly Mewhort
A postgraduate year six cardiac surgery resident and PhD trainee from Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD’s lab, Dr. Holly Mewhort took home the Dr. Paul Cartier Cardiac Surgery Resident Award and the Trainee Research Award – Basic Science. The Dr. Paul Cartier Cardiac Surgery Resident Award is given to a cardiac surgery resident who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of cardiac surgery through basic science or clinical research and who has demonstrated promise for a distinguished academic career in cardiac surgery. The Trainee Research Award – Basic Science is given to trainees who show scientific merit and excellence in their presentation and research work. Dr. Mewhort presented on her research that is using an extracellular matrix to treat or prevent heart failure following a heart attack. Dr. Mewhort marks the third student in a row from the Fedak lab to win this prestigious award – something never achieved previously in any Canadian lab. For more information on her research, go to page 25.
DR. MICHAEL CHIU Dr. Michael Chiu was the recipient of a 2015 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Associations Have a Heart Bursary. He presented on biophysical techniques used to investigate conformational and structural changes in anti-atherosclerotic heat shock protein. This award is designed to introduce promising young Canadian medical and graduate students, post-graduate trainees, and basic scientists-in-training to the cardiovascular sciences (clinical and basic) and to encourage a strong Canadian cardiovascular community. He is a member of Dr. Ed O’Brien’s vascular lab and will be entering a cardiology fellowship at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta this year.
[FOURTH IN FROM TOP RIGHT] Dr. Michael Chiu [LEFT] Dr. Merrill Knudtson
DR. MERRIL KNUDTSON Dr. Merril Knudtson was the recipient of the 2015 Canadian Association of Intervention Cardiology’s Outstanding Achievement Award. This achievement is given to individuals who have contributed to the discipline of interventional cardiology in Canada and demonstrated excellence in clinical practice, education, research or leadership. Known as the father of interventional cardiology in Canada, Dr. Knudtson has performed more than 10,000 interventional procedures and has trained over 75 interventional cardiologists world-wide.
LIBIN MEMBERS RECIEVE 10,000 CITATION AWARD On February 3, Drs. Todd Anderson, Bill Ghali, and Michael Hill were among six faculty members honoured for their accumulation of 10,000 citations at the Cumming School of Medicine’s Celebration of Excellence event. This is an incredible accomplishment as less than 0.1 per cent of researchers will accumulate 10,000 citations over the course of their career. 6 LIBIN LIFE [L-R] Drs. Michael Hill, Jon Meddings, Gerald Zamponi, PhD
Photo courtesy of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
On October 24 to 27, the 16th annual Canadian Cardiovascular Congress was held in Toronto, Ontario with, once again, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta as a gold sponsor. As the largest health professional congress in Canada, the event draws individuals ranging from cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, researchers, nurses, and other cardiovascular specialists from across the country and the world to this four day event. Chaired by the Libin Institute’s Director, Dr. Todd Anderson, the congress was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and approximately 3,000 participants had the opportunity to attend a variety of presentations, workshops, debates, meet and greets, and networking opportunities. The Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s guideline updates were also presented from a variety of Canadian researchers including Drs. Todd Anderson, Libin Director and Dr. Jehangir Appoo, cardiac surgeon. Dr. Anderson, lead author, spoke on the 2015 Update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dyslipidemia for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in the Adult, and Dr. Appoo, lead author as well, spoke on the Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons/Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery Joint Position Statement on Interventions for Thoracic Aortic Disease. Presentations can be found on the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress’ website at http://www.cardiocongress.org.
[ABOVE] 2015 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress Chair and Libin Director, Dr. Todd Anderson
Drs. Merril Knudtson, Holly Mewhort, and Michael Chiu were awarded prestigious accolades that recognized their dedication to cardiovascular care and research. Please refer page 6 for award details. Other highlights from the congress included Dr. Norm Campbell participating in the the Great Salt Debate, poster/ oral presentations from a variety of Libin trainees, and a Libin hosted reception on the Sunday evening. “We are very proud to have been a gold sponsor for the 2015 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress,” says Libin Institute Director, Dr. Todd Anderson. “The meeting provides an opportunity for our members and students to learn, showcase their research, interact with colleagues from across the country, and form new collaborations.”
DR. BRENDA HEMMELGARN APPOINTED VICECHAIR, ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES BOARD Dr. Brenda Hemmelgarn, MD, PhD, head of the Cumming School of Medicine’s Community Health Sciences Department has been named vice-chair of the newly re-established Alberta Health Services (AHS) board of directors. Hemmelgarn is a specialist in nephrology with research expertise in health services research related to the intersection between chronic kidney and heart disease. Originally trained as a nurse, she has significant front line experience in health care, a strong knowledge of operational issues and an in-depth perspective of health-care issues for Albertans and AHS. She sits on the board of directors for the Kidney Foundation of Canada Southern Alberta Branch, is a past member of the board of Hypertension Canada and Canadian Organ Replacement Register, and participates in numerous other professional advisory committees.
ASTRAZENECA CANADA’S PHILANTHROPY SHINES THROUGH AT APPRECIATION EVENT On February 10, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta hosted a donor appreciation/cheque presentation ceremony for its long-time supporters, AstraZeneca Canada. The company has many ties within the Cumming School of Medicine and with the Libin Institute. It has contributed numerous times to the Institute’s cardiology interventional fellowship program, was a major donor to the Chiu Family/ AstraZeneca Chair in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and to The Beat Goes On Gala. [L-R] Blair McLean, Dr. Michael Curtis, James Kavanagh, Dr. Francois Charbonneau, Dr. David Goodhart, Dr. Mouhieddin (Dean) Traboulsi
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NEWS & HIGHTLIGHTSES
THE 2015 CANADIAN CARDIOVASCULAR CONGRESS
DR. ANNE GILLIS
DR. SOFIA AHMED
DRS. ANNE GILLIS AND SOPHIA AHMED JOIN LIBIN LEADERSHIP TEAM The Libin Institute is proud to announce two of its newest leadership team members: Drs. Anne Gillis as Deputy Director and Sofia Ahmed as Director of Research Training and Mentorship. Dr. Anne Gillis is a professor of medicine in the Department of Cardiac Sciences at the Cumming School of Medicine, former president of the Heart Rhythm Society, and lead of the electrophysiology group. She is a clinician-scientist with a research focus on the mechanism and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation. She brings a wealth of leadership and research experience to her new position. Dr. Sofia Ahmed is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and former chair of the Cumming School of Medicine’s Resident Research Program. She is a highly regarded clinician-scientist in the field of hypertension and kidney disease who has an active laboratory, graduate training program, and has an excellent reputation as a mentor of students at all levels.
MOZELL FAMILY ANALYSIS CORE LAB NAMING CELEBRATION In recognition of a charitable donation from long-standing Libin supporters, the Mozell family, the Mozell Family Analysis Core Lab at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta officially moved to its new home and revealed its new sign on September 25. Previously named the Libin Institute Analysis Core, this group led by Hude Quan, PhD serves as a core support unit for all Libin Institute members. It is compiled of biostatisticians and analysts to support key research initiatives to improve the cardiovascular health of those in Canada and around the world. For more information, please refer to libin.ucalgary.ca/mozellfamilyanalysiscorelab. [L-R] Back: Al-Karim Walli, Khokan Sikdar, PhD, Dr. Todd Anderson, Beverley Mozell, Susan Mozell, Myrna Linder, Shiva Wagle, Hude Quan, PhD, Front: J.L. “Sam” Mozell
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HEART SURGERY: QUICK FIXES AND REPLACEMENT PARTS On February 25, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta hosted its annual public education speaker series, Libin 101. Held at the University of Calgary’s Foothills Campus, this year’s theme, Heart surgery: Quick fixes and replacement parts, highlighted the spectrum of breakthrough research to innovative leading edge care delivery. The Libin Lecture Theatre was buzzing with almost 200 attendees ranging from patients to high school students to young professionals. Guests were treated to an apple reception before the evening’s presentations commenced from four leading cardiac surgeons/researchers:
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
[L-R] Drs. Scott McClure, Andrew Maitland, Imtiaz Ali, Paul Fedak, MD, PhD • Photos by Lauren Thorson
• Dr. Imtiaz Ali spoke on the emergence and evolution of cardiac surgery. • Dr. Andrew Maitland presented on minimally invasive valve replacement procedures. • Dr. Scott McClure discussed the advances in treating conditions of the aorta. • Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD spoke on the evolution of mechanical heart support and the future of treating heart failure by enabling regrowth of viable heart muscle.
Following the presentations there was a panel discussion along with a lively question and answer period. For more information, please refer to libin101.ca.
DIABETES AWARENESS DAY AND CANADIAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION EXPO On November 28, the 13th annual Diabetes Awareness Day and Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) Expo, organized by the Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre and the CDA, was held at the Health Sciences Centre. With 277 attendees, this event featured a number of speakers from the Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre, including Dr. Pere Santamaria, MD, PhD, whose research has recently been featured in Nature magazine. The Libin Institute is also a sponsor of this popular annual event. Dr. David Lau, who is editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Diabetes, chaired the event and also presented on current advances in diabetes research. Other presentations covered a range of topics around current scientific advances, self-management, and physical activity and nutrition. Attendees were also able to take part in physical activity breaks with World Heath Calgary and walk through the exhibitor section, which had a wide variety of displays from local companies in fields such as self-management, well-being, and financial assistance. LIBIN LIFE 9 Dr. David Lau speaking to crowd Photo by Pam Cantor
ICD PATIENT CELEBRATION
[L-R] Dr. Satish Raj and Sam Sears, PhD Photo by Brian Yuen
On December 7, the Cardiac Device Clinic and Calgary Cardiac Implantable Electrical Device Medical Director, Dr. Satish Raj hosted a presentation for approximately 430 patients who have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Attendees also included patients’ families, some of whom teleconferenced in from Saskatoon, Lethbridge, and Red Deer. Held at the Foothills Medical Centre’s Foothills Auditorium, the evening’s guest speaker was Sam Sears, PhD from East Carolina University. He is internationally recognized for his work related to the psychological consequences of life threatening arrhythmias and defibrillator (ICD) implantation. He presented on a variety of topics such as how to live successfully with cardiac disease and an ICD, how to maximize survivorship, coping with life after an ICD, and the strategies required to live like a survivor. The evening ended with an energetic question and answer discussion with Dr. Raj and Sears. Photo by Dena Shlah
UNITED WAY BBQ On October 1, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, in partnership with the Cumming School of Medicine, held its United Way BBQ in the HRIC atrium of the Foothills Medical Campus. This sold out event raised $1,037 and Hude Quan, PhD was the lucky winner of the 50/50. Total proceeds from the Cumming School of Medicine’s United Way fundraising event, combined with individual donations and leadership, raised an incredible $50,000. [L-R] Lauren Thorson and Al-Karim Walli
HEART TO HEART: CONGENITAL HEART EDUCATION DAY On November 7, the Southern Alberta Congenital Heart Clinic, located at the Peter Lougheed Centre, hosted Heart to Heart: Congenital Heart Education Day. Attended by 170 congenital heart disease patients and their families, [ABOVE] Dr. Tim Prieur the day offered presentations Photo by Cheryl Tarr from leading congenital specialists Drs. Nanette Alvarez, Tim Prieur and Michael Connelly; physician resident Dr. Jessica Patzer and nurse clinician, Lori Newman; social worker June Yee, and area experts from Edmonton who presented via teleconference. Presentation topics ranged from exercise benefits and techniques, stress reduction, and family planning. This interactive day also allowed for attendees to have the opportunity to learn more about other local congenital patient organizations and network with one another.—Glenda Durupt
COMMUNITY PARTNERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING On February 29, Libin’s Community Partners Advisory Committee meeting was held at the Calgary Golf & Country Club. Hosted to inform, connect, and thank some of its most dedicated donors and supporters, guests were treated to presentations from Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD and Elena Di Martino, PhD. Dr. Fedak, a cardiac surgeon, spoke on his current heart patch trial and how it may lead to muscle regeneration in heart failure patients. Elena, a biomedical engineer, presented on the potential role of biomechanics in treating conditions of the aorta. [BELOW] Elena Di Martino, PhD speaking at podium
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REFLECTING ON
FEATURE
50
2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the University of Calgary. As an entity of the University and Alberta Health Services, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta honours this celebration with a compilation of some of its own 50 memorable moments throughout the last half century. Curated by D. George Wyse.
1966
Photos provided by the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta team, Alberta Health Services, and Monique de St. Croix. As well as from the Hearts, Minds & Vision: Roots of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta history book.
1967
The University of Calgary, along with the Foothills 1 Medical Centre, opens their doors. 1 2
Formerly known as Foothills Provincial General Hospital Formerly known as the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine
The University of Calgary’s Cumming 2 School of Medicine is established and William Cochrane is appointed as the first Dean.
1968-1969 Some of the first cardiovascular researchers arrive at the Cumming School of Medicine, including Keith MacCannell and John Baumber among others, forming the founding Cardiovascular Research Group. They are located initially in portable units on main campus prior to moving to the Foothills Medical Centre site.
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1973 Israel (Sonny) Belenkie becomes the first full-time academic cardiologist at the Cumming School of Medicine. Shortly thereafter, he introduces the first echocardiography machine at Foothills Medical Centre.
1972
1982 The Health Sciences Centre at the Cumming School of Medicine opens and is the original home of the Cardiovascular Research Group.
Robert Sommerville and Ross McLean lead development of the cardiology teaching curriculum for the first medical students at the Cumming School of Medicine.
First coronary by-pass surgery completed at the Holy Cross Hospital.
1969 12 LIBIN LIFE
The Cumming School of Medicine’s cardiology training program, started by Eldon Smith, is approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Among the first to train are Peter Russell and Jim Hansen.
Michael Walsh, Jerry Wang, David Waisman, David Severson, and George Drummond form the Cell Regulation Research Group.
1982
1970
First Cumming School of Medicine class commences and classes are located on the 12th floor of the service wing of the Foothills Medical Centre.
1969
1982
L. Brent Mitchell returns to Calgary from Stanford University and Hank Duff is recruited from Vanderbilt University; they join D. George Wyse to become the founding core of the Cumming School of Medicine’s world-renowned clinical cardiac electrophysiology group.
1976 Donald Meldrum and John Morgan pioneer 3 Total Cardiology which becomes the largest private cardiology practice in Canada.
D. George Wyse returns to Calgary from training in Portland, Oregon. He’s the first research-focused cardiologist at the Cumming School of Medicine with a mandate to establish clinical cardiac electrophysiology. He conducts the first invasive electrophysiology study at the Foothills Medical Centre in the vascular radiology suite on the 4th floor in November of that year.
[1981-1983]
Joyce Harder, who began a pediatric cardiology practice in 1982 at the Foothills Medical Centre, leads consolidation of pediatric cardiology services at Alberta Children’s Hospital at the Richmond Road site after completion of final expansion of that site.
Formerly known as Cardiology Consultants Now known as Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions
1981 Don Meldrum sets up the city’s first cardiac rehabilitation program in the former nurses’ residence at the former Calgary General Hospital’s Bridgeland site.
1985
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The Peter Lougheed government establishes the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research 4 (AHFMR). Research becomes a strong priority and AHFMR feeds the aggressive recruitment led by Eldon Smith.
Interventional cardiologist Merril Knudtson returns to Calgary from Atlanta, Georgia where he was the first, and only, Canadian to train with Andreas Gruentzig, the father of percutaneous coronary angioplasty. His first balloon angioplasty was done at the Holy Cross Hospital in October 1981.
1985
3
Eldon Smith is recruited as the first head of cardiology at the Cumming School of Medicine and Foothills Medical Centre, and begins a rapid recruitment and growth phase.
1980
1981
1981 The arrival of John Tyberg, Henk ter Keurs and Wayne Giles among others help boost the cardiovascular research group to its current world renowned reputation.
1980
1978
1986 D. George Wyse, L. Brent Mitchell, and Hank Duff become investigators in the landmark NHLBI-sponsored Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST). Wyse takes on a leadership role in this trial and later in the Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) Trial and the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) Trial. Studies that fundamentally changed arrhythmia management.
The clinical cardiac electrophysiology and interventional cardiology training programs begin. Katherine Kavanagh, Jim Hansen, and David Roth are among the first to train.
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2004
2003
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta is established on January 27 and L. Brent Mitchell becomes the joint department head of both clinical (Alberta Health Services) and academic (University; established in 2004) Departments of Cardiac Sciences as well as the Libin’s first director.
The Alvin and Mona Libin Foundation pledge to become the founding donors to the Calgary Health Region and the University of Calgary to support establishment of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta.
[2004-2006]
Initially through the REACH! campaign,5 philanthropy contributes over $35 million dollars in support of the Libin.
2000
1993
Adult invasive cardiac services and cardiac surgery are consolidated at the Foothills Medical Centre. Holy Cross Hospital and the Calgary General Hospital at Bridgeland site close; Bridgeland site is demolished (1998).
Merril Knudtson starts APPROACH (Alberta Provincial Project for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease), providing a wellspring of information and training on quality cardiac care in Alberta through numerous descriptive cohort studies.
1987 Teresa Kieser, the third woman in Canada to practice heart surgery, becomes the first academic cardiac surgeon at the Cumming School of Medicine and the Foothills Medical Centre. Trained at the Ottawa Heart Institute with Willy Keon, as cardiac surgery was not ready to commence, she is seconded to Duke University to do additional training in arrhythmia surgery.
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The Stephenson Cardiac 6 Imaging Centre opens and goes on to establish a reputation as a world-class centre for clinical diagnosis, research, and education. Matthias Friedrich is named its first director.
1995 1996
An amalgamated clinical department of cardiac sciences encompassing cardiology, cardiac surgery, cardiac anesthesia, and cardiac intensivists is created in the Calgary Health Region with L. Brent Mitchell appointed as inaugural head.
2005
2004
The surviving members of the Cell Regulation Research Group (Walsh, Severson) and along with Gary Kargacin, Rodger Loutzenhiser, and Bill Cole form the Smooth Muscle Research Group located in the new Heritage Medical Research Building.
Andrew Maitland arrives and with Teresa Kieser, they perform the first open-heart surgery at the Foothills Medical Centre.
Nanette Alvarez and Tim Prieur become the founding members of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic located at the Calgary General Hospital’s Peter Lougheed Centre.
1988
1993
2006
2006 Led by John Burgess, the cardiac surgery training program launches at the Foothills Medical Centre.
2007
Photo courtesy of Alberta Heath Services
The Alberta Children’s Hospital, including pediatric cardiology, relocates to its new site on the West Campus.
Todd Anderson, an interventional cardiologist trained in Calgary and Harvard, is appointed Libin Director and head of the University and AHS Departments of Cardiac Sciences on completion of the term of L. Brent Mitchell.
2009
A Stephenson Cardiac Imaging Centre led initiative to standardize worldwide diagnosis of inflammatory heart disease, produces and publishes the Lake Louise Criteria: An international standard for the diagnosis of myocarditis in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Libin moves into new patient-based research labs in the Cumming School of Medicine’s Teaching, Research, and Wellness (TRW) building and its bench research labs into the Health Research and Innovation Centre (HRIC).
2011
S.R. Wayne Chen’s research team publishes a breakthrough study in Nature Medicine. Their finding has significant potential to impact the development of future anti-arrhythmic and heart failure treatment drugs.
Ed O’Brien is recruited from the Ottawa Heart Institute to become new Research Director of Libin replacing Jonathan Lytton who moved on to become Department Head of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Calgary. His mandate is to update the Libin Institute’s strategic plan for the next five years.
As one example of the Libin Institute’s international projects, Debra Isaac and the Libin team implement the Guyana Echocardiography Education Program, providing echo equipment and ongoing training for physicians to better diagnose heart failure, a major health concern in the region.
Derek Exner leads initiation of the Risk Estimation Following Infarction, Noninvasive Evaluation (REFINE) ICD trial, in an effort to better predict sudden death, thus informing decisions on use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD).
The Libin Institute’s history is summarized in a book: Hearts, Minds and Vision: Roots of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, written by a team, including writer Barbara Kermode-Scott and medical historian Robert Lampard, and published through partial support by donations.
2011
2011
2012 2012
2010
2009
Jonathon Lytton is appointed as the Libin Institute’s first Research Director with a mandate to assist L. Brent Mitchell’s direct development of the Institute’s strategic plan for the next five years.
5
REACH! was the first major joint campaign of the Calgary Health Trust, Calgary Health Region (now Alberta Health Services) and the University of Calgary to provide joint philanthropic support for health and health research, ultimately raising $312 million. 6 Formerly known as the Stephenson CMR Centre
LIBIN LIFE 15
2014 2013
Libin Institute celebrates 10 year anniversary by hosting its inaugural The Beat Goes On Gala, raising over $750,000 net.
Cardiac hybrid operating room, heavily supported by philanthropy, opens at Foothills Medical Centre in the McCaig Tower.
James White is recruited from the University of Western Ontario as the new director of the Stephenson Cardiac Imaging Centre replacing Matthias Friedrich who moved to Montreal.
2015
2013
As an example of one of the the Libin’s more recent philanthropy supported core facilities, the Mozell Family Analysis Core Lab at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta opens. This group assists Libin researchers with statistical and analytical support and to ultimately transform information into knowledge.
2016 New leadership roles are established with Todd Anderson re-appointed as Institute Director, Anne Gillis as Deputy Director, and Sofia Ahmed as Director of Research Training and Mentorship with a mandate to lead development of the Libin’s next strategic plan for the next five years.
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As an example of one of the Institute’s philanthropy supported educational programs, the Libin Institute’s Research Day is officially renamed the Libin Institute’s Tine Haworth Cardiovascular Research Day.
2015
2014
Photo by Monique de St. Croix
As an example of one of the Institute’s philanthropy funded chairs, nurse-scientist Kathryn King-Shier is named inaugural Guru Nanak Dev Ji Dil (Heart) Research Chair within the University’s Faculty of Nursing.
FEATURE
T
COMMUNITY WITH
H E A R T By Tony Dilawri and Ken King
O
ver the past two years, we’ve the last two years. The philanthropy had the opportunity to garnered from these groups has been a co-chair one of Calgary’s catalyst that has allowed the Libin most prestigious and entertaining Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta to fundraising events, the Libin thrive and complete compelling and Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s lifesaving heart health initiatives for The Beat Goes On Gala. Calgary, Canada, and the world. The This spectacular annual gala has Libin Cardiovascular Institute of raised approximately $2 million dollars Alberta is truly the best at what it does in its first two years – a true testament and with the community’s generosity, to the Calgary spirit. These funds have they are able to achieve greatness and gone towards a variety of innovative the impossible. and cutting edge research and care This year’s gala is sure to exceed delivery endeavours such as congenital expectations with great food, incredible heart disease research, health entertainment from multi-JUNO Award [L-R] Dr. Todd Anderson, Tony Dilawri and Ken King Photo by Monique de St. Croix promotion and disease prevention winner Jim Cuddy and his group The Jim initiatives, completion of a dedicated cardiac hybrid operating Cuddy Trio as well as a surprise musical prodigy, and of course room, and recruitment of first-class clinician-scientists. For 2016, the fantastic company of amazing Calgarians. We look forward to gala proceeds will be directed to the adult congenital heart disease all the fun and celebration at the third annual The Beat Goes On program and in support of cardiovascular science focused Gala on September 10, 2016. biomedical engineering research ranging from imaging, to fluid dynamics, to electrical modelling. The Beat Goes On Gala’s success could not have been Congratulations extended to the 2015 The Beat Goes On Gala live achieved without support from its 79 sponsors and donors over auction winners - group photo at top of page.
LIBIN LIFE 17
1
2
3
4
1 [L-R] Andy Braun, PhD, S.R. Wayne Chen, PhD, Dr. Henk ter Keurs, MD, PhD 2 [L-R] Dr. Francois Belanger, vice-president quality & chief medical officer
5
(acting), Alberta Health Services; Elizabeth Cannon, PhD, president, University of Calgary; Tony Dilawri, partner, Dilawri Group of Companies; Ken King, president and CEO, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation; Brenda Huband, vice-president and chief health operations officer, Central and Southern Alberta, Alberta Health Services; Dr. Todd Anderson, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta director; Alvin Libin, naming donor, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta
3 JUNO Award winner and main musical act, Jesse Cook 4 Piano prodigy, Kevin Chen 5 [L-R] Hude Quan, PhD and Tina Rinker, PhD
18 LIBIN LIFE
Photos by Monique de St. Croix
By Lauren Thorson
I
magine waking up every day feeling light-headed, quality testing, recognize both the common and less nauseous, and the idea of just getting out of bed common syndromes, and deliver care in the way that is too difficult to bear. These symptoms became reflects the best evidence that is currently out there,” the norm for Nicole Reeves, a patient who suffers he says. from a debilitating heart condition/autonomic disorWith rare visible signs of illness, many patients der called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome are overseen and misdiagnosed with having other — commonly known as POTS. conditions such as anxiety. But an autonomic disorders clinic called the Cal“Most patients are young females from their teens gary Autonomic Investigation and Management Clinic to 30s, whose POTS symptoms are affecting their at the South Health Campus, which officially launched daily activities such as going to school, working or in November, will help give Reeves — and the caring for a family,” says Raj. “What this clinic thousands of POTS provides is a referral home patients in Alberta like her so when patients’ — the treatment she needs. physicians contact us, we “It’s important to have a can provide proper advice clinic like this,” says Reeves. and education to assist “Having a clinic such as these individuals.” this one in our backyard POTS symptoms are will have a dramatic often triggered when effect on so many lives and patients stand up, resulting I think this will really help in daily activities being a lot of people and their quite challenging and often quality of life.” debilitating. For years, POTS Jennifer Blagden has [L-R] Dr. Satish Raj and Nicole Reeves patients have been seeking been so badly affected Photo by Colin Zak proper resources to assist by POTS that it has put with their condition. Now, a hold on her career. “It specialists from the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of impacts every part of my life and the worst part is I Alberta can help. have not been able to work as an orthopedic registered The Calgary Autonomic Investigation and nurse as being on my feet would trigger my symptoms Management Clinic, led by Dr. Satish Raj, an Alberta and make it very difficult to function,” says Blagden. Health Services electrophysiologist and POTS “Simple tasks such as maintaining my home, groceries, specialist, began seeing patients a year and a half ago. and being with family proves to be challenging and It is the first clinic in western Canada specifically results in a lot of frustration.” geared towards assisting POTS patients. Patients are referred to the clinic by their family POTS is a form of dysautonomia — an umbrella physician or specialist. The clinic will include a term used to describe several different medical research program that will complete studies involving conditions that cause a malfunction of areas in the POTS and other dysautonomia conditions such as autonomic nervous system. It is not a disease; rather, vasovagal syncope and orthostatic hypotension. a condition that includes a number of underlying Research trials are located at the South Health Camillnesses that can result in an increase in heart rate pus and the University of Calgary’s Foothills and decrease in blood pressure. This in turn causes Campus. symptoms such as gut irritation, joint problems, dizziness, and fatigue. “One of the challenges for these patients is access to care,” says Dr. Satish Raj. “With our staff and resources, we will have the ability to perform high
LIBIN LIFE 19
CARE DELIVERY
AUTONOMIC DISORDERS CLINIC FOR WESTERN CANADA OPENS IN CALGARY
NEW LEADERSHIP IN CARDIAC CARE The Libin Institute is proud to announce the new leadership appointments to its cardiac care team: DR. DAVID GOODHART A seasoned clinician and an interventionist with a talent for critical and insightful thinking. He will serve as the new cardiac catheterization/interventional cardiology program leader, replacing Dr. Mouhieddin (Dean) Traboulsi.
DR. ANGELA KEALEY A clinical cardiologist known for her expertise in the management of maternal cardiovascular disease and dedication to patient centered clinical care. She will work in conjunction with Dr. Goodhart and will oversee the diagnostic component of the cath lab.
DR. FAISAL AL-QOOFI An interventional cardiologist who is an expert in complex structural heart disease procedures. He will work in conjunction with Dr. Goodhart and oversee the structural heart components of the interventional service.
DR. NOWELL FINE The new leader of the echocardiography service, replacing Dr. Stuart Hutchison. Dr. Fine is chair of the Canadian Cardiac Transplant Network Research Committee and his principle area of research focuses on the use of standard and advanced echocardiographic imaging modalities for the evaluation and prediction of clinical outcomes in heart failure.
The Libin Institute welcomes the new leaders and thanks the previous role holders for their incredible dedication and contribution to the betterment of the Institute.
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RESEARCH
EARLY INTERVENTION TO PREVENT CLOTTING DURING KIDNEY DIALYSIS NOT ALWAYS BEST By Lauren Thorson
D
ialysis is the most common treatment for people with kidney failure worldwide. But the process, which involves hooking up patients at least three times a week to a machine that cleans their blood, can be painful, time-consuming, and sometimes ineffective. For dialysis to occur, a physician must create entry to the bloodstream, called vascular access. Researchers from the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine reviewed different methods available to achieve the most effective use of the vascular access. Results from this study were recently published in the Cochrane Library. The two recommended vascular access options are an arteriovenous graft, a plastic tube inserted under the skin to connect an artery with a vein in the arm, or a fistula, a direct surgical connection made between a vein and an artery in the arm. Over time, however, both grafts and fistulas tend to start narrowing, a condition called stenosis, that can lead to reduced blood flow and clotting, with consequent loss of the access. “Patients treated with hemodialysis need a reliable and durable vascular access to receive a lifesaving therapy,” says Dr. Pietro Ravani, the study’s lead and professor in the Division of Nephrology and Department of Community Health Sciences. “When blood flow in the access is too slow, hemodialysis becomes inefficient and the access can clot; surgical procedures may then become necessary to salvage the access or to create another one.”
BEING PROACTIVE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST APPROACH TO PATIENT PROBLEMS
Photo by Riley Brandt [L-R] Drs. Robert Quinn and Pietro Ravani
“The findings are unexpected because being proactive is actually not always the best approach to patient problems,” says Ravani. “Our understanding of how things work is often not confirmed in randomized controlled trials because our assumptions do not always take into account that interventions may fail and can cause harm.” Ravani along with Dr. Robert Quinn are conducting a multi-centre study to compare different vascular access methods for people who receive dialysis.
DID YOU KNOW? Many members of the highly productive division of nephrology are Libin members. The risk factors for
To prevent clotting and to maintain the vascular access’ function, clinical practice guidelines call for monitoring of the access to detect narrowing and correction early. In their review of randomized controlled trials involving approximately 1,400 patients, Ravani and his colleagues found that while monitoring and completing early correction of access narrowing may prevent blood clotting, this preventive approach does not guarantee that vascular access will remain open and functioning. Over time, early correction of narrowing actually increases the number of invasive procedures needed, and adverse effects associated with them, including infections.
heart and kidney disease overlap substantially and patients with kidney disease most often succumb to cardiovascular complications. As such, research that relates kidney and heart disease is topical, important, and highly relevant for patient care.
LIBIN LIFE 21
INSIDE THE LAB:
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE TYBERG LAB
As told to Judy Siu
It’s amazing. Dr. Tyberg is an incredible man—he’s probably the most intelligent person I’ve ever met. He’s very kind, generous, and compassionate. The lab is like a family and I call our students the “kids.” It’s a really good work environment.
Q & A WITH CHERYL HALL (MEEK)
WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH DR. TYBERG?
Photo by Judy Siu
The incredible amount of knowledge that comes in— every day is something new.
Cheryl Hall (Meek) has been a lab manager and surgical technician in Dr. John Tyberg MD, PhD’s lab since 1982. She coordinates the lab’s operational activities and facilitates/performs procedures on animal models. Cheryl has an animal health technology diploma from St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT WORKING FOR THE LIBIN INSTITUTE? The fact it is an institute and encompasses a larger group of people—academic as well as clinical. We aren’t stuck by ourselves in a corner. Everybody helps everybody and I just have to walk down the hall for information or equipment. It’s nice to all be in the same area.
DIVISION OF CARDIOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT FUND By Judy Siu In October, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta launched the Division of Cardiology Clinical Research Development Fund. It is an annual competition that funds collaborative research projects led by at least one staff cardiologist and at least one cardiology fellow in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. The funds provide cardiology fellows with the opportunity to ignite research projects in a basic science or clinical setting and offers a unique experience they wouldn’t get through other cardiology training programs across Canada.
22 LIBIN LIFE
“Research is the engine that drives the discovery of new therapies and advances the quality of life of our patients,” says Dr. Katherine Kavanagh, program director of the Libin Institute’s Clinical Cardiology Program. “It is extremely important our Cardiology Training Program provides our future cardiologists with not only the opportunity to observe and read about research, but rather the opportunity to learn by doing.” The competition received an incredible response that drew nine applications, with four projects being awarded. “The overwhelming response to this year’s competition is validation of its importance to inquiring young minds and their desire to contribute new knowledge to improve the health and outcomes of future patients,” says Dr. Kavanagh.
WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT COMING TO THE LAB EVERYDAY?
I really enjoy the procedures. We do some quite technically challenging ones and there’s so much to learn.
The people, the challenge, and the knowledge. I know I’ll learn something new every day.
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LAB MANAGER?
The day-to-day reward is the procedures. The long-term reward is the students. They come in as kids or just out of undergrad and leave with a PhD or Master’s. To see them come out of it changed or grown through being in our lab is very rewarding.
I do a bit of everything. I write all of Dr. Tyberg’s protocols for the animal care committees, set up studies and procedures, complete accounting and fund management duties, keep the lab stocked, and look after the students. I also work with Dr. Alim Mitha (an associate member of the Libin Institute) and Dr. Nigel Caulkett (a professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) and provide similar support in their labs.
DO YOU HAVE ANY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS? The symposium we held in Kananaskis two years ago to celebrate Dr. Tyberg’s 75th birthday. There were people from all over the world and it was a testament to what has been accomplished in the lab. Some personal career highlights are the surgical and technical abilities I’ve accumulated and accomplished.
CAN YOU SHARE ONE FUN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF? In April of this year, I’m competing in the World Senior Women’s Curling Championships in Sweden. We won the Canadian championship last April. I’ve curled competitively for a number of years and the last few with two hip replacements!
DIVISION OF CARDIOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT FUND AWARDEES DR. NITA GURON FELLOW
DRS. NOWELL FINE, ANEAL KHAN, ALESSANDRO SATRIANO, DEREK EXNER, JAMES WHITE TEAM PROJECT TITLE : 4-Dimensional Strain Imaging Assessment of Cardiac Mechanical Function in Fabry Disease With and Without Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
DRS. ROBERT MILLER & SHEILA KLASSEN FELLOWS
DRS. DEBRA ISAAC, WAYNE WARNICA, JOANNA COLE, MAHENDRA CARPEN TEAM PROJECT TITLE : Implementation of a Multi-Disciplinary Inpatient Heart Failure Service; Extension of the Guyana Program for Advancement of Cardiac Care (GPACC)
DR. DANIEL D. ANSELM FELLOW
DRS. GREG SCHNELL & SEAN VAN DIEPEN TEAM PROJECT TITLE : Do patients With Low Risk Acute Coronary Syndromes Admitted to a Coronary Care Unit Have Lower Mortality Compared to Their Risk Predicted by the GRACE Score?
DR. ROBERT MILLER FELLOW
DRS. STEPHEN WILTON, DEREK EXNER, BRYAN HAR TEAM PROJECT TITLE : New APPROACH to Old Concepts: Prognosis and Natural History of Conduction System Disease
LIBIN LIFE 23
Naming donors of the Marlene and Don Campbell Family Cardiac Research Laboratory since 2007. WHAT WAS YOUR INCENTIVE TO GIVE TO THE LIBIN INSTITUTE?
Photo courtesy of Marlene & Don Campbell
DONOR PROFILE
Q & A WITH MARLENE & DON CAMPBELL
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUNDS D: I was born and raised in Calgary and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in 1956. After articling for three years in Calgary, with Riddell, Stead, Graham and Hutchison, I became a chartered accountant. I worked for them in Edmonton for five years before returning to Calgary to work for Marlene’s father at his oil company for three years. In 1968, I joined CJ Campbell Insurance, a company started by my father in 1912 and stayed there for 23 years, latterly being instrumental in introducing the “computer” to the company. In 1991, our son, Kevin (an electrical engineer) and I started a commercial insurance computer program, called Policyworks – from which I retired at the age of 70 in 2005. Our son continues in the successful national, bilingual business. M: I’ve lived in Calgary since I was two years old. I received my post-secondary education from the Calgary General Hospital School of Nursing, from which I graduated in 1957. After our children, Kevin and Cathie, were born I worked periodically part-time, mostly with newborn babies and latterly in psychiatry, until 1975.
M: My father had a heart attack and Don started fibrillating in the 1980s. These events gave us an interest in heart research. We were also neighbours/friends of Dr. Eldon Smith who encouraged our interest. WHY DOES THE LIBIN INSTITUTE MATTER TO YOU? D: We’re so impressed with the new research that is coming out of Dr. Paul Fedak’s lab. The team seems to be always working on new and exciting research and it is wonderful to see the positive results they achieve in their endeavours to find new methods of lifesaving and enhancing technology. YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH PHILANTHROPY FOR MANY YEARS. WHAT MOTIVATES YOUR DECISION TO GIVE? M: We’ve been very blessed and have worked hard for what we’ve achieved; however, we’ve always wanted to reinvest in our community in a meaningful way. BESIDES PHILANTHROPY, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER HOBBIES AND INTERESTS? M/D: We love to travel. Our initial out of country trip was to Israel with our church and have travelled to the seven continents, seeing wonderful sights. We also love to spend time with our children and grandchildren, Chelsea & Quinn, as well as other family and friends, and play golf.
The generous donation from the Campbell family has provided a much needed foundation of funding for my research program. This gift has allowed us to train graduate students and provide numerous mentorship opportunities, explore some high-risk/high-reward research opportunities that otherwise we could not, and most important it has allowed us to grow our program with key personnel and project ideas to achieve external
HOW DID YOU TWO MEET? M: Don and I met on a blind date arranged by friends at Christmas time in 1954. We married in 1958 and will celebrate 58 years of marriage this June. 24 LIBIN LIFE
funding. I am continually indebted to them for their support.—Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD, principal investigator, Marlene and Don Campbell Family Cardiac Research Laboratory
By Lauren Thorson Photo by Riley Brandt
D
r. Holly Mewhort was the recipient of the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress’s Trainee Research Award - Basic Science competition. Her win marks the third year in a row that a student, mentored by Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD, principal investigator in the Marlene and Don Campbell Family Cardiac Research Laboratory, has won the award, which is an unprecedented and novel feat from any lab in the country. The award recognizes the scientific merit and excellence of presentation and research work done by a resident, research fellow, or graduate student in a training program. “It is an honour to have our work recognized amongst the many outstanding studies presented,” says Mewhort. “It has been an engaging project to work on over the last few years and to see it all come together and move forward into clinical translation is very exciting.”
biomaterial or “patch” comprised of healthy biologic connective tissue onto the affected heart muscle improves cardiac performance and prevents heart failure following a heart attack. “When someone has a heart attack, not only is the blood supply through the major artery blocked, the small downstream blood vessels are also often destroyed,” says Mewhort. “So, even if we can restore blood flow to the major coronary artery through bypass surgery, that restored blood flow can’t reach the dying muscle because the small downstream vessels are gone.” “By combining bypass surgery, to restore blood flow to the major arteries, with this biomaterial therapy, we can stimulate new small blood vessel formation within the damaged heart muscle to fully restore blood flow,” says Mewhort, who also won the 2015 CCC Dr. Paul Cartier Cardiac Surgery Resident Award, presented by the Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons. “If we are successful, this could prevent many patients who suffer a heart attack from going on to develop heart failure.” This type of biomaterial therapy has improved heart function in several different pre-clinical animal models. Clinical trials will commence within the next month at the Foothills Medical Centre in collaboration with the Libin Institute’s Stephenson Cardiac Imaging Centre. The trial is expected to last for one year. Lab’s three trainee awards a result of commitment to mentorship
Along with Mewhort, two other Marlene and Don Campbell Family Cardiac Research Laboratory trainees who have received this accolade from the CCC include David Guzzardi, PhD student (2014 recipient) and Dr. Janet Ngu (2013 recipient). Guzzardi’s research uses a new imaging technique called 4D flow MRI, along with a combination of molecular and engineering techniques, to develop more patient-specific surgical approaches to treat aortic aneurysms. Ngu, now a postgraduate year three (PGY-3) cardiac surgery resident at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, presented on the effects of a protein named Tissue engineering approach prevents and TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2) on reverses heart muscle death these cells in terms of scar formation. “We are very proud of the strong training program Following a heart attack, little can be done to fix the that Dr. Fedak has built within the Libin Cardiovascular dead heart muscle that results. This dead heart muscle puts Institute of Alberta,” says Dr. Todd Anderson, director patients at risk of developing heart failure, a serious and of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. often fatal condition. “Dr. Mewhort, David, and Dr. Ngu have been highly Mewhort, a cardiac surgery resident in postgraduate successful in this environment due to their own great year six (PGY-6), along with her team from the Libin work and very strong mentorship from Dr. Fedak and Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, are taking a tissue the others in the team. Congratulations to this wonderful engineering approach to help prevent and even reverse heart group of researchers.” muscle death after a heart attack. They have shown that surgically placing an FDA-approved extracellular matrix LIBIN LIFE 25
EDUCATION
LIBIN INSTITUTE TRAINEE WINS RESEARCH AWARD FOR HEART FAILURE PATCH
Photo by Bruce Perrault
WHAT TEACHING MEANS TO ME By Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD Just as important as publishing high impact papers or discovering new knowledge in the lab, training the next generation of researchers is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Since 2007, I’ve had the opportunity to mentor a variety of trainees including undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. These students have been an important catalyst to the success of the Marlene and Don Campbell Family Cardiac Research Laboratory. Their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas have helped us perform some innovative and novel studies. Our success is rooted in our research program that focuses on translational research. This provides an excellent foundation for emerging clinician-scientists. In addition, our local surgical trainees also have a unique opportunity to train in a lab and develop their academic skills. A cardiac surgery translational research laboratory is not found in every academic centre and it is something that the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta can be proud of. Watching Dr. Mewhort win the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress’ Trainee Research Award in Basic Science was one Photo by Freda Cook
[L-R Front] Jeannine Turnbull, Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD [L-R Middle] David Guzzardi, Guoqi Teng, Getanshu Malik, Dr. Holly Mewhort, Christina Faulkner, Sean Kang, Daniel Park, [L-R Back] Daniyil Svystonyuk, Darrell Belke, PhD,
of the highlights of my career. This event marked the third year in a row that my trainees have won this accolade. I believe these awards are an indicator that our laboratory environment and commitment to mentorship is strong and productive. Along with Jeannine Turnbull, my superstar lab manager, and my key collaborators, I am extremely proud of all my students and look forward to many more years of mentorship.
WHAT MENTORSHIP MEANS TO ME By Sharanya Ramesh POSITION: MD/PhD student (Class of 2019) RESEARCH TOPIC: Role of estrogen on quality of life and cardiovascular risk in women with chronic kidney disease.
[L-R] Sharanya Ramesh and Dr. Sofia Ahmed
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Students in academia are often told about the importance of finding an unbiased mentor early in their careers. I consider myself lucky because I did not have to look any further than my supervisor, Dr. Sofia Ahmed. When I first started working with Dr. Ahmed, she took the time to know not only my research interests, but my career aspirations and extracurricular interests. Her passion for her work, commitment to her students, and ability to care, listen, and help students are what make her a wonderful mentor. It is because of this I have learned how to think critically, conduct high quality ethical research, and present it to a variety of audiences. In addition to being supportive, Dr. Ahmed has always been a constructive and honest critic. Under her supervision I am not only pushed to be the best and shoot for the stars, but also given room to make mistakes and learn from them. Dr. Ahmed has taught me how to be a collaborator, a leader, and a professional. She is nothing less than an exceptional mentor and I am so appreciative to have her throughout my academic journey.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH?
A lot of my research focuses on identifying gaps in terms of cardiovascular care delivery and where we need to improve. I then share this data with hospitals and providers in the medical field which allows them to take initiatives on how to address these practice gaps. YOUR CURRENT RESEARCH IS CANHEART. WHAT IS IT AND HOW WILL IT HELP PEOPLE?
Q & A WITH DR. JACK TU, MD, PhD As told to Lauren Thorson Dr. Jack Tu, MD, PhD is this year’s Tine Haworth Cardiovascular Research Day keynote speaker. He is a clinician-scientist, professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, and is an attending physician in the Division of Cardiology at the Sunnybrook Schulich Heart Centre. He is the 2016 recipient of the Dr. E.R. Smith Lectureship in Cardiovascular Research and will deliver his keynote address on April 7 titled “Cardiovascular events in immigrants: The CANHEART immigrant study” in the Libin Lecture Theatre at 3:20 PM. He leads the cardiovascular research program at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and the Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto. His current research is focused on measuring and improving the quality of cardiovascular care in Canada with a focus on geographical and ethnic disparities in the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Tu is one of the leading cardiovascular epidemiologists in our country and is internationally recognized for his work at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. HOW DID YOU FALL INTO RESEARCH AS A CAREER?
I was interested in research as a medical student. I did an elective at the National Institutes of Health in medical informatics where I assisted with the development of an expert system to help physicians manage cardiac arrhythmias. I then did residency training at the University of Toronto where I was first exposed to expert mentors that were doing clinical epidemiology and health services research which gave me great exposure and allowed me to start learning the field.
The CANHEART, Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care Research Team, is what we call a big data initiative. It is comprised of leading Canadian investigators who are focused on measuring and improving community-based care for those with cardiovascular risk factors and/or chronic diseases. We are doing an electronic cohort study of the whole Ontario adult population and are studying what factors influence the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases over time. We hope this initiative will improve the cardiovascular health of Canadians and stimulate health system changes that will ultimately result in better patient outcomes. ULTIMATE CAREER/RESEARCH GOAL?
I would like to have an impact on improving patient outcomes. Not just publishing papers in journals, but actually seeing clinicians in the community using my research findings to improve the delivery of care and associated patient outcomes. FAVOURITE THING ABOUT BEING WITH STUDENTS?
I’ve taught/mentored approximately 60 students and it is always fascinating to see how they come up with new ideas that I’ve never thought of. Some of my students have completed studies that would have never seemed possible when I first began my career. Seeing my students get their first articles in big journals is always exciting too. BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO UP-AND-COMING RESEARCHERS?
My philosophy is to try and be an expert in one area, but have a basic working knowledge of multiple disciplines. It allows you to gain different perspectives that result in better research than if you are knowledgeable about only one discipline. FUN FACT
Dr. Tu was born in Taiwan, but moved to Kingston, Ontario when he was one years old. His favourite past time is playing tennis.
For more information on the Libin Institute’s Tine Haworth Cardiovascular Research Day, flip to page 4.
LIBIN LIFE 27
TRAINEE PROFILES
Compiled by Lauren Thorson CURRENT PERSUIT
FUTURE AMBITIONS
PhD candidate (5th year) - Mechanical Engineering (studying cardiovascular physiology); Leaders in Medicine program (program to begin in July, 2016)
LINDSAY BURROWES
Near future – complete my PhD! After that, my focus will be on medical school, exploring the different specialties and learning how to integrate my research into my clinical interests. SUPERVISOR(S) My real ambition would be to have a research Nigel Shrive, PhD & Dr. John Tyberg, MD, clinician position and contribute, not just in PhD treating patients, but also doing research to DEGREES progress the medical field. BSc. Mechanical Engineering – University of ABOUT ME Calgary (2011) I am a proud Calgarian, born and raised. I RESEARCH INTERESTS grew up playing soccer competitively and went Medical imaging, cardiovascular physiology, on to compete with the University of Calgary and hemodynamics. women’s soccer program for five years. Not so secretly, I’ve always wanted to open a bakery (in my spare time), so keep your eyes open! CURRENT PERSUIT Adult Cardiology – PGY5 SUPERVISOR
and cardiomyopathies manifest themselves with the ultimate goal of developing personalized treatment strategies. FUTURE AMBITIONS
Dr. Hank Duff DEGREES
DR. SAMAN REZAZADEH
BSc (Hons) Physiology, University of British Columbia; PhD, electrophysiology, University of British Columbia; MD, University of British Columbia (2011), Internal Medicine, University of British Columbia. RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in unraveling the molecular mechanisms by which hereditary arrhythmias CURRENT PERSUIT
Eyes High Postdoctoral Fellow SUPERVISOR
Dr. Ed O’Brien DEGREES
VIVEK PULAKAZHI VENU, PhD
BSc from VIT University; Masters degree in biotechnology from Mahatma Gandhi University; Received fellowship from the Ministry of External Affairs – India and Italy – to pursue a PhD in atherosclerosis thrombosis and hypertension at the University of Milan, Italy. RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research in Milan involved understanding the role of extracellular matrix proteins in chronic inflammatory diseases. Currently, my
libininstitute.org
I will be starting my fellowship in electrophysiology in Calgary in 2017. Following that I am hoping to establish my own basic science laboratory and pursue a career as a clinician-scientist. ABOUT ME
In my spare time, I try to ride my bike as much as I can. My wife and I love to travel and we try to experience new cultures whenever an opportunity arises. research involves harnessing the HSP-27 protein to reduce cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaque burden. My goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of multifaceted diseases such as atherosclerosis.
FUTURE AMBITIONS
To do cutting edge research and to take it from bench to bedside. ABOUT ME
I love science and learning new things. I am fortunate to have parents who are supportive and encourage me to reach my goals. My family is everything to me and post-lab I love to spend time with my three-month old girl, Punya and my wife Divya.
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