20 19 Serving the First Coast Since 2002
COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT WELCOME TO OUR 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
Dr. Yazan Khatib Dear Northeast Florida community, We are proud to present our 2019 community impact report. These pages embody our commitment to our community. This not only represents the number of patients we have cared for, but also our commitment to ensuring every member of the Northeast Florida community is equipped to live their lives to the healthiest. This means influencing not only the patients themselves but the providers giving care and the new technologies coming to the area. Heart disease remains the number one killer in the United States. While we witnessed deaths from heart disease trickling down from 1991 to 2011, we saw a shift shortly after. During 2011 to 2014, heart disease deaths rose by 3%, an unexpected twist. What does this mean for us? Our fight is far from over. For us, the fight starts with education. This means educating ourselves and our area providers, like we did at our first annual CV360: Current Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine symposium. This also means educating our community through the countless educational programs our providers have presented this year to senior citizens, women, and many other organizations. The fight against heart disease also means aligning with those that share the same goal. Serving as the Board President for the American Heart Association, First Coast Chapter, has been a great privilege. I have the opportunity to be an advocate for one of the most relentless forces fighting heart disease. We hope you enjoy these pages. Thank you for your support of First Coast Cardiovascular Institute (FCCI). Sincerely, Yazan Khatib, MD President| FCCI President| American Heart Association, First Coast Chapter *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Patients Served Annually
27,500 Patients Served Daily
>370
500
Continuing our History of Firsts
May 2019
FCCI had their first patient screened by Dr. Lamba for Autonomic Regulation Therapy (ART) in May 2019. ART is a new form of therapy being evaluated for patients with heart failure.  FCCI continues to actively recruit patients for this pivotal clinical trial called ANTHEM-HFrEF.
August 2019
2019 Firsts Timeline
November 2019
Drs. Vaqar Ali and Sumant Lamba become the first in Northeast Florida to use a new heart failure device, the V-Wave interatrial shunt, at Memorial Hospital Jacksonville that may improve heart failure symptoms for patients. The device works by decreasing left atrial pressure, a major cause of heart failure.
Dr. Vaqar Ali performed the first DETOUR procedure in Florida. The procedure provides a new way for blood to travel down the leg, avoiding blocked areas for those suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Training the Next Generation of Physicians It is a responsibility for all of our cardiologists, and everyone plays a role in ensuring they are trained to give the community the best possible care.
-Dr. Andrea DeNeen
Orange Park Medical Center (OPMC) opened its cardiology fellowship in 2018, welcoming two fellows. The program has since welcomed two additional fellows. Dr. Andrea DeNeen, FCCI Cardiologist, is the program director for the OPMC cardiology fellowship. “Training our cardiology fellows is a service to the community,” Dr. DeNeen says, “It is a responsibility for all of our cardiologists, and everyone plays a role in ensuring they are trained to give the community the best possible care.”
Educating Our Healthcare Community CME/CEU Educational Program
2019 Community Outreach Programs FCCI is a proud supporter of: American Heart Association Duval County Medical Society Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital
2019 brought our first annual CME/CEU symposium, CV360: Current Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine. With heart disease mortality on the rise, we felt a responsibility to educate both ourselves and the community on what we can do to improve care for our patients. The event brought together over 130 clinicians who joined our fight against the number one killer in the United States. To encourage as many people as possible to receive this crucial education, we held the event free of charge.
Arab American Community Center of Florida
Clay County Humane Society Puerto Rico Physician Association
River City Science Academy Volunteers in Medicine
WeCare
OneJax
Rotary Club of Putnam
March to Get Screened
2019 New Faces Dr. Firas El-Sabbagh Board-Certified Electrophysiologist We welcomed Dr. Firas El-Sabbagh, Electrophysiologist, to our team in August 2019. Dr. El-Sabbagh attended medical school at the American University of Beirut. He completed his internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic and his cardiology fellowship at University of Missouri. He went on to finish his advanced fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. When it comes to electrophysiology, Dr. El-Sabbagh enjoys the constant advancements in the field. “There is always new technology on the horizon,” Dr. El-Sabbagh says, “The field challenges you to always stay up to date and use these advancements to the best interest of our patients.”
Dr. Bruce Krieger
Board Certified Pulmonologist Dr. Bruce Krieger, Pulmonologist, joined the FCCI team in October 2019. Dr. Krieger has been serving the Jacksonville community for over 14 years. He attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh. From there, Dr. Krieger completed Pulmonary/Critical Care training at the University of California, San Diego. His academic accomplishments include over 100 publications and multiple teaching awards including, the University of Miami Faculty Teaching Award, the AOA Faculty Award, and the George Paff Teaching Award on four occasions.
"My surgeon told me that they were going to have to take my leg." Duke Stanton, a patient at FCCI, was a long time diabetic. He was told amputation was the only option he had left to get rid of the excruciating pain. He was referred to Dr. Khatib for a second chance. Below, he shares his journey at FCCI. “I have had many procedures in the past to try and open up the blood flow in my leg, but I continued to get blockages. My surgeon told me that they were going to have to take my leg. I told my doctor, ‘I don’t understand any of this.’ Then I asked, ‘What would you do if you were in my situation?’ He told me he knows a very good physician in Jacksonville who has been known to perform miracles. I first met Dr. Khatib in Palatka. There I met the friendly staff and Reagan took scans of my legs. The procedure took place in Jacksonville. The nurse who saw me beforehand said, ‘You know Duke, you are this close to losing your leg, but you are in the right place. Dr. Khatib will do everything he can to save your leg. He does not give up.’ I felt reassured. I was already impressed with him. He was very nice and articulate. After spending just a few hours in recovery I went home feeling much better. At my last check up, Dr. Khatib assured me there were no more blockages. I am more than thrilled with him. I have taken many of his cards and given them to people I know and my doctors. My primary care doctor could not believe all that Dr. Khatib did for me. He performed another miracle.”