7 minute read
New & Noteworthy
100th TAVR performed at Thomas Hospital
[FAIRHOPE, AL] — Recently, Dr. Stan Thornton with Cardiology Associates in Fairhope, assisted by Dr. Trey Pluscht with Cardio-Thoracic & Vascular Surgical Associates, performed the 100th TAVR procedure at Thomas Hospital. Dr. Thornton is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and Fellow of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and is dedicated to creating access to state-of-the-art cardiology care to our community. He is credited with bringing TAVR to our community.
If you have a heart murmur and chest pain, feel faint or dizzy, have shortness of breath and excess fatigue when active, you may be suffering from aortic valve stenosis, a progressive narrowing of the aortic valve, which is the opening through which blood leaves the heart to supply the organs with oxygenated blood. The valve doesn't fully open, which blocks blood flow from the heart. This increases the cardiac workload and decreases the ability of one’s heart to maintain cardiac output during times of exertion. Aortic stenosis becomes more common with age. When asked about prevention, Dr. Thornton says that unfortunately there’s not really anything at this time to prevent the cause, unlike other heart issues which can be affected by diet and exercise. Younger patients commonly have a history of chest radiation, rheumatic fever, or a congenitally bicuspid aortic valve.
Traditionally open-heart surgery to replace the faulty valve is required to fix this issue; however, TAVR is an option that is minimally invasive and has little downtime. A new heart valve, handmade from the tissue from a cow’s heart, is placed through a catheter and guided to the aortic valve through a main artery such as the femoral artery via the groin. Once in place, the collapsed valve is placed inside the old valve and expanded in the patient’s own aortic valve. These valves are very strong, durable and safe. Interestingly, should a patient every need another one, the same procedure is done replacing the TAVR with a new one. Once in place, the valve begins working and most patients experience immediate relief. Dr. Thornton specializes in this procedure and performs it right here at Thomas Hospital.
Diagnostic & Medical Clinic welcomes new internal medicine physician
[MOBILE, AL] —Christopher Chauvin, M.D. joins Diagnostic & Medical Clinic (DMC) following the completion of his residency in internal medicine at the Detroit Medical Center with Wayne State University. As an internal medicine physician, he will provide a range of acute, chronic and preventative medical services. This includes diagnosing and treating illnesses, routine checkups and healthy lifestyle management.
Dr. Chauvin is a graduate of the Oakland University with a bachelor of science in biomedical, diagnostic and therapeutic sciences. He earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. During his residency, he received the Outpatient Clinical Excellence Award for 2021.
For more than 70 years, DMC has provided trusted, quality care to the Gulf Coast communities. As the largest private multi-specialty clinic in Alabama, it is home to more than 80 physicians treating a broad range of specialties. With more than 10 Southern Alabama locations, quality and compassionate care is right in your own backyard. Dr. Chauvin will see patients at DMC’s location on Springhill Avenue in Mobile.
Pediatric emergency physician joins USA Health
[MOBILE, AL] —Reshvinder Dhillon, M.D., recently joined USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital as a pediatric emergency medicine physician. He is also an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama.
Dhillon received his medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies. He completed residency training at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York.
During the first year of residency, he thoroughly enjoyed his pediatric emergency medicine rotation and gravitated toward the specialty. He went on to complete a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital/University of Buffalo.
He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a member of the American Medical Association.
Infirmary Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute performs Mobile’s first minimally-invasive mitral valve replacement
[MOBILE, AL] — TInfirmary Health's Heart & Vascular Institute successfully performed the first transfemoral MViV, Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR), in the Mobile region. The procedure was performed by Chad McRee, M.D., structural cardiologist with Cardiology Associates, who was assisted by William Johnson, III, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon with CardioThoracic & Vascular Surgical Associates, and the cath lab team at Mobile Infirmary. TMVR replaces the mitral valve in the heart without needing conventional open-heart surgery. TMVR is minimally invasive and uses a catheter-based approach for patients whose existing mitral valve (native or prosthesis) is diseased and failing. The mitral valve is one of four valves in the heart. These valves ensure that blood flows properly in one's heart. Infirmary Health’s catheterization and open-heart surgical centers provide patients immediate surgical care to correct serious heart issues, including inserting stents and replacement valves.
"The types of patients we care for and the procedures we perform in the Heart & Vascular Institute are remarkably complex," says Dr. Johnson. "It requires much coordination to get the right procedure done for the right patient at the right time. The Heart & Vascular Institute is a way to move forward with better coordination, the direction of resources, and new procedures as they come to the community."
Infirmary Health's Heart & Vascular Institute comprises physicians and specialists across cardiology, cardiovascular, vascular and thoracic services. This award-winning team provides some of the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art heart care across the Gulf Coast Region.
[MOBILE, AL] — aul D. Schneider, M.D., recently joined USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital as a pediatric emergency physician. He is also an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama.
A native of Birmingham, Schneider earned his medical degree and completed his residency training in pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Following residency, he completed a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Schneider brings extensive experience in pediatric emergency medicine to his roles at USA Health and the Whiddon College of Medicine. Most recently, he worked in the pediatric emergency department at Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City, Tennessee. Previously, he was an attending physician at East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville and Children's of Alabama in Birmingham. He also served on the clinical faculty at UAB as an assistant professor of pediatric emergency medicine.
He is board certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
[MOBILE, AL] — With a holistic approach to patient care, Sarah
McMullin, M.D., recently joined USA Health as a sports medicine physician and pediatrician.
She is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. She also serves as assistant director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.
McMullin enjoys treating patients of all ages and encourages physical activity as a pathway to lifelong health. She said she prefers to take a multifaceted, personal approach to her treatment plans, considering the entire body and mind. She has a special interest in working with young female athletes, as she grew up dancing, figure skating and participating in track and field.
McMullin is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, and the Gold Humanism Honor Society.
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