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Honors and Awards

7/4/05
Samin Sharma, M.D., Stands ahead of the Pack Again in State Angioplasty Report

In the New York State Department of Health’s recently released report on angioplasty, one cardiologist stands out Samin Sharma, M.D., Co-Director of both the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, and Director of Interventional Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. Not only does he perform more angioplasties than any other cardiologist in the state, he is one of only two physicians to be identified for remarkable safety (i.e., to record risk-adjusted mortality rates that are lower, in a statistically significant way, than the state average) for both non-emergency cases and all cases. Dr. Sharma is the only cardiologist to have received this recognition in both categories in every report since the state began such documentation in 1995.

The annual report, released on June 24, provides statistics for a three-year period (2001 to 2003) for all the cardiologists across the state who perform percutaneous coronary interventions, the minimally invasive procedure commonly known as angioplasty that clears blockages in the coronary arteries, which provide blood flow to the heart muscle. The report also provides data on the 45 hospitals at which the procedure is performed. With the fourth highest volume of cases in the state in 2003, Mount Sinai’s Catheterization Lab recorded the lowest mortality rate for non-emergency cases among catheterization labs performing more than 1,000 procedures that year.

The limited data in the state’s report only begin to tell the story of the success of Mount Sinai’s Catheterization Lab. Following are some additional data:

• In 2004, the Lab performed about 10,660 procedures, including 5,900 diagnostic cardiac catheterizations (an increase of 10 percent over 2003) 3,300 interventional catheterizations, or angioplasties (an increase of 15 percent) 1,460 electrophysiology studies for heart rhythm abnormalities (an increase of 10 percent).
• Of the angioplasties performed with stents, about 3,100 involve drug-eluting stents (i.e., coated with a drug to help reduce reblockage).
• About eight to 10 percent of angioplasty patients have particularly tough blockages, and therefore undergo a procedure called rotational atherectomy, in which a catheter guides a tool called a Rotablator to the blockage, where it pulverizes the calcified plaque.

• Mount Sinai’s Catheterization Lab receives numerous referrals every month, including

  Cases referred routinely from affiliated institutions, such as The Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens (about 30 cases per month), North General Hospital (about 20), and the North Shore Medical Group (about five)

  Approximately 50 high-risk cases per month from nearby hospitals that are not affiliated with Mount Sinai.

• About 40 procedures are performed each day in the Catheterization Lab.

With finishing touches now being made to the new Cardiac Catheterization Lab on the fifth floor of the Guggenheim Pavilion, Dr. Sharma predicts that patient volume will increase even further. "We are working on cases up to midnight right now," he explains. "When the new space opens in August or September, we could have as much as a 20 percent increase in intervention procedures next year. The entire Cath Lab team of doctors, fellows, nurses, technicians, and support staff deserves the credit for this continued success."

6/27/05
Valentin Fuster, M.D., Ph.D., Receives John Paul II Medal

Valentin Fuster, M.D., Ph.D., the Richard Gorlin, M.D./Heart Research Foundation Professor of Cardiology and Director of the Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, displays the Pro Bono Curantium Gold Medal in honor of Pope John Paul II that he received on June 9 from the John Paul II Hospital in Krakow, Poland, the late pope’s native city. The award recognizes work Dr. Fuster has done over the last six years involving Pope John Paul II. Also accompanying the award is a citation that reads, in part, "For outstanding contributions in the fight against patient suffering.... His vigorous and visionary leadership stimulated the development of a cardiovascular center where its pioneering programs in the management and prevention of heart disease are conducted. His commitment to translate research discoveries into advances in prevention and innovations in care has opened the way to reduce the pain and suffering caused by cardiovascular disease."

2/28/05
American Heart Association Honors Jonathan Halperin, M.D.

Jonathan L. Halperin, M.D., the Robert and Harriett Heilbrunn Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) (left), celebrated his Heart of New York Award with his wife, Michelle Copeland, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery (right), at the American Heart Association's Heart of New York gala The American Heart Association has presented its 2005 Heart of New York Award for Achievement in Cardiovascular Science and Medicine to Jonathan L. Halperin, M.D., the Robert and Harriett Heilbrunn Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), and Director of Clinical Cardiology Services in the Zena and Michael A.Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie- Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health. Given to a physician whose life's work helps to prevent death from cardiovascular disease and stroke, the award was presented to Dr. Halperin at the American Heart Association Heart of New York 90th Anniversary Gala, held on February 8 at the Waldorf=Astoria, by the actress, comedian, and author Joan Rivers.

Dr. Halperin was recognized for his many contributions in the field, as an educator, a clinician, and a researcher, with his work in stroke prevention garnering particular attention. "No cardiologist has contributed more to the prevention of stroke in patients with heart disease," reads the AHA Gala program. Dr. Halperin was the principal cardiologist responsible for the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation clinical trials, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. These multicenter trials, carried out over nearly a decade, helped define the epidemiology of stroke among the millions of people worldwide who have atrial fibrillation and the role of anticoagulation in stroke prevention. The AHA cited the trials' results as among the most important research advances of the past several years.

In addition, Dr. Halperin served as Co-Chairman of the Executive Steering Committee of the SPORTIF clinical trials, which evaluated an oral thrombin inhibitor for prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. These international trials, involving over 7,000 patients randomized at over 700 clinical centers in 25 nations, represent the most aggressive effort ever mounted against embolic stroke and introduce an innovative antithrombotic strategy with potential applications in a wide array of cardiovascular disorders.

Most recently, Dr. Halperin's study about the new stroke prevention drug was published in the February 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. This drew broad media interest, with stories on Reuters and Dow Jones Newswire, on MSNBC, WLS-TV/7 Chicago (ABC), and NY1 News, and in The Washington Post. The story was also covered online by TheHeart.org, CBS MarketWatch, HealthDay News, WebMD, DrKoop.com, and News-Medical. net. Dr. Halperin was not the only Mount Sinai faculty member playing a leading role at the gala. Valentin Fuster,M.D., Ph.D., the Richard Gorlin, MD/Heart Research Foundation Professor and Director of the Zena and Michael A.Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie- Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, and President of the American Heart Association in New York, served as one of the event's Co- Chairs. Dr. Fuster presented the Heart of New York Award to the 2005 Retail Recipient, the designer Oscar de la Renta. He also introduced the performer Julio Iglesias, who entertained the audience of approximately 800 guests. The event serves as a fundraiser in the fight against heart disease and stroke.

1/12/05

Valentin Fuster, M.D., Ph.D., the Richard Gorlin, MD/Heart Research Foundation Professor of Cardiology and Director of the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, serving as Editor-in-Chief of the new Nature: Cardiovascular Medicine, published its debut issue in November 2004. Dr. Fuster is also the chief editor of two books, the 11th edition of Hurst's the Heart, published by McGraw Hill, and the second edition of Atherothrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease, published by Lippincott-Raven and co-edited by Dr. E. Topol of the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. E. Nabel of the National Institutes of Health. In addition, Dr. Fuster has just assumed the Presidency of the World Heart Federation.

11/2/04
Samin Sharma, M.D., Leads State Once More in Angioplasty Report

In the New York State Department of Health's just-released report on angioplasty outcomes, Samin Sharma, M.D., Director of Interventional Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, stands alone as the only physician to record a risk-adjusted mortality rate for non-emergency cases that is significantly lower than the statewide average. In addition, Dr. Sharma is one of only three physicians to record a risk-adjusted mortality rate for all cases that is significantly lower than the statewide average. Dr. Sharma's achievement in both non-emergency cases and all cases is distinguished in the report by two coveted double-star notations of excellence.

Dr. Sharma is also Co-Director of both the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie-Josée and the Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, as well as the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Professor of Medicine.

The annual Department of Health report aggregates mortality rates for 2000, 2001, and 2002.

"Mount Sinai has earned its reputation for excellence in angioplasty in the tri-state area," says Dr. Sharma. "Other interventionalists turn to us with many of their toughest cases."

Dr. Sharma attributes the Cardiac Catheterization Lab's success to several factors. "We have repeatedly shown that you can do a good job if you have the technical basics clearly laid out, as we do," he says. He points out that success in angioplasty goes beyond the procedure itself and extends to the pre- and post-procedural care that patients receive from the team, which includes the nursing staff, fellows, and nurse practitioners. "Another important factor in success is a unified protocol approach to specific arterial blockages by all the interventional attendings."

Angioplasty is a non-surgical procedure used to open arteries clogged by accumulated cholesterol and other fatty substances, such as plaque. Dr. Sharma notes that his group has perfected a technique for particularly tough blockage problems called rotational atherectomy, in which a catheter guides a tool called a Rotablator to the blockage, where it pulverizes calcified plaque. According to Dr. Sharma, Mount Sinai's team has mastered this technique. Currently, about 10 percent of all cases performed in the Cath Lab make use of the expertise in rotational atherectomy, whereas only three percent of all cases in the country are performed using the technique.

6/28/04
Michael A. Wiener Receives Trustee Honor

Michael A. Wiener, Trustee, was honored recently by the United Hospital Fund at an event held at the Waldof-Astoria. Distinguished Trustee Awards were presented to 35 honorees for their leadership, guidance, and extraordinary service to New York City's not-for-profit hospitals. Mr. and Mrs. Wiener's generosity named the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute at Mount Sinai. Mr. Wiener chairs the Public Affairs and Marketing Committee of the Boards of Trustees.

3/22/04

3/01/04
Mount Sinai Leaders Lauded and Honored at Heart Gala

The CBS News correspondent Ed Bradley, co-editor of television's "60 Minutes," paid a surprise tribute to Mount Sinai physicians at the 13th annual Heart of New York Gala, an American Heart Association fundraising event, held on February 10 at the Waldorf-Astoria. The Honorable Robert E. Rubin, Mount Sinai Trustee, member of the Office of the Chairman of Citigroup Inc., and former Secretary of the Treasury, was a guest of honor and the recipient of the 2004 Heart of New York Award, a distinction given in recognition of his public service leadership in making both New York and the nation better places to live.

Mr. Bradley, who served as master of ceremonies for the gala, which assembled more than 800 leaders from the medical , corporate, and social sectors, recounted his experience as a patient at Mount Sinai last year. Having consulted a cardiologist elsewhere, he had sought a second opinion from Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, Director of both the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, who convinced him to cancel a trip to New Orleans and instead undergo immediate coronary angiogram. The results - 80% blockage of the main left artery - led to emergency coronary bypass surgery, performed by David Adams, MD, the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

"I'm here today thanks to Dr. Fuster and to my skillful surgeon, Dr. David Adams," Mr. Bradley told the audience at the gala.

12/08/03

Valentin Fuster, M.D., Ph.D., Director of both the Zena and Michael Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, was selected as a Distinguished Scientist of the American Heart Association, one of the highest awards given by the Association. Presented to only 15 scientists for their work in cardiovascular research over the last few years, the award recognized Dr. Fuster's seminal research, which has advanced the understanding and management of cardiovascular disease.