Kym Mcnicholas On Innovation

In the latest episode of "The Heart of Innovation," hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips delve into the challenging journey of Dee and her 90-year-old mother, who is facing the complex issue of non-healing wounds caused by Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), restricted blood flow in mainly the leg arteries that can prevent critical nutrients, including oxygen, from reaching muscles, tissue, and nerves clear to the foot - nutrients that are essential for wound healing. Dee's mother has been struggling with a non-healing wound on her toe since 2019, which has led to a series of complications. From oxygen therapy to the diagnosis of osteomyelitis (bone infection), they have explored various treatments, but wounds persist. Now, Dee is determined to find the best specialist and facility to give her mother the greatest chance of success and minimize complications, which may include clearing blockages in her Mom's arteries below-the-knee and below-the-ankle into the pedal-plantar artery loop in the foot. In this

In this episode, host Kym McNicholas shares a personal story about her father's battle with blood clots. Joined by InterventionalCardiologist Dr. Jay Mathews and Pain Specialist Dr. Efrain Rivera, they delve into the challenges her father faced after a fall and subsequent sedentary recovery period. Initially misdiagnosed with back issues, they explore how the discovery of blood clots in his lungs and leg veins changed the treatment approach. Together, the medical experts provide guidance on available treatment options, offer valuable insights, and equip listeners with essential questions to ensure the best care for their loved ones. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of blood clots and how to become a proactive advocate for your family's health.

Co-host Kym McNicholas is LIVE at the CLI-F Multidisciplinary limb salvage conference by The Limb Saver Society in El Paso, Texas. She is joined by conference co-founder Lorena Henderson to talk about its focus, which is on complex revascularization techniques, wound care, podiatry and infectious disease best practices for amputation prevention. Also joining Kym is Podiatrist Dr. Gary Grindstaff and Pain Specialist Dr. Efrain Rivera to talk about managing patients with vascular issues and chronic pain. They discuss medication and other modalities to try and bring some relief either temporary or long-term for these patients.

Show co-host Kym McNicholas surprises co-host Dr. John Phillips with a live thank you from a patient after saving her limb and her sister's life. You don't want to miss the story these two sisters share of their fight against genetics and the lessons both physicians and patients need to learn in order to prevent heart disease and peripheral artery disease from reaching advanced stages where heart attack, stroke, and amputation are imminent. 

  Innovative Food software company Innit's CEO Kevin Brown shares some easy ways to make your Thanksgiving Day favorites just a little bit healthier. He is cooking alongside show co-host Kym McNicholas in his home kitchen while a patient with peripheral artery disease, which is blocked arteries in mainly the legs, shares her favorite farro stuffing recipe. Don't go shopping until you find out some quick and easy substitute ingredients that will sacrifice calories and fat, not flavor. Show co-host Dr. John Phillips shares why you don't have to completely overhaul your entire thanksgiving day feast one day out of the year but just make some adjustments in order to live a longer, healthier life. 

We were live ahead of the The African American Male Wellness Agency Walk in Los Angeles talking to their director Jhade Barnes to talk about the need to improve access and care for African American Men. Since 2004, The AAMW agency has produced a 5K Walk & Run (The Walk) in over 15 cities as an awareness campaign to spotlight the fact that Black Men get Peripheral Artery Disease and Diabetes related amputations at 4x that of their white counterparts and die on average 12 years earlier than their white counterparts. They have incredible partners such as Johnson & Johnson and The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson that provide free testing and information to help Black men live longer from preventable diseases like PAD. This year The Way To My Heart, EZ Care Link, and Philips Healthcare had the opportunity to provide support for this wonderful mission! Celebrity fitness trainer Dion Jackson was also at the event to help inspire better health through exercise. 

Salih Hendricks was diagnosed with diabetes as a teen and no one warned him of the potential for vascular complications that comes with an imbalance of sugar in the bloodstream. He shares his personal experience with diabetes, which includes facing challenges such as the rupture of blood vessels behind his eyes, which nearly caused him to lose his vision, as well as the amputation of his leg due to the accumulation of plaque in his leg arteries, restricting blood flow to his foot. Salih has transformed the lessons he learned along his journey into a life purpose, dedicated to assisting others who are also afflicted by diabetes and associated artery issues. His aim is to provide support and guidance to those who face similar struggles.

Individuals with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) describe the pain caused by artery blockages restricting blood flow to their feet as having a tourniquet wrapped tightly around their thigh and calf causing their muscles, tissues, and nerves below to scream for much needed oxygen and other nutrients. Timing is critical to diagnose and treat PAD whether with medication, lifestyle modifications, and/or interventional/surgical approaches because once tissue and nerves are damaged due to lack of blood flow,pain may be permanent. Few options are available to bring relief for that neuropathy pain and chiropractic and general wellness practices across the country are preying upon these individuals with band-aid options which come at a high price. But some physicians are working on clinical solutions that are much more effective and durable for these patients who have had their blood flow restored and still can’t get relief from PAD, diabetic neuropathy, or even phantom pain following amputation. Southern Vascular &am

Charles Winters thought he could breathe a sigh of relief after the gift of a lifetime, a kidney transplant, saved his life. But after his fight for life, he found himself fighting for limb. Doctors hadn’t told him Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients are at an increased risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), blocked arteries in mainly the leg arteries which restrict blood flow, and steps that could be taken such as with diet and exercise to prevent it. So, after he recovered from a kidney transplant and had just started getting his life back in order, he found himself back in the hospital fighting to avoid amputation. He talks to hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips about his life and limb-saving journey that is certain to give others hope that it’s possible to live a longer, better quality of life, if only you stand up and advocate for what you feel is right for your care.

Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease have an increased risk of developing limb-threatening plaque build-up in their leg arteries that restricts blood flow, a disorder known as peripheral artery disease (PAD). That’s why Terry Litchfield, who fought alongside her husband Bill who was a dialysis dependent CKD patient for more than 50 years, is sinking her teeth into prevention efforts and advances in treatment for those with advanced disease that tends to settle in the calf and foot arteries, which are tougher to tackle. She joins hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips in talking about gaps in care for CKD and PAD patients and innovative ways in which sees care evolving to help patients live a longer, healthier life. Terry has dedicated her life to advocacy, turning her passion into her profession as President of Access Solutions, which offers patient Advocacy consulting services related to the renal dialysis field. She’s also an author and expert in patient engagement and satisfaction so you don’t want

Blood clots are a common occurrence that can have fatal consequences. However, they can be prevented by understanding the risk factors, recognizing the signs, and seeking prompt medical attention. This is an important topic, especially with World Thrombosis Day taking place annually on October 13. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) organizes this global initiative to raise awareness about thrombosis, a condition that is often overlooked or misunderstood. Thrombosis occurs when blood clots form in veins or arteries, leading to serious health risks such as deep vein thrombosis(DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), stroke, and heart attack. In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips interview Dr. Thomas Tu, Chief Medical Officer for Inari Medical. Inari Medical has developed a groundbreaking device that offers a new approach to treating blood clots. The discussion focuses on how clots form, the reasons behind their formation, the individuals who a

Interventional Cardiologist Barry Tedder has been advocating for months for one of his patients to undergo a potentially life-saving procedure that uses minimally invasive methods instead of surgery. Unfortunately, their insurance has denied coverage for it, causing frustration for Dr. Tedder and unimaginable suffering for his patient. This situation is not unique - insurance companies are consistently denying reimbursement requests from physicians for minimally invasive procedures that aim to open up the arteries of patients suffering from Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.). P.A.D., a disease that is more prevalent and deadlier than all cancers combined (excluding lung cancer), causes severe leg pain during physical activity and can even disrupt sleep due to restricted blood flow caused by plaque buildup in the arteries. Vascular specialists are urging insurance companies to cover the necessary procedures to alleviate the suffering and prevent limb loss, but these requests are being consistently denied. To t

The most vulnerable populations suffering from poor circulation, known as Peripheral Artery Disease Who are at-risk of amputation, are those living in Medical Deserts. A "medical desert" describes a community lacking access to medical necessities, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. For the PAD patient, that medical necessity is a vascular specialist. One-third of hospitals across the U.S have postings for vascular surgeons, and because of that patients are progressing to a limb-threatening stage of the, known as critical limb ischemia, where the threat of amputation is real without timely, effective, limb-saving care. If only there was a way for vascular specialists in other areas to help physicians in medical deserts better care for these patients? That's the Idea behind Zivian Health. Co-Founder Dr.Rafid Fadul, an Intensive Care Pulmonologist, shares how Zivian Health is striving to improve collaboration amongst physicians across the globe. By connecting physicians across geographical boundarie

Insufficient nourishment is responsible for 20% of deaths worldwide (INHME) and contributes to a range of chronic illnesses. The costs associated with unhealthy eating habits have surpassed $11 trillion, exceeding the value of the global food industry, which stands at $9 trillion according to WEF reports. While our health care system has yet to find an effective approach to improving poor dietary habits on a large scale,fortunately, technological advancements are bridging the gap by offering more tailored and practical guidance for individuals' daily nutritional needs. Innit, a technology company, has introduced FoodLM™,the world's first Generative AI platform that incorporates expert validation of dieting practices, cooking methods, and healthy eating requirements. Through FoodLM (Language Model), Innit addresses the pressing need for reliable AI solutions in the global food industry. This innovative platform enables grocery retailers, brands,and healthcare providers to deliver AI-powered food services with

Cotton gauze, Telfa pads, Raytec sponges, lap pads and surgical towels release lint that can put patients at risk. Significant complications have been associated with lint being introduced into the body. Norm "Fuzzy" Furbush is the Founder/CEO of Syntervention that develops innovative products that reduce lint contamination, procedure time, and overall costs to the hospital. He talks to hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips about how he's come up with these inventions and offers advice to others who want to bring healthcare devices to market.