December 20, 2011
Holidays and Winter Vacation Season Increase Heart Attack Risks
Cautions about how the holiday season can put you at risk (including video from ABC13 HealthCheck).
December 19, 2011
Researchers Create the First Pulseless Heart
Discover magazine features THI's Dr. Bud Frazier and Dr. Billy Cohn.
December 19, 2011
Steve Miller Named to Succeed Meredith Long as Chair of THI Board
Meredith J. Long steps down, Steven L. Miller elected to serve as new chairman, David Grimes and Bobby S. Shackouls as vice chairmen.
December 15, 2011
Home for Holidays with New Donor Heart & Kidney
Patient able to bridge to transplant with SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart resolves to advocate for organ donation, inspire love and peace.
December 10, 2011
Ray C. Fish Award for Scientific Achievement
Patrick W. Serruys, MD, PhD, of the Netherlands, honored for contributions to interventional cardiology.
December 3, 2011
The pulseless dual heart pump developed by THI's Dr. Bud Frazier and Dr. Billy Cohn continues to garner attention in the medical/scientific world and beyond. The device, which helped keep a seriously ill patient alive for more than five weeks earlier this year, is featured in the December issue of National Geographic Magazine.
November 23, 2011
Advocating and Educating for Women's Heart Health
THI educational resources for women are cited twice in the AWHONN Position Statement (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nursing) published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing. In the Women's Cardiovascular Health paper, the authors reference the HIC topic, Women & Heart Disease, as well as "Straight Talk about Heart Attacks" in the Women's Center. Read the full position statement (PDF).
See also on this website: Center for Women's Heart & Vascular Health
November 17, 2011
Implanting Heart Pump to Limit Heart Muscle Damage after Heart Attack
Interventional cardiologists affiliated with THI at St. Luke's recently implanted the first two patients in the nation with a tiny heart pump in a feasibility trial to determine the pump's potential to limit damage to heart muscle following a STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction). Read the full news release to learn about the FDA-approved trial and the first enrolled patients.
November 15, 2011
Stem cells give new hope to heart attack survivors
"There is promising news for people at risk of heart failure after US researchers found stem cell therapy in humans has been surprisingly successful in replacing damaged muscle and getting the heart to pump better." The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports on the groundbreaking research work of Dr. Emerson Perin and others. Read the full article from ABC News.
See also on this website: Stem Cell Center
November 13, 2011
Sugary drinks hurt even skinny women's hearts
"There are some calories that come like a nuclear attack," said Dr. Stephanie Coulter, director for the THI Center for Women's Heart & Vascular Health. Learn more about findings presented at the American Heart Association meeting on the TODAY show website.
November 9, 2011
Event photos on 
Community Conversation with the Texas Heart Institute:
"Protecting the Rhythm of the Heart," presented by Dr. James T. Willerson and Dr. Mehdi Razavi.
November 1, 2011
Project Heart Honored with Web Health Award
The Project Heart website was selected as a winner in the 13th annual Web Health Awards program. This competition—held twice each year: Winter/Spring and Summer/Fall—recognizes the nation's best digital health resources. Project Heart (and Proyecto Corazón) received a Merit Award in the category of Web-based Resource/Tool. See What's New? for more details.
October 31, 2011
THI's Great Pumpkin Run Unites "Heartbeats"
The THI "Heart Car" was very popular at the Fun Run this past weekend. Read all about how this red racer is helping save lives! Visit www.godstoneranchmotorsports.com.
October 26, 2011
"A Heart That Doesn't Beat" featured in children's magazine
In the Science Scoops column for its Nov/Dec issue, Odyssey magazine (Adventures in Science for children) tells the story of THI's total artificial heart. Read the Odyssey article (PDF).
See the full story and video from THI: Successful Implantation of a Continuous-FlowTotal Artificial Heart
October 26, 2011
Health Literacy Innovator Award for Heart Information Center
Health Literacy Innovations honored the THI website with a 3rd place award in the category of Clear Focus Multi-Media for demonstrated commitment to excellence in health literacy in media usability and design. The award recognizes the Heart Information Center online library of health topics as well as Ask a Heart Doctor, Project Heart, and Center for Women's Heart & Vascular Health. View the award certificate (PDF).
October 12, 2011
Bionic bride has real heart
Allyssa Smith Babineaux on NBC's TODAY show.
To read Ally's story, see Why Support Us?
September 29, 2011
Best Medical Breakthrough - 2011
The Houston Press "Best of Awards" honored the Defib Task Force with best medical breakthrough 2011 for its Second Chance AED Pads. A group of Rice University bioengineering students (Lisa Jiang, Joanna Nathan, Justin Lin, Carl Nelson and Brad Otto), along with some experts (Texas Heart Institute's Mehdi Razavi and Rice University lecturer Renata Ramos), developed new pads for automated external defibrillators. Read the original Rice University news release, "Unique AED pads give hearts a second chance."
September 15, 2011
Artificial Heart Valve Undergoes Testing
Two great-grandmothers (Anna Jean Irwin, left, and Ana Riddel) share more than a first name after both underwent a unique procedure at THI to correct a life-threatening heart valve condition, severe aortic stenosis. Cardiologists Biswajit Kar, MD and Pranav Loyalka, MD, and cardiovascular surgeon Joseph Coselli, MD, implanted an artificial heart valve in each woman using a non-surgical technique. Read the full story in the Texas Medical Center News.
September 15, 2011
Newest artficial heart beats not
Craig Lewis lay dying in a Texas hospital bed. The 55-year-old was suffering from amyloidosis, a disorder that was destroying his heart. "This man was basically within an hour or two of death," says Billy Cohn, a doctor at Houston's Texas Heart Institute who oversaw Lewis earlier this year. Given Lewis's dire condition, Cohn and veteran artificial heart researcher Bud Frazier received the consent of the man's family to try something that had never been done before: the complete replacement of his heart with two continuous flow ventricular assist devices (VAD). Read the story in the online magazine, MACLEANS.CA.
September 1, 2011
THI cosponsors international heart failure forum
September 29, the Brano Heart Failure Forum presents the 4th International Symposium: Innovations and New Treatment Strategies in Heart Failure, in Belgrade, Serbia. THI staff on the program committee include Dr. Igor Gregoric, Dr. Reynolds Delgado, Dr. O.H. Frazier, Dr. Guillermo Torre-Amione, and Dr. Emerson Perin.
August 21, 2011
Schools extend heat safety, heart care beyond athletics
To help monitor the health of band members and athletes, some school districts are requiring heart screenings. Others have instituted heat restrictions on outdoor practices. Dr. James T. Willerson discusses the Houston MRI Screening Study. Houston Chronicle
August 19, 2011
Artificial hearts giving hope, saving lives
What happens when you are dying of heart disease, and you won't live long enough for a transplant? Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's has a new go-to plan: the artificial heart. (ABC Christi Myers video no longer available)
August 18, 2011
New FDA approved heart valve gets thumbs up from Kinder woman
Three years ago Sis Doumite, 73, was the first in Texas to receive a new heart valve called the Trifecta in a clinical trial. Doumite took the risk with reassurance from Dr. Joseph Coselli, chief of adult cardiac surgery for Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Hospital. Read Doumite's story from KPLCtv.com in Lake Charles, Louisiana. [The FDA has since approved the Trifecta; read the recent news.]
August 15, 2011
Texas Heart Institute President, Dr. James T. Willerson, heads International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences
August 12, 2011
Golf Digest passes along some tips from Texas Heart Institute for dealing with extreme heat: "Fitness Friday: Stay hydrated in severe heat."
See also on this website:
• Doctors warn of dangers of hot weather
• Exercise in Hot and Humid Conditions
August 9, 2011
First in Texas to Implant New Trifecta Heart Valve
Chief of adult cardiac surgery for Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Joseph S. Coselli, MD, is the first in Texas to implant the Trifecta™ aortic stented tissue valve, a clinically-proven replacement for diseased, damaged or malfunctioning aortic heart valves. Read the full news release on stlukeshouston.com.
August 8, 2011
Four Total Artificial Hearts Implanted in 12 Days
Life-changing device providing "bridge to transplant" implanted by team led by Dr. Igor Gregoric at Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. "For patients who are out of options, these devices are absolutely critical," said Dr.Gregoric.
Great Pumpkin Fun Run Set for October 29th
Register today; join us on Facebook; sign up for the newsletter.
July 22, 2011
Texas Heart Institute tests kids for heart conditions
Christi Myers reports on ABC13.com
July 22, 2011
Not All Belly Fat Is Bad for the Heart
THI cardiologist Scott R. Sherron, MD, quoted in look at results of a new study.
WebMD mobile
July 19, 2011
THI Remains Among America's Top 10 Heart Centers
Fourth Place Marks 21st Consecutive Year of Top Rankings
July 14, 2011
Fort Bend ISD partners with THI to provide free MRI screening to middle school students
Prevention-oriented research study can help identify children who may have undetected heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Read the full press release on THI's Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies website.
July 13, 2011
Robotic procedure restores Spring man's heart health
Jose Vazcoy's irregular heartbeat was fixed using a remote surgical system. Dr. Mehdi Razavi and Dr. Ali Massumi, THI cardiologists, report on the procedure done at the Texas Heart Institute in 2010. Read the full story from yourSpringnews.com.
Also on this website, view the video (5:28 minutes), A Father's Story - From the Heart.
July 7, 2011
Final shuttle mission includes mobile health payload
This report on "mobile health technology" includes a reference to Dr. S. Ward Casscells, THI professional staff member, and his pioneering work in telemedicine technology for military applications as well as for disaster relief and emergency medicine. Read mobilehealthnews.com.
July 2011
Professor Igor Gregorič, a top Slovenian heart surgeon from Houston
"'Knowledge counts, the patients we help count, relationships count,' says Professor Igor Gregorič." Read the full profile in SLOVENIA.SI [originally published January 2011]. Dr. Gregoric is Director, Center for Cardiac Support and Associate Director, Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplant Research at THI.
June 29, 2011
Heat Dangers for High-Risk People Like Heart Patients, the Very Young
Learn to avoid heat exhaustion in hot and humid conditions. Read the doctors' cautions and advice.
June 18, 2011
Dr. Denton A. Cooley honors his dad with gift to UT dental School
Famed surgeon will endow a professorship, center. Read the Houston Chronicle article.
June 13, 2011
Heart With No Beat ? Yes, here's how... 
After decades of trial and error, Dr. Billy Cohn and Dr. Bud Frazier at the Texas Heart Institute have developed a technique to replace the heart while avoiding the risks of previous devices.
COVERAGE AROUND THE WORLD:
April 26, 2011
Unique AED pads give hearts a second chance
"An invention by Rice University bioengineering students in collaboration with the Texas Heart Institute is geared toward giving immediate second chances to arrhythmia victims headed toward cardiac arrest." For their capstone design project, a team of Rice seniors created a unique pad system for automated external defibrillators (AEDs), common devices that can shock a victim's heart back into a proper rhythm in an emergency. Read the full news release with links to photos and YouTube from Rice University.
April 26, 2011
Racing legend AJ Foyt recovers after heart scare
One of Houston's best-known sporting figures, AJ Foyt, was recovering after a heart procedure. Doctors placed a stent in his main coronary artery on March 25. "He was a ticking timebomb," said Dr. Reynolds Delgado, THI cardiologist and Medical Director, Mechanical Support Devices in Heart Failure. Read the article and see the video at KHOU 11 Houston.
May 17, 2011
Seniors from Houston's DeBakey High School for Health Professions visit with Texas Heart Institute researcher Sayadeth Khounlo during a tour of THI.
April 20, 2011
Enhancing Blood Supply—Revascularization Procedure Options for Your Patients
"Physicians can choose from a number of revascularization procedures to enhance patients' quality of life following a heart attack." Dr. Scott Sherron, THI cardiologist, was consulted for this comprehensive article on alternatives for reestablishing blood flow to the heart. Read the full article in the Spring issue of Aging Well magazine (News & Insight for Professionals in Geriatric Medicine).
April 12, 2011
Longest-living heart transplant recipient recalls his life at age 74
"Charles Washington is an amazing man, and he's had an amazing life—and the fact that he is believed to be the longest-living single heart transplant survivor has little to do with it." Washington received his new heart at Texas Heart Institute in 1983, attended by Dr. Denton A. Cooley. Read the full story from The Oak Ridger newspaper.
April 2, 2011
Heart doctors praise new valve procedure
"Houston doctors have begun replacing worn-out heart valves without cracking open the patient's chest, an experimental procedure that could open treatment to roughly 100,000 Americans a year now considered too frail to have surgery." Dr. Biswajit Kar, THI cardiologist, discusses the benefits of the procedure and Dr. Blase Carabello, recently named director of THI's Center for Heart Valve Disease, calls it a "huge advance." Read the full article in the Houston Chronicle.
March 26, 2011
U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (photo left) and U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, visited with THI President James T. Willerson, MD. Dr. Benjamin requested to meet Dr. Willerson during her visit to Houston to learn more about the progress in cardiovascular research and the other work and accomplishments of his team of Texas Heart Institute physicians and scientists.
March 23, 2011
Successful Implantation of a Continuous-Flow Total Artificial Heart
"Medical history in the making." Doctors at THI have successfully implanted the first continuous-flow total artificial heart in a desperately ill patient facing imminent death.
March 19, 2011
Research may save lives of young athletes
The Houston Chronicle "Viewpoints" section published an article by Dr. James T. Willerson, Dr. Paolo Angelini, and Meredith J. Long concerning the activities of the Texas Heart Institute Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies (CCAA), including the Houston MRI Screening Study. Read the article.
See also on this website: CCAA
March 17, 2011
5 New Rules for a Healthy Heart
An article from Men's Health magazine discusses "new approaches most likely to improve your cardiovascular health," using 5 starting points: estimate risk, train with intervals, cut cholesterol with fiber, watch your stress, and go for a blood test. Dr. Mehdi Razavi, THI cardiologist, is quoted in the conclusion: "learn what your heart is trying to tell you." Read the article online.
March 9, 2011
Dr. Blase A. Carabello to Head Center for Heart Valve Disease
THI appoints Dr. Blase A. Carabello as director of its new Center for Heart Valve Disease.
March 3, 2011
Pacemaker Allows Patients to Safely Undergo MRI Procedures
New pacemaker technology overcomes barriers which blocked patients fitted with pacemakers from access to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines for medical diagnosis. Cardiac electrophysiologist John J. Seger, MD, first implanted the now FDA-approved pacing system in a 76-year-old cancer patient who needed the device to treat a slow heart beat, but also needed MRIs to ensure that his cancer had not returned or spread. Read the full news release from St. Luke's.
March 1, 2011
Innovative CryoAblation Technology Used to Treat Atrial Fibrillation
THI cardiac electrophysiologist, J. Alberto Lopez, MD is among the first in the nation to treat patients for an irregular heartbeat with a new, minimally invasive cryoballoon technology that uses cold rather than heat to interrupt faulty electrical circuits in the heart. Dr. Lopez used the FDA-approved Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System to perform ablations on two women with refractory recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), a serious heart rhythm disorder that affects millions of Americans. Read the full news release from St. Luke's.
February 24, 2011
U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, met with Texas Heart Institute President James T. Willerson, MD, to discuss health care, medical research and other issues during a visit to Houston. (See photo.) Congresswoman Granger, also a former mayor of Fort Worth, represents Texas' 12th Congressional District. She co-chairs the Anti-Terrorism Caucus and serves as a deputy whip. She is also chairwoman of the House appropriations subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, and serves on the subcommittee of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
February 23, 2011
Abdominal aortic aneurysm surgeries getting easier
THI interventional cardiologist Zvonimir Krajcer, MD, repairs aneurysms using a new stent graft system that doesn't require major surgery. See the recent HealthCheck report from KTRK-TV, Houston.
February 21, 2011
Smithsonian Honors First Artificial Heart On Valentine's Day
Smithsonian celebrated Valentine's Day in a very unique and remarkable way. They used it as an opportunity to honor the very first artificial heart, the Liotta-Cooley Artificial Heart.
February 16, 2011
During American Heart Month, Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr, chief of congenital heart surgery and surgeon-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston (pictured on left in photo) pays tribute to heart pioneer Dr. Denton A. Cooley, Texas Children's first chief of cardiovascular surgery when the hospital opened its doors in 1954. Dr. Cooley, already famed for adult cardiac surgeries, performed the first congenital heart surgeries on babies born with complex heart defects. Dr. Fraser, who joined the hospital in 1995, has built multidisciplined surgical teams dedicated exclusively to pediatric congenital heart surgery. Dr. Fraser's teams continue to advance the historic legacy set by Dr. Cooley's innovations. Combined, the two famous heart surgeons have performed more than 23,700 cases during Texas Children's 57 years of pediatric heart surgery.
February 11, 2011
'Bionic Bride' loses her title, gains new lease on life
The Texas A&M student first made headlines when doctors at the Texas Heart Institute installed a Left Ventricular Assist Device. Now she is a heart transplant recipient. See the video report from KHOU.COM.
February 3, 2011
Caution on heart health: sports events like the Super Bowl can pose health risks, particularly for people with heart disease.
January 27, 2011
Mrs. Laura W. Bush is honored as 2011 recipient of the Denton A. Cooley Leadership Award
January 20, 2011
Cardinal DiNardo addresses Texas Medical Center community
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, spoke during a luncheon hosted by The Institute for Spirituality and Health (ISH). THI President Emeritus, Dr. Denton A. Cooley and St. Luke's Episcopal Health System's President and CEO, David Fine, were among those attending. [See photo.]
January 18, 2011
Using breakthrough imaging to better diagnose and treat patients with blocked arteries
THI cardiologists are the first in Houston to implement a new imaging tool known as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).
January 14, 2011
Innovative cardiovascular treatments offer new hope to patients
around the world
The pioneering research and technology at THI is featured in this article published in Middle East Health magazine (www.middleeasthealthmag.com) with the focus on left ventricular assist devices and adult stem cell therapies. Read the full article here.
January 7, 2011
Texas Lyceum to Honor Heart Surgeon Pioneer Dr. Denton A. Cooley
For his lifetime of leadership and service, THI founder Dr. Denton A. Cooley this month is receiving the 2010 Stewardship of Texas Values Award from the Texas Lyceum.
December 25, 2010
Dr. Billy Cohn on the human heart
From the Houston Chronicle's Eric Berger, an episode in the "11 for '11" series provides insights from THI cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. William "Billy" Cohn on advances in mechanical circulatory support.
December 23, 2010
Repairing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with FDA-Approved Device
THI interventional cardiologist Zvonimir Krajcer, MD, performed an endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) using a stent graft. The 80-year-old patient became the second in the nation to be treated with the newly approved device. Read the St. Luke's news release.
December 15, 2010
HeartMate Pump Making Lives Better
Patient with congestive heart failure gets new lease on life with heart assist device. View the video (1 min.) from WXII-TV, in Winston-Salem, South Carolina.
December 14, 2010
Holbrooke's Artery Tear Is Rare, Often Fatal Condition, Heart Doctors Say
Dr. James T. Willerson provides insight in Bloomberg article about the torn aorta that claimed the life of Richard Holbrooke, U.S. envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
December 6, 2010
Texas Children's Hospital's surgeon-in-chief receives award
Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, surgeon-in-chief and chief of congenital heart surgery at Texas Children's Hospital received the Ray C. Fish Award.
December 3, 2010
Exploring medical cooperation
THI President James T. Willerson, MD, exchanges gifts with Dr. Li Hongshan, Director General of the Chinese Ministry of Health's International Health Exchange and Cooperation Center in Beijing, and Jane Jian Wang, Director of External Relations during their visit [photo].
December 1, 2010
Bionic bride's wedding was emotional 'rebirth'
THI patient Ally Smith Babineaux [photo] discusses beating the odds with Matt Lauer on the Today Show. (Video 6:43)
November 29, 2010
Influenza increases heart attack risk
Interview with Dr. Mohammad Madjid, THI senior research scientist, on Houston's KUHF National Public Radio. (Audio 2:09 min.)
November 26, 2010
Don't ignore cardiac risks during holidays
Studies show a 4-5% increase in death rates around the holidays, but Dr. Scott Sherron, THI cardiologist, discusses ways to avoid becoming a statistic. Houston's public radio, KUHF. (Audio 2:45 min.)
November 24, 2010
Holiday eating could give you a heart attack
Dr. James Wilson, THI cardiologist, offers some healthy advice for the holiday season. Interview from FOX 26 Morning News. (Video 3:52 min.)
November 18, 2010
Get Flu Vaccine and Help Cut Heart Attack Risks, Advise Doctors
November 12, 2010
GNTs are A-OK for MRIs: Tests show bright future for gadonanotubes in stem cell tracking
November 11, 2010
THI, Houston ISD announce medical research program to screen/study 10,000 students/athletes for heart conditions associated with Sudden Cardiac Death.
November 1, 2010
2010 Great Pumpkin Fun Run race results and event photos posted.
October 14, 2010
Chilean miners should watch health
"Dr. Virendra Mathur [THI cardiologist] said it is extremely important for those miners who were malnourished to gently regain their original weight." Read the full report from the Medill School, Chicago.
October 12, 2010
Texas Heart Institute to honor Mrs. Laura W. Bush with Denton A. Cooley Leadership Award at January event.
October 7, 2010
Texas Heart Institute establishes new Center for Women's Heart and Vascular Health. Read the press release and view a video clip of Houston Mayor Annise Parker [photo] at City Hall.
September 9, 2010
Weight-loss surgery prevents diabetes, reverses heart disease?
Dr. Reynolds Delgado, THI cardiologist, and Dr. Heinrich Taegtmeyer, THI professional staff, discuss the implications of weight-loss surgery and its potential for reversing heart disease. Read the ABC13 report and watch the video: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/health&id=7656937
August 17, 2010
Doctors & patients: Watch for six signs of heart failure
As a follow up to Karen King's story [see below], THI cardiologist, Dr. Roberta Bogaev advises catching heart failure early. Read the Houston Chronicle "MedBlog": http://blogs.chron.com/medblog/archives/2010/08/post_19.html
August 16, 2010
For heart patient, the beat is going strong
Weariness gone, pump brings a year of vigor
Karen King, an LVAD patient, is featured along with THI cardiologist, Dr. Roberta Bogaev and THI heart assist device pioneer, Dr. O.H. Frazier in this Houston Chronicle article:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7154584.html
August 12, 2010
Dr. James "Mike" Wilson to be presented Key to the City–Jena, Louisiana–on August 20. Mayor McMillin, especially proud of native son, invites Dr. Wilson's friends to the ceremony. [See details in Accolades.]
August 11, 2010
Improved Stroke Prevention Procedure Performed on Patient with Heart-Assist Device
Doctors at THI perform carotid artery stent procedure on patient implanted with an LVAD.
August 4, 2010
David L. Printy [left in photo], President and CEO of Oasis Hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, makes a presentation to THI President James T. Willerson, MD, during a day-long visit here. The Texas Heart Institute is exploring collaborations in the UAE region.
August 3, 2010
THI Inaugurates "Boot Camp" for Echocardiography
More than 100 attendees participated in the inaugural Echo Review Boot Camp in July in Houston.
July 21, 2010
Top Honor to Texas Heart Institute Editor Marianne Mallia
American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) to present 2010 Swanberg Award to THI's Manager of Scientific Publications.
July 19, 2010
A New Pumping Device Brings Hope for Cheney
Texas Heart Institute's Dr. O.H. Frazier is quoted in this article from the New York Times about left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and other mechanical pumps.
www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/health/20docs.html
July 15, 2010
Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital Moves Up in National Heart Center Rankings to No. 4
Listed in U.S.News & World Report Top 10 for 20th Consecutive Year
July 12, 2010
Baylor University President Ken Starr (right), with his wife Alice, visited Texas Heart Institute and met with Dr. Denton A. Cooley (left) and THI President, Dr. James T. Willerson [see photo].
July 10, 2010
Q&A: Insight on rare, but deadly, threat
Surgeon tries to educate public on syndrome
In this Houston Chronicle article, Texas Heart Institute adult cardiac surgery chief Dr. Joseph Coselli talks about Marfan Syndrome.
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7102793.html
June 28, 2010
Mr. Tain-tsair Hsu, the mayor of Tainan, Taiwan, presented a gift to James T. Willerson, MD, President and Medical Director of the Texas Heart Institute, upon the occasion of a Taiwan delegation visit to the Institute (see photo). The delegation also included Tainan Secretary-General Shih-Chieh Hsieh, and the Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston. Tainan is home to National Cheng Kung University.
June 18, 2010
An Historic Joint Meeting of Cooley and DeBakey Surgical Societies
The reconciliation of renowned cardiovascular surgeons Denton A. Cooley and Michael E. DeBakey led to the jointly sponsored surgical symposium in June.
June 8, 2010
The Texas Heart Institute hosted a large delegation from the southern Chinese city of Xiamen and from Xiamen University to discuss potential collaborations. THI President James T. Willerson, MD, presented a small gift to Xiamen Vice Mayor Pan Shi Jian [see photo], and a medical textbook to Xiamen University President Chongshi Zhu [see photo].
May 27, 2010
Houston's Mayor Annise Parker attended a breakfast discussion hosted by the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, with leaders from throughout the Texas Medical Center. The group discussed ways for the TMC and City Hall to enhance cooperation. [See photo.]
May 26, 2010
The Today Show and People magazine feature Dr. Roberta Bogaev and Ally, a THI heart failure patient supported by the HeartMate II device, who is preparing for her wedding next month. Read the story and view the video at TODAYshow.com
May 25, 2010
THI Reaches Milestone in Improved Stroke-Prevention Procedure: Carotid Artery Stenting.
May 15, 2010
Get your heart-health question answered: "Cardiac physicians at the state's leading heart hospital (THI) are taking questions on a Web service called 'Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor'." Read the Houston Chronicle's MedBlog at
http://blogs.chron.com/medblog/archives/2010/05/get_your_heart.html.
May 6, 2010
Stress can be a real pain in the chest. THI cardiologist Dr. Scott R. Sherron is quoted in this Beaumont Enterprise article (PDF).
May 5, 2010
$1.5 million NIH grant awarded for study of adult stem cells and heart assist devices as combined therapy for heart failure.
May 4, 2010
Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) editorial discusses role of influenza and pneunomia vaccines in reducing risks of heart attack, stroke.
May 3, 2010
House Speaker Joe Straus, who has been a THI friend in the Texas Legislature, visited THI to learn more about the cutting-edge research and other work taking place at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. With the Speaker were THI Board Chairman Meredith Long, President and Medical Director Dr. James T. Willerson, Board Member Elyse Lanier and THI founder and President Emeritus Dr. Denton A. Cooley. [See photo.]
April 29, 2010
Research shows simple blood test can monitor heart transplant rejection.
April 22, 2010
Research findings could help improve stem-cell treatments for damaged hearts.
April 20, 2010
Eat right, stay active, stay healthy. Dr. Cooley wants you to take care of your heart and your body so you don't need the skills of our cardiologists and surgeons. Read the Houston Chronicle article.
April 14, 2010
Dr. Denton A. Cooley receives highest award from nation's oldest surgical society.
April 12, 2010
International Cooperation: Drs. Xinsheng Wang and ZhiMin Miao, Vice President of China's Qingdao University and Dean of its Medical College, were greeted by Dr. James T. Willerson, THI President and Medical Director. During the visit, the delegation discussed ways for their respective institutions to collaborate. Qingdao Medical College operates 6 affiliated hospitals and 11 teaching hospitals in China. [See photo.]
March 16, 2010
A to-do list for better health "Sometimes the simplest lifestyle changes can result in the biggest health payoffs." Read the Houston Chronicle article. Dr. Mehdi Razavi, THI cardiologist, contributed to this compilation of "a list of simple things anyone can do to improve his health."
March 10, 2010
Using own skin cells to repair hearts on horizon: Robert Schwartz, Cullen Distinguished Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston, has pioneered a breakthrough technique for turning ordinary human skin cells into early-stage heart cells. Read the news release from the University of Houston. (March 2, 2010)
March 9, 2010
Godstone Ranch Motorsports and THI Double Down at Miami-Homestead.Two "heart" cars–#07 and #05–ran in separate events in Miami dressed in the red livery of the Texas Heart Institute. For details on the racing team's efforts benefitting THI, see www.godstoneranchmotorsports.com.
February 3, 2010
The Lance Armstrong foundation on the web, livestrong.com, references THI as authority on cardiovascular exercise. Read the blog entry:
How to Do Cardio Exercise
February 22, 2010
View this new U.S.News & World Report slideshow, "What makes a great heart center," highlighting THI among the nation's very best.
Top 10 Hospitals for Heart Care
February 16, 2010
Read this USA TODAY report about a life-saving heart assist device:
New HeartMate II pump is latest bridge to lifFebruary 4, 2010
Doctors Caution You to Guard Your Heart on Super Bowl Sunday
February 4, 2010 (Update: March 30, 2010)
Saluting Generosity & Service–Denton A. Cooley Leadership Award
Presented to Jan and Dan Duncan
January 21, 2010
Texas Heart Institute Recognized for National Excellence
January 21, 2010
FDA Approves Assist Device for Permanent Treatment of Advanced Heart Failure
January 15, 2010
Research Director Awarded Recovery Act Grant from National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
