Megan Grady, CNP
Innovations in Cardiology Bringing the latest in cardiovascular care to our community John is a healthy and fit 65-year-old who’s run three Boston Marathons. When a nurse reviewing his vitals during a routine procedure noted that he had atrial fibrillation, he hastily assured her, “I don’t have AFib.” But she was right. Later, in a follow-up visit, his primary care doctor said they’d keep an eye on it. After all, some people simply live with AFib. As John came to realize, “having an irregular heartbeat can be distracting and, at times, frightening. You just want to sit down, not talk, not do anything,” he explains. He understood that AFib can cause poor blood flow and lead to serious conditions such as stroke. In wanting to know more, John wisely turned to the Elfers Cardiovascular Center at Newton-Wellesley. He is one of hundreds of grateful patients who have received stateof-the-art care and treatment for cardiovascular issues, thanks to its multidisciplinary team of specialists. 16 Fall/Winter 2023
Patient-centered collaboration both within the team and across Mass General Brigham has fueled innovation, notes George Philippides, MD, longtime Chief of the Division of Cardiology. “It’s really upped our game, and it’s only going to get better for patients.” Under his direction, Elfers has continued to grow, adding specialized programs for areas ranging from atrial fibrillation to South Asian heart health and nutrition and investing in state-of-the-art technology such as the new Cardiac CT Scanner. John’s story: advances in AFib treatment John’s case exemplifies the life-changing care offered by the center’s Atrial Fibrillation Program. One in four people over the age of 70 develop AFib, explains Megan Grady, CNP, a core member of the program’s team from its start. For some patients,
