Archive Posts

Upstate cardiologist Harold Smulyan, MD collaborated with a retired former colleague to investigate what killed Wizard of Oz author and Chittenango native L. Frank Baum in 1919. It was congestive heart failure. Their paper, which was recently published, explores what tools physicians had at their disposal to treat heart problems in the early 1900s, and what the thinking and beliefs were regarding heart disease at that time. Dr. Smulyan shares how he got involved in such a project, how he conducted research by sifting through Baum’s papers at Syracuse University’s Bird library, and what he discovered about medicine 100 years ago.

Dr. Richard O’Neill reminds us to check with our own health provider before responding to research studies, like a recent one suggesting long-term calcium supplements do not reduce fracture risk and may increase risk of death.
Read the study: Long term calcium intake and rates of all cause and cardiovascular mortality: community based prospective longitudinal cohort study
US Prevention Task Force: Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation to Prevent Fractures

Watch Dr. O’Neill on YouTube!
Suggest a Topic!
Check-up from the Neck Up Podcast Archives

Read more about The Institute for Decision Excellence & Leadership

Dr. Richard O’Neill shares his delight in learning that a study has shown his favorite berries to be heart attack ‘secret’ – or not so secret – agents.  Read the story: Berry-rich diet credited with one-third drop in MI risk in NHS 2 cohort

Watch Dr. O’Neill on YouTube!
Suggest a Topic!
Check-up from the Neck Up Podcast Archives

Read more about The Institute for Decision Excellence & Leadership

Dr. Richard O’Neill shares the bottom line from an interesting research study that looked at 15,000 cases of acute heart problems — people with more friends, and better relationships, had about 60% fewer acute, life-threatening cardiac events than people who lived alone.

Read the study: Prognosis of acute coronary events is worse in patients living alone: the FINAMI myocardial infarction register

Watch Dr. O’Neill on YouTube!

Suggest a Topic!
Check-up from the Neck Up Podcast Archives

Read more about The Institute for Decision Excellence & Leadership

Jay Scott, director of education programs for Upstate’s Emergency Medicine Department, is joined by Dr. Arthur Vercillo, local surgeon and regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, to discuss a $30,000 grant from Excellus that will pay for EKG machines for volunteer rescue squads across Central New York.  The grant will provide life-saving cardiac care equipment for ambulance and rescue squads across five counties.

Read the story: Ambulances get new life-saving equipment

In honor of National Wear Red Day (February 1), Upstate researcher Dr. Richard Veenstra will talk about the unique aspects of women and heart disease, debunk some myths and offer preventive measures to help avoid the situation. Dr. Veenstra’s research focuses on the electrical activity of the heart, and he also sits on the board of the Syracuse chapter of the American Heart Association. 

Read more about:
The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women initiative to increase public awareness about heart disease in women.
The 2013 Syracuse Heart Walk - April 6

Cardiovascular nurses Alicia Taylor and Elizabeth Urban Hartigan remind us to save the date for the second annual Strong Women, Strong Hearts event slated for February 2, 2013.

This free, day-long event will include health screenings, exercise, nutritional information, heart-healthy tastings, Reiki therapy, massage, yoga, meditation and local vendors with jewelry, foods and more.

Read more about:
The Upstate Heart and Vascular Center at Upstate University Hospital
Strong Women, Strong Hearts, a free day of education, entertainment and indulgence.

National heart disease and cholesterol expert Dr. John LaRosa discusses the newest and most powerful class of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, and the role they play in the decline of heart disease and stroke.

Upstate cardiologist Harold Smulyan collaborated with a retired former colleague to investigate what killed Wizard of Oz author and Chittenango native L. Frank Baum in 1919. It was congestive heart failure. Their paper which was recently published explores what tools physicians had at their disposal to treat heart problems in the early 1900s, and what the thinking and beliefs were regarding heart disease at that time.  Dr. Smulyan shares how he got involved in such a project, how he conducted research by sifting through Baum’s papers at Bird library at SU, and what he discovered about medicine 100 years ago.

Dr. Ali Salah, director of cardiac imaging at Upstate, talks about cardiovascular MRI -  what it’s used for and how Upstate is the only hospital in the region with this expertise.  Read more about Complex heart abnormalities come into focus with cardiac MRI on Upstate’s blog “What’s Up At Upstate“.

Thoracic surgeon Leslie Kohman, medical director of the Upstate Cancer Center, and Linda Veit, special projects manager, update us on the exciting new cancer center as it rises from the ground. The capital campaign continues to support the building and many exciting new programs that will complement the existing cancer program.

To learn more about the capital campaign for the new Upstate Cancer Center, or to donate: Give Hope a New Home.

Interventional cardiologist Hani Kozman talks about a new Impella device, a “heart pump” for patients with complex heart problems.

The Upstate Heart & Vascular Center (HVC) at Upstate University Hospital.