Susan Ramthun teaches hands-only CPR during the Heart Month Kickoff Party.

VCU Health celebrates Heart Month with free events, education and research

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As the breezeway between Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and the McGlothlin Medical Education Center buzzed with doctors, residents, nurses and other health care professionals on Friday, Marsha Rappley, M.D., CEO of VCU Health and vice president of health sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University, reflected for a moment on why heart health is close to her heart – pun intended.

“My father lives with me and he’s almost 89 years old,” Rappley said. “He’s living on a cardiac output you would not think supports any living creature and he has a very full life.”

Rappley was wearing a bright red blazer with a shiny Pauley Heart lapel pin in recognition of National Wear Red Day, which supports Go Red for Women and heart disease awareness for women. She spoke at the VCU Health Heart Month Kickoff Party. Red, heart-shaped balloons marked the hallway where people could stop to celebrate the cause. Staffed with various Pauley Heart clinicians and representatives from the American Heart Association, hospital visitors and team members could learn more about general heart health, stroke risks and hands-only CPR and get a free screening that included testing for blood pressure, body mass index and glucose.

The heart is the heart. It’s very important.

Antonio Abbate, M.D., cardiologist at VCU Health Pauley Heart Center, spent time speaking with those in attendance about the importance of heart health.

“The heart is the heart. It’s very important,” Abbate said. “We know a large number of people die each year because of heart disease. We have to do whatever we can to prevent that from happening to ourselves or to our loved ones.”

Abbate said the most important component of heart health is being aware of risk factors, including:

  • A strong family history of heart disease.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • Diabetes.
  • Tobacco use.

“This is what heart month is all about,” Abbate said. “It’s about reminding ourselves and others to stay heart healthy by living a healthy lifestyle, knowing your risk factors and acting on it to reduce the chance of heart disease.”

Marsha Rappley, M.D., CEO of VCU Health and vice president of health sciences at VCU.
Marsha Rappley, M.D., CEO of VCU Health and vice president of health sciences at VCU.

Judging by the robust number of people donning red, the kickoff party appeared to be a success. A total of 408 people were screened throughout the day, nearly doubling last year’s total. The kickoff party was just the first of many events VCU Health is offering community and team members in an effort to raise awareness about heart health. Throughout the month, VCU Health is offering free health seminars at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Each topic in February focuses on a different heart health issue. Also new this year for health care providers is the Women’s Heart Health Symposium, which aims to raise awareness through education regarding the unique features of women’s heart disease in an effort to ensure recognition, prevention and timely treatment. The education and research presented at the symposium helped illustrate the type of key advancements that Rappley credits for her father’s full life.

“His ability to have a life of good quality is possible because of the work that’s been done,” Rappley said. “He’s carrying around some of the devices, he’s had the surgeries, he takes the medication and his quality of life is only possible because of the research and the active work that’s being done to help people have healthier heart lives.”

Caitlin Osborne checks glucose levels on Antonio Abbate, M.D.
Caitlin Osborne checks glucose levels on Antonio Abbate, M.D.

At the kickoff party, Rappley visited each information table, learned more about her risk factors and even got her blood pressure taken. She chatted with nurses and doctors about the widespread impact of heart disease in the U.S.

Rappley said hearth health needs to be a major focus across the country – and that it already is at VCU Health.

“We are relentless in our pursuit of research and discovery,” she said.

VCU Health celebrates Heart Month with free events, education and research. A total of 408 people were screened throughout the day, nearly doubling last year’s total. The kickoff party was just the first of many events VCU Health is offering community and team members in an effort to raise awareness about heart health.

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