Austin Medical Times by Rick Delarosa

Volume 5 | Issue 4

Inside This Issue

April Edition 2022

‘Match Day’ Heralds Arrival of 169 New Physicians to Austin

St. David’s Healthcare Investing Nearly $1 Billion in Central Texas Healthcare See pg. 10

INDEX Legal Matters....................... pg.3 Oncology Research......... pg.4 Mental Health...................... pg.6 Age Well, Live Well.......... pg.12

hysicians from across the country will come to Austin to continue their medical training following today’s “match,” an annual rite of passage for graduating medical students and doctors pursuing highly specialized training. A record 169 incoming residents and fellows matched to Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin this year. In all, Dell Med will be home to 400 physicians-in-training starting this summer — up by 83% since 2012. Last year, residents and fellows provided more than 700,000 hours of care at 75-plus clinics and hospitals across Central Texas. Most matches were revealed Graduating medical students hold signs announcing their matches. On Match Day, students across the country open this morning, when graduating envelopes revealing where they will spend the next stage of their medical careers. medical students across the country opened envelopes revealing where they news to the students graduating with in Texas for residency. A quarter of would spend the next stage of their medical degrees from Dell Med. All graduates will remain in Austin, where medical careers. who plan to pursue residency matched, they will continue to learn from Dell The number of graduate Med faculty as part of medical education programs at residency programs Dell Med has nearly doubled in jointly led with the the last year, with 21 new training school’s academic programs added in 2021. “It’s medical partner, extraordinary to have attracted Ascension Seton. residents and fellows to nearly “The students all the available positions in our who will stay in programs, and we’re excited to Austin to practice as welcome these new doctors to resident physicians Central Texas,” said Jonathan — along with MacClements, M.D., associate dean of combining with the graduate medical the new residents and fellows from graduate medical education. education program placements to result out-of-state schools who we’re attracting Where Dell Med’s Grads Are Headed in a near-perfect match for the school. — are a direct result of the investment Match Day brought equally good Hours before the reveal, North the community made when it voted Carolina native Helen Schafer was to create Dell Med in 2012,” said C. contemplative, calling Dell Med “a Martin Harris, M.D., MBA, interim special place.” vice president for medical affairs at UT. “I will never forget watching Dell “Even as residents, these Med get built, thinking about how I physicians’ contributions are critical to wanted to go to medical school and health care systems,” said President and that this was the place that would help CEO of Ascension Texas Andy Davis, me accomplish my dreams,” she said. citing their importance to Ascension’s Schafer earned both M.D. and Master mission to transform health care of Public Health degrees during her delivery and praising the relationship four years as a student. see Match Day...page 14 Among the 46 Dell Med students who entered the match, 47% will stay

Graduating Dell Med students matched to residencies across 18 states; nearly half will stay in Texas, with 1 in 4 remaining in Austin...

UT Health Austin, Ascension Seton Perform First Collaborative Kidney Transplant at Dell Seton See pg. 11

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April 2022

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Legal Matters Congress Grants Five Month Extension for Telehealth Flexibilities

Laura Little, JD Joelle M. Wilson, JD Polsinelli, PC

resident Biden recently signed into law H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (“2022 CAA”). This new law includes several provisions that extend the Medicare telehealth waivers and flexibilities, implemented as a result of COVID-19 to facilitate access to care, for an additional 151 days after the end of the Public Health Emergency (“PHE”). This equates to about a five-month period. The 2022 CAA extension captures most of the core PHE telehealth flexibilities authorized as part of Medicare’s pandemic response,

including the following: • Geographic Restrictions and Originating Sites: During the extension, Medicare beneficiaries can continue to receive telehealth services from anywhere in the country, including their home. Medicare is permitting telehealth services to be provided to patients at any site within the United States, not just qualifying zip codes or locations (e.g. physician offices/ facilities). • Eligible Practitioners: Occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and qualified audiologists will continue to be able to furnish and receive payment for telehealth services as eligible distant site practitioners during the extension period. • Mental Health: In-person requirements for certain mental health services will continue to be waived through the 151-day extension period. • Audio-Only Telehealth Services: Medicare will continue to provide

coverage and payment for most telehealth services furnished using audio-only technology. This includes professional consultations, office visits, and office psychiatry services (identified as of July 1, 2000 by HCPCS Codes 99241-99275, 99201-99215, 90804-90809 and 90862) and any other services added to the telehealth list by the CMS Secretary for which CMS has not expressly required the use of real-time, interactive audio-visual equipment during the PHE. Additionally, the 2022 CAA

allocates $62,500,000 from the federal budget to be used for grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas. Such funds may be used to finance construction of facilities and systems providing telemedicine services and distance learning services in qualified “rural areas.” Passage of the 2022 CAA is a substantial step in the right direction for stakeholders hoping to see permanent legislative change surrounding Medicare telehealth reimbursement.

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Oncology Research An Ounce of Prevention...

By Mathew Meeneghan, M.D., Texas Oncology– Bastrop and Texas Oncology–South Austin

enjamin Franklin’s timeless adage still rings true: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has knocked many of us off course when it comes to preventive health measures, especially keeping up with needed cancer screenings. Two years after the first COVID-19 cases in the United States were confirmed, there is no denying the impact of the pandemic – most notably, the staggering toll of more than 880,000 deaths in the United States and 5.6 million globally. As the pandemic wears on, COVID-19 will also potentially affect the health of those who have avoided infection but

have postponed physician visits and regular health screenings. W hile t he outlook for COVID-19 remains uncertain, cancer incidence is not. The Texas Cancer registry predicted 131,610 anticipated new cancer diagnoses in Texas for 2021. Cancer is far more likely to be cured when it is caught early. Routine screening is designed to detect cancer before it can cause symptoms or illness or spread throughout the body. The Doctor Will See You Now There has been a tremendous impact of the pandemic on healthcare, with loss of practitioners, closures, adaptation to telemedicine, and concerns for staff and patient safety. Patients have been caught between advice to stay home and distance and fear of entering the healthcare environment. However, your physician and their team continue to work tirelessly to provide you with safe access to the care you need to prevent

and treat illnesses, including cancer. We all put off wants and needs during the first months of the pandemic. However, as we roll past year two, many of us have symptoms that need to be checked out or overdue ‘routine maintenance’ that can prevent more serious problems down the road. It’s time to get the ol’ chassis into the shop! Perfect timing: April is National Cancer Control Month Leading cancer experts have been sounding the alarm regarding delayed and missed cancer screenings leading to an increase in advanced-stage cancer diagnoses, with worse outcomes than if the cancer had been caught early. Even though the full impact may

not be seen for a few more years, we know enough to say now: we need to get back on track with recommended cancer screenings. This month, we encourage those who have put off a routine screening, are overdue for an annual exam, or are experiencing concerning symptoms to schedule an appointment with their healthcare team as soon as possible. Seeing a doctor could be a lifesaving move, especially when it comes to cancer. Call the toll-free Time to Screen hotline at 1-855-53-SCREEN (1- 855-537-2733) today to find local screening options. Specialists can answer questions and help you find a convenient screening program or location.

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Online Provider Education. Choose from a wide range of courses developed by experts, for experts like you. Short tutorials and quick courses on topics such as Medicaid guidelines, ethics and mental health, and more are all available 24/7. Content on the Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education website has been accredited by the Texas Medical Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center, National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, UTHSCSA Dental School Office of Continuing Dental Education, Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Texas Academy of Audiology, and International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. Continuing Education for multiple disciplines will be provided for some online content.

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Mental Health The Menninger Clinic Launches Mental Health Podcast for Clinicians Co-Hosts “Dive” Into Mental Health Topics from A Professional’s Point of

THE STRENGTH TO HEAL and get back to what I love about family medicine Do you remember why you became a family physician? When you practice in the Army or Army Reserve, you can focus on caring for our Soldiers and their Families. You’ll practice in an environment without concerns about your patients’ ability to pay or overhead expenses. Moreover, you’ll see your efforts making a difference.

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ationally ranked psychiatric hospital The Menninger Clinic announces the release of a new mental health podcast, Mind Dive, co-hosted by psychiatrist Robert Boland, MD, senior vice president and chief of staff at Menninger, and Kerry Horrell, PhD, staff psychologist. Through Mind Dive, the hosts will explore mental health topics that intrigue them as professionals as well as others interested in the mental health field, including the various dilemmas clinicians face in their practice. Ground-breaking mental health research and the newest

McWilliams, PhD, ABPP, about the distinct differences of treating grief and depression during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequent episodes feature Glen Gabbard, MD, noted psychiatrist, textbook author, researcher and professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, discussing challenges to clinician-patient boundaries; and Philip R. Muskin, MD, psychiatrist, author, researcher and professor at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, sharing his expertise on projective identification. Co-host Dr. Kerry Horrell, who

treatment techniques round out the areas the podcast will cover. During a lively discourse twice a month, Drs. Boland and Horrell will discuss the complexities of mental health care with a distinguished colleague from the field. The hosts also plan to solicit topic ideas from listeners through the podcast email, podcast@ menningerclinic.edu. “Mind Dive was born from the idea that, in these times, the mental health field has never been more dynamic or demanding,” said Dr. Boland. “I have long been involved in the education of clinicians and I hope this podcast is an extension of that work. Our goal is for it to be enjoyable and insightful for professionals at all stages of their careers, especially those in the early years.” Dr. Boland also currently serves as executive vice chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and the Brown Foundation Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at BCM. The first episode of Mind Dive features a conversation with noted author, psychologist, psychoanalyst and professor at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology, Nancy

describes herself as “insatiably curious” says that mental health research and new treatment approaches are topics the podcast will cover. “I am endlessly fascinated by our profession and the experts who are shaping it,” she says. “We are so grateful for the great minds that have already agreed to share their expertise on this podcast. Our goal is for Mind Dive to be enjoyable, thought-provoking and informative for our listeners.” An assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Horrell adds that learning about emerging technologies is important for professionals. She notes that Menninger’s Michelle Patriquin, PhD, ABPP, director of research and senior psychologist, will discuss wearable technology and its implications for psychiatric care on an upcoming episode. “A key part of Menninger’s mission is mental health education,” said Armando Colombo, president and CEO of The Menninger Clinic. “Hopefully this podcast will be helpful to mental health professionals as well as others seeking a broader understanding of mental health care and treatment.” For more information about The Menninger Clinic, please call is at 713-275-5400. 

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IS IT TIME TO EXAMINE

your malpractice insurance? Unlike other Texas medical liability insurers, which are investor-owned companies, The Doctors Company remains fiercely independent and dedicated to your interests. Ask yourself, “Do I want an insurer founded by and for physicians that’s guided by my peers? Or do I want a profit-focused insurer that’s directed by Wall Street?” Join us and discover why delivering the best imaginable service and unrivaled rewards is at the core of who we are.

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World-Renowned Heart Surgeon to Lead New, Fully Integrated Cardiovascular Care Model in Austin, Texas

harles D. Fraser, Jr., M.D., an internationally recognized congenital heart surgeon, has been named the inaugural Executive Director of the new Institute for Cardiovascular Health, a collaboration between Ascension Texas and The University of Texas at Austin, including its Dell Medical School. The announcement marks the launch of a fully integrated heart care model in the Texas capital. Dr. Fraser is a professor of Pediatrics and Surgery and the founding Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery for the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease – a clinical affiliation between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin, Dell Med’s clinical practice. “Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide,” said Dr. Fraser. “The societal impact of cardiovascular illness is profound, and we have a very long way to go in the critical work needed to improve the sobering realities of this issue. To address this national health problem, UT Austin and Ascension Texas are creating this unique care model to deliver individualized, whole-person care that gives every patient their greatest opportunity to recover and thrive. The model fosters an environment in which medical professionals with a wide range of skills and expertise can focus their attention and energy on treating patients in every phase of life. “From taking care of unborn patients in utero to addressing issues that affect people in their 70s, 80s, and beyond, we believe that a multidisciplinary team associated with a medical school, a health system built upon a large cardiology practice, and a preeminent, major public research university provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families,” said Dr. Fraser. “I am humbled and excited to lead the development of our new Institute for Cardiovascular Health. Through this collaboration, we are building an integrated model of cardiovascular care based on providing services of uncompromising quality and that, we believe, will set the standard for

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Charles D. Fraser, Jr., M.D.

cardiovascular medicine in Central Texas and beyond.” “Heart disease is a serious national issue, and to address it requires a complex, collaborative effort,” said Andy Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascension Texas. “At Dell Children’s Medical Center, we have the only pediatric program in Central Texas that offers comprehensive heart care for newborns, infants, children and adolescents, thanks to Dr. Fraser and the team. As part of our collaboration with the medical school and UT Austin, we will combine the strong clinical programs and expertise of the cardiologists at Ascension Texas Cardiovascular, built over the past 12 years under the leadership of Mark Pirwitz, MD, to create a model that will be a world-class, integrated academic system of heart care that will become a nationally recognized destination for the most advanced care and best outcomes,” said Davis. C. Martin Harris, M.D., interim Vice President of Medical Affairs at UT Austin and professor of Internal Medicine at Dell Med said, “There is an energy associated with a medical school and a major university that you can feel in the way people look at problems, and in our approach to educating and training the next generation of clinician leaders.” “Based in Austin, one of America’s most vibrant and fastest-growing cities, the new Institute for Cardiovascular Health is poised to attract exceptional medical see Heart Surgeon ...page 14

Austin Medical Times

Healthy Heart

MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY

Too Much Time on a Computer, Watching TV or Other Sedentary Activities Raises Stroke Risk By The American Heart Association

dults younger than age 60 whose days are filled with sedentary leisure time and little physical activity have a higher stroke risk than people who are more physically active, according to research published in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. According to American Heart Association statistics, U.S. adults spend an average of 10.5 hours a day connected to media such as smartphones, computers or television watching. Death from stroke appears to be on the rise among younger adults, ages 35 to 64 years. Previous research suggests the more time adults spend sedentary, the greater their risk

years and older. Adults 60 years and younger who had low physical activity and reported eight or more hours of leisure sedentary time a day had a 4.2 times higher risk of stroke compared to those reporting less than four hours of daily leisure sedentary time. • The most inactive group — those reporting eight or more hours of sedentary time and low physical activity — had 7 times higher risk of stroke compared to those reporting less than four hours of sedentary time a day and higher levels of physical activity. “Adults 60 years and younger should be aware that very high sedentary time with little time spent on physical activity can have adverse

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of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and nearly 9 in 10 strokes could be attributed to modifiable risk factors such as sedentary behaviors. In this study, researchers reviewed health and lifestyle information for 143,000 adults with no prior stroke, heart disease or cancer. Researchers followed the participants for an average of 9.4 years and identified strokes through linkages with hospital records. Analysis of study participants found: • During the follow-up period, an average of 9.4 years, 2,965 strokes occurred. Nearly 90% of those were ischemic strokes. • The average daily leisure sedentary time among all participants was 4.08 hours. Individuals aged 60 and younger had an average leisure sedentary time of 3.9 hours per day. Average daily leisure sedentary time was 4.4 hours for adults aged 60 to 79, and 4.3 hours for those 80

effects on health, including increased risk of stroke,” said study author Raed A. Joundi, M.D., D.Phil., a stroke fellow in the department of clinical neurosciences at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary in Canada. “Physical activity has a very important role in that it reduces the actual time spent sedentary, and it also seems to diminish the negative impact of excess sedentary time. Physician recommendations and public health policies should emphasize increased physical activity and lower sedentary time among young adults in combination with other healthy habits to lower the risks of cardiovascular events and stroke.” The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes, or 2.5 hours, of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. For the full study visit newsroom. heart.org austinmedtimes.com

April 2022

Austin Medical Times

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St. David’s Healthcare Investing Nearly $1 Billion In Central Texas Healthcare Infrastructure

t. David’s HealthCare, which provides care for more Central Texans than any other healthcare system, announced today the investment of $953 million in the region’s healthcare infrastructure. “St. David’s HealthCare is committed to meeting the needs of our rapidly growing community,” David Huffstutler, president and chief executive officer of St. David’s HealthCare, said. “While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly compounded the challenges our region is facing, there was already a need for more physical capacity in our existing hospitals to care for patients, as well as additional services in our community, including behavioral health services. And, as the population growth in Central Texas continues to expand into outlying areas, this has created the need for us to establish additional

sites of care in those areas. These needs will only increase in the future with the ongoing, rapid growth of Central Texas. As a result, we are initiating plans to build two new hospitals, embarking on the construction of a new behavioral health hospital, as well as plans for multiple expansion and renovation projects to ensure we can continue our mission to provide exceptional care to every patient every day.” St. David’s HealthCare has already invested more than $2.5 billion over the past 25 years to expand and develop its facilities and to deploy state-of-the-art technology to best meet the healthcare needs of the rapidly growing Central Texas region. St. David’s HealthCare’s investments will include: • $142.5 million for a new full-service, acute care hospital in

•

Leander $185 million for a new full-service, acute care hospital in the Kyle area $33.8 million for a new 80-bed behavioral health hospital near St. David’s North Austin Medical Center $145.9 million for renovation and expansion at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center $249 million for renovation and expansion at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center $53.1 million for an expansion at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center $20.9 million for an expansion at

Heart Hospital of Austin • $43 million for renovation and expansion at St. David’s Medical Center • $80 million for construction of future capacity at area hospitals to accommodate future growth This $953-million investment will be paid for out of St. David’s HealthCare operations. No debt will be incurred by the healthcare system, and because of St. David’s HealthCare’s business model, no philanthropic dollars will be solicited or used to support the projects.

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UT Health Austin, Ascension Seton Perform First Collaborative Kidney Transplant at Dell Seton UT Longhorn Family Member Among First to Benefit from Adult Abdominal Transplant Center

n early summer of 2021, 22-year-old Dom Rainelli learned he had a devastating kidney disease and urgently needed a kidney transplant. Time was of the essence, and the search for a donor match was on. “It was an overwhelming and scary time, and I didn’t know what to expect,” said Rainelli, who was a college senior attending school in the Northeast at the time. Fortunately for Rainelli, his cousin was a donor match and came to the rescue. “When I learned I might be a match, there was no question about doing this, because when family needs you, you do it,” said 33-year-old Kayla Wright, a U.S. Army intelligence officer

living in northern New York. “I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I’d have the honor to save my cousin’s life,’” she said. Last week in a historic milestone for The University of Texas at Austin and its clinical partner Ascension Seton, Rainelli received a new lease on life. The two cousins underwent successive surgeries: Wright’s healthy left kidney was removed and implanted alongside Rainelli’s failing kidney. The lifesaving operations were part of the first kidney transplant procedure performed at the Adult Abdominal Transplant Center, a collaboration between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin, the

Kayla Wright, Kidney donor

clinical practice of Dell Medical School. “It took incredible vision, leadership and teamwork by our hospital and medical school leaders and clinical teams to perform our first living donor transplant,” said Nicole Turgeon, M.D., transplant director for the Adult Abdominal Transplant Center and professor in the Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care at Dell Med. “We are excited to be a center that treats the needs of Central Texans, and we look forward to delivering convenient and innovative transplant care to our community.” More than 72,000 Texans are

living with end-stage renal disease or kidney failure. Established in November 2021, the Adult Abdominal Transplant Center is a program at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas that diagnoses, treats and manages the care of adult patients in need of a kidney, as well as those willing to be a living kidney donor. The historic nature of the center’s inaugural transplant has special meaning for the UT Austin community: Rainelli’s mother is a Longhorn herself. “When I saw an email saying UT Health Austin was beginning see Transplant...page 13

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Age Well, Live Well Shine Light on Volunteers During National Volunteer Month By Camden Frost

n April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month and the inspiring volunteers who give back to their communities. Organizations nationwide host volunteer recognition events to celebrate the selfless service and stronger communities built through volunteerism. National Volunteer Week is April 17–23. This year’s theme is “Shining a Light on the People and Causes that Inspire Us to Serve.” According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, volunteering keeps us healthy. Volunteerism can: • Improve physical and mental health. • Reduce stress levels and release dopamine. • Provide a sense of purpose and meaningfulness. • Teach new skills. • Connect by building and nurturing relationships.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission Age Well Live Well (AWLW) campaign for healthy aging promotes social connection as one of many ways to stay healthy. AWLW features three aging well focus areas, Be Healthy, Be Connected and Be Informed, to engage people and communities

with free resources that encourage and support healthy aging. Examples of AWLW: Be Connected efforts that incorporate connection and volunteerism include: • Texas Talks (connecting people through conversations on aging topics). • Know Your Neighbor (connecting local neighborhood communities). • Ages United (creating intergenerational connections with resources for schools, long-term care facilities and other volunteer groups).

Whether in person or virtual, volunteers make a difference by fulfilling essential community needs and developing valuable relationships through their efforts. Volunteers look for diverse experiences and want to make meaningful impacts through their service. For successful volunteer experiences, consider using technology and providing volunteers with comprehensive training support to engage more diverse, committed volunteers.

Subscribe to Our Digital Issue Now you can get the Austin Medical Times delivered straight to your inbox. Never miss an Issue of Austin’s Leading Local Healthcare News Online.

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Transplant Continued from page 11 kidney transplantation last November, I thought, ‘How can I get him down here to get this done at UT?’” said Jamie Rainelli, an office manager at the university’s Office of Student Affairs. “We knew that Dom’s kidney function was worsening rapidly even over these past few months, and we were risking putting him on dialysis if we didn’t find a donor in time. But just like that, all the pieces seemed to fall into place. Kayla was a match, and we were set for surgery here at UT. It was definitely a ‘God thing,’” she said. The center is the latest organ transplant program offered through collaboration between UT Health Austin and Ascension Seton to ensure Central Texans have the benefit of superior care close to home. In October 2020, the first pediatric heart transplant

was performed at Dell Children’s Medical Center. This spring, the Pediatric Abdominal Transplant Center is set to open at Dell Children’s. Both Rainelli and Wright have been discharged from the hospital. Wright is heading to Florida to recuperate with family. Rainelli will remain in Austin with his parents to recover, which doctors expect to take between six weeks and three months. Despite the chaos and anxiety of his health struggles during the past academic year, Rainelli has continued his college coursework remotely, was recently named to the dean’s list and is looking forward to graduation this May. 

Dom Rainelli

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April 2022

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Austin Medical Times

Match Day

Continued from page 1 with Dell Med. “Through our collaboration, we are stronger in care delivery and at the forefront of the latest research, diagnostic and technological developments.” Helping Fill a Growing Gap in Primary Care Many of Dell Med’s graduating students will help address a shortage of primary care physicians in the U.S., which the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts will grow to between 17,800 and 48,000 doctors by 2034. Nearly half (22) of Dell Med’s fourth-year students will enter primary care fields, including internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology. But the school’s aim isn’t to produce more of the same. “Our educational model is designed to train leaders as comfortable taking

Published by Texas Healthcare Media Group Inc. Director of Media Sales Richard W DeLaRosa Senior Designer Jamie Farquhar-Rizzo Web Development Lorenzo Morales Distribution Brad Jander Graduates of Dell Med’s Class of 2022 are headed to residency programs in 18 states

on systemic challenges in health our M.D., residency and fellowship as they are caring for individual programs will be a new kind of patients,” said George Macones, doctor.” M.D., interim dean. “Graduates of

Heart Surgeon

Office: 512-203-3987 For Advertising advertising@ medicaltimesnews.com Editor editor@medicaltimesnews.com

Continued from page 8 professionals to build their careers, affect children, men and women raise their families, and make their over a lifetime, will create a simply own contributions to the state of outstanding educational and research contemporary clinical practice,” added environment that will promote the Harris. discovery of new knowledge from the “Dr. Fraser is not only a laboratory bench, to the bedside, while Distinguished Alumnus of the facilitating the training of tomorrow’s University of Texas at Austin, he is clinician leaders who will care for the a remarkable force for good. We are hearts of Texas, and anyone, anywhere, fortunate that his new institute will who is in need of a specialized medical operate as part of the collaboration or surgical treatment or intervention.” between The University of Texas and Dr. Fraser earned his medical Ascension Texas,” said Jay Hartzell, degree from The University of president of UT Austin. “Together, Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, we are attracting some of the finest medical talent in the world to come to Austin. These are people who have committed themselves to improving the lives of others, who are making an incredible positive impact on our community, and who will permanently change the availability of world-class cardio care in Central Texas.” “Additionally,” added George Macones, MD, interim Dean of the Dell Medical School and Chair, Department of Women’s Health, “this collaboration, with its focus on providing heart care for the range of conditions that can Charles D. Fraser, Jr., M.D. with patient

April 2022

Accounting Liz Thachar

completed a residency in surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a fellowship in pediatric heart surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. He has developed dedicated programs in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology, perfusion and cardiopulmonary transplantation. And he is a longstanding and influential advocate of public reporting of surgical outcomes and transparency. 

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April 2022

Austin Medical Times

Making small changes every day can add up to big improvements in your overall health. Life's Simple 7 outlines a few easy steps you can take to live a healthier lifestyle. Two of these steps, Get Active and Eat Better, can help jump-start your whole health journey. Making choices that help you eat smart and move more can also help you lose weight,control cholesterol, manage blood pressure, reduce blood sugar and stop smoking. 1, 2, 3

GET ACTIVE Try to get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise (or a combination of both), preferably spread throughout the week. Even short 4 bursts of exercise can be beneﬁcial, and all those little steps will lead to big gains in the long run.

EAT BETTER Eat a colorful diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, ﬁsh and nuts. Try to limit sugary foods and drinks, fatty or processed meats and salt. 1

LOSE WEIGHT Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your health. To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat. Learning to balance healthy eating and physical activity can help you lose weight more easily and keep it off. 5

CONTROL CHOLESTEROL Cholesterol comes from two sources: your body (which makes all the cholesterol you need) and food made from animals. Eating smart, adding color and moving more can all help lower your cholesterol! 2, 6

MANAGE BLOOD PRESSURE Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. Sometimes the pressure in arteries is higher than it should be, a condition known as high blood pressure. Stress and poor diet have both been linked to high blood pressure, so it’s important to be well and eat smart to help positively inﬂuence your blood pressure numbers. 1, 7

REDUCE BLOOD SUGAR Blood glucose (aka sugar) is an important fuel for your body. It comes from the food you eat, so it’s important to eat smart. Cut bout added sugars by checking nutrition facts labels and bingredients, limiting sweets and sugary beverages, choosing simple foods over heavily processed ones and rinsing canned fruits if they are in syrup.1 And you can move more, because moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity can also help your body respond to insulin.8

STOP SMOKING Not smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. Smoking damages your circulatory system and increases your risk of multiple diseases, but the good news is that your lungs can begin to heal themselves as soon as you stop. Moving more can help you on your journey, since physical activity can help you manage stress. 9

1. Van Horn, L., Carson, J. A. S., Appel, L. J., Burke, L. E., Economos, C., Karmally, W., . . . Kris-Etherton, P. (2016). Recommended dietary pattern to achieve adherence to the american heart Association/American college of cardiology (AHA/ACC) guidelines: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000462 2. Warburton DE, Nicol CW, Bredin SS. Health benefits of physical activity: The evidence. CMAJ. 2006;174(6):806 3. Van Horn, L., Carson, J. A. S., Appel, L. J., Burke, L. E., Economos, C., Karmally, W., . . . Kris-Etherton, P. (2016). Recommended dietary pattern to achieve adherence to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) guidelines: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000462 4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018, November) Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition 5. Hill, J., Wyatt, H.R., Peters, J. (2012). Energy Balance and Obesity. doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.087213 6. Third report of the national cholesterol education program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (adult treatment panel III) final report. Circulation. 2002;106(25):3259-3260. 7. Gianaros, P. J., Sheu, L. K., Uyar, F., Koushik, J., Jennings, J. R., Wager, T. D., . . . Verstynen, T. D. (2017). A brain phenotype for Stressor

‐Evoked blood pressure reactivity. Journal of the American Heart Association, 6(9) doi:10.1161/JAHA.117.006053

8. Benjamin, E., Blaha, M., Chiuve, S., et al. Heart disease and stroke Statistics—2017 update. Circulation. 2017;CIR.0000000000000485 9. Silverman, M. N., & Deuster, P. A. (2014). Biological mechanisms underlying the role of physical fitness in health and resilience. Interface Focus, 4(5), 20140040. doi:10.1098/rsfs.2014.0040 ©2018 American Heart Association

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