University Hospitals

Experts from UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute played a pivotal role in the four-year process to write new guidelines for the management of patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is underrecognized and undertreated compared to other cardiovascular diseases and is a leading cause of amputation, along with impairment of walking and quality of life. Vascular medicine specialist Heather Gornik, MD, Co-Director of the Vascular Center, Director of the Fibromuscular Dysplasia & Arterial Dissection Program and John B. Lally Family Master Clinician in Fibromuscular Dysplasia and Vascular Care, served as chair of the guideline writing committee convened by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology. Mehdi Shishehbor, DO, MPH, PhD, President and the Angela and James Hambrick Chair in Innovation at UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, also contributed valuable expertise as a member of the guideline writing committee, while Yulanka Castro Dominguez, MD, vascular medicine specialist, aided the process as a peer reviewer. The new document will be used to implement the highest-quality, evidence-based care for patients with PAD throughout the United States. Read more at https://lnkd.in/g7ivYqJu #PAD #vascularhealth #physicianexcellence #patientsfirst

A $15 million gift from Iris S. and the late Bert L. Wolstein will advance the University Hospitals mission – To Heal. To Teach. To Discover – and give rise to the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center, a state-of-the-art education and conference center at UH Cleveland Medical Center. Mrs. Wolstein’s visionary lead gift launches a campaign to fully philanthropically fund the new center, estimated to cost $30 million. UH Cleveland Medical Center is one of the only major academic medical centers in the country without an education and conference center, but boasts one of the nation’s largest residency programs with nearly 1,200 residents and fellows. The new Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center will transform UH’s capacity to convene and train healthcare professionals, an increasingly important priority as the country navigates a critical shortage in medical staff. The 30,000-square-foot facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual and remote learning technology and provide ample and flexible space to host national and international conferences; visiting lecturers, professors and speakers; Continuing Medical Education conferences; and more. Dedicated simulation and training labs, breakout space, a cafe and a publicly accessible art gallery will round out the building. “The Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center represents a deliberate investment in our caregivers,” said Daniel I. Simon, MD, President, Academic & External Affairs and UH Chief Scientific Officer, Ernie and Patti Novak Distinguished Chair in Health Care Leadership. “A mission-critical home for learning, it will allow us to deliver on our promise to teach and to discover in new, dynamic ways and in a stunning facility.” For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/gwXsaJaK #innovation #healthcare #teaching #discovery

Last week at the Crain's Cleveland Business Best Employers in Ohio event, UH Chief Diversity, Equity & Belonging Officer Celina Cunanan, MSN, APRN-CNM, FACNM, was honored to receive a Crain’s Excellence in HR Award in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category. According to Crain’s, Celina “…expanded UH’s Food for Life markets to five under-resourced neighborhoods – an initiative recognized with the American Hospital Association’s 2024 Dick Davidson NOVA Award – and championed the opening of a wellness clinic in Glenville. She also has bolstered external efforts to bring more Black and Brown representation to the medical field by advancing a high school health scholars program and strengthening medical school partnerships that, among other things, facilitate mentoring and networking opportunities between UH professional and minority students.” #UHProud #diversity #equity #belonging #inclusion

A research team from UH Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has received a prestigious grant from the National Institutes of Health to help develop better treatment options for metastatic colorectal cancer. Co-investigator Joseph Willis, MD, Vice Chairman of Translational Research, Pathology, at UH Cleveland Medical Center, is collaborating with fellow principal investigator Rui Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University and UH Cleveland Medical Center, and co-investigator Zhenghe "John" Wang, PhD, Co-Leader of Case Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics Program. Together they’re working to understand how endothelial cells in the liver – the organ where over 80 percent of colorectal cancer metastasis occurs – might promote the development of metastatic disease. Already, they have some answers. Early experimental results show that liver epithelial cells activate a surface protein called HER3 in cancer cells, inducing growth of metastatic colorectal cancer in the liver. But the team is finding that this process occurs in a somewhat unique way. “We made the paradigm-shifting discovery that the protein LRG1 secreted from liver epithelial cells is a novel HER3 ligand that activates colorectal cancer-associated HER3 and promotes colorectal cancer cell growth,” Dr. Rui Wang says. “We also have preliminary data to show that when you block this LRG1 and HER3 mechanism, the tumors in the liver actually grow much more slowly.” “We will use the patient-derived specimens in collaboration with UH Cleveland Medical Center to determine whether the newly discovered LRG1-HER3 pathway exists in human pathological conditions,” Dr. Willis says. “As a result, our findings will help us to understand how this novel pathway affects cancer development in humans and how it harms patient outcomes.” Read more at https://lnkd.in/gHvbENdk #cancerresearch #colorectalcancer #NIH #physicianexcellence #patientsfirst

Congratulations to UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, for once again being named to Becker's Healthcare “96 Academic Medical Center CEOs to Know” list in 2024. #UHProud The list comprises executives who lead academic medical centers and health systems nationwide that provide cutting-edge technologies, groundbreaking research and novel clinical trials. According to Becker’s, “they are dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care, advancing research and ushering in innovative medical solutions and discoveries. In selecting Dr. Megerian for the list, Becker’s noted that “as CEO, Dr. Megerian oversees the strategic plan for University Hospitals, which comprises an annual revenue of approximately $6 billion, over 32,000 employees, 21 hospitals with five joint ventures, more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices throughout 16 counties. He is responsible for ensuring the system remains a top academic and research institution, as UH Cleveland Medical Center is one of the nation’s most funded research institutions and is currently leading over 3,400 clinical trials. Despite his leadership role, Dr. Megerian continues to see patients, teach and publish in the medical field.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/exgMYDTU #leadership #healthcareleadership #innovation #transforminghealthcare #advancingresearch 

At University Hospitals, we prioritize respect and empathy. We uphold integrity not only in our patient care but also in how we treat each other as teammates and are committed to fostering growth and development among our staff. Consider bringing your career to UH, where challenges lead to boundless growth opportunities. Join our team, dedicated to continually improving the health and well-being of those who rely on us. https://lnkd.in/eqxK7qVw #UHCareers

In January 2022, a research team from UH Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University published a groundbreaking report detailing a novel approach to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for B-cell cancers. The new B-cell activating factor (BAFF) CAR T product, developed by UH Seidman and CWRU scientist Reshmi Parameswaran, MS, PhD, and colleagues, binds specifically to each of three receptors instead of one, providing more therapeutic options and guarding against the problem of antigen escape currently found in CAR T therapies with a single target. Experimental results showed that the BAFF CAR T is effective at killing multiple B-cell cancers. Now just two short years later, these crucial findings have reached an important new phase: A Phase I BAFF CAR T clinical trial for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma is now underway at UH Seidman Cancer Center, led by hematologist-oncologist Leland Metheny, MD. He says in the two years since the foundational pre-clinical work was completed, the team has shown that it’s feasible to manufacture BAFF CAR T-cells for human subjects. The innovation is introducing genes into the T-cells via the process of electroporation in the Wesley Center for Immunotherapy. This study is being done through an agreement between University Hospitals and Luminary Therapeutics, a biotech start-up based in Minneapolis. Luminary is an allogeneic CAR T drug development company with programs addressing B-cell malignancies, autoimmune disease and solid tumors. Dr. Metheny says he’s excited about the potential for the patients he treats. “There is a persistent need for development of new, effective therapies for treatment of myeloma,” he says. Therapy with CAR T-cells has demonstrated activity against refractory myeloma. Through this trial, we are assessing if BAFF CAR T-cells can become another strategy for our patients with refractory disease.” Read more at https://lnkd.in/gTxW7hzq #multiplemyeloma #CAR T #BAFF CAR T #clinicaltrials #patientsfirst

Today we shine a caregiver spotlight on Maurice (Moe) Price, a clinical partner at UH Seidman Cancer Center at UH St. John Medical Center, who was recognized as a Bravo Award winner by UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair. Through his Cliff Appreciates program, Dr. Megerian recognizes non-physician caregivers who stand out for living the UH values with the Bravo Awards. Moe is being lauded for his stellar work being the eyes and ears for the unlicensed assistive personnel, which consists of patient care nurse assistants, clinical partners and medical assistants. Moe has demonstrated tremendous leadership and innovation, ensuring team needs are met and there are multiple avenues for speaking up. His colleagues state Moe is the epitome of professionalism and puts people at ease. Additionally, he goes out of his way to do anything that is asked of him in service to our patients. We decided to chat with Moe to learn more about him:                                                                                                                                                                             Tell us more about your role at UH? My role as a clinical partner at UH Seidman Cancer Center is to assist the nurses with patients and make the patients feel safe and at home when they are here. I also help with training and preparing all new hires. What is one thing that you wish people knew about your job? I wish people understood how important our role is. It’s not just medicine that helps patients heal. Taking the time to talk to patients and listening to them also goes a long way. Patients who come here are afraid and don’t know what to expect, so if we can get them to relax and feel comfortable, we can help ease some of the stress they are experiencing. While patients are here getting treated, I try to walk them though the process and help them relax and feel at home. As a caregiver, how do you live the UH Values? I live the UH Values every day by always showing up for work and trying to make things run smoothly. I put the patients’ and staff’s needs before my own, even if that means staying late or coming in a little early. If anything needs to be done, my manager and fellow caregivers know they can count on me to be there, no matter how big or small the task might be. What do you like best about working at UH? The thing that I like best about working here is everyone treats each other like family. No job is bigger than the next, and everyone here helps each other out. You feel a sense of family and teamwork at UH Seidman. I have been blessed to be able to work with a great team of caregivers, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.  #UHProud #serviceexcellence #compassion #integrity #trust #belonging #caregiverspotlight

At University Hospitals, we know that today’s students are the future of healthcare. We’re committed to connecting you with the training and opportunities you need. Hear from Jennifer P., Registered Nurse, UH Portage Medical Center, as she describes the support from peers and career growth opportunities new nurses receive at UH. We’re excited to now offer loan repayment to all new grad RNs, up to $15k over 24 months! If you’re looking for a place to bring your nursing career, explore opportunities with our team. https://lnkd.in/eapkNskB #UHNursing #UHProud #UHCareers

Patients with a small annulus in the aortic valve of the heart – the ring-like base of the valve that supports its leaflets – face challenges when undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). These patients, many of them women, are at greater risk for a host of poor outcomes. Now, the largest, randomized, controlled TAVR trial to primarily enroll women has some answers to address this. Results of the SMART trial, comparing self-expanding and balloon-expandable TAVR valves in patients with a small annulus, were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, with UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute’s Guilherme Attizzani, MD, Interventional Director of the Valve and Structural Heart Disease Center, as study co-author and steering committee member. Dr. Attizzani also holds the Alexander and Marianna McAfee Endowed Chair in Innovative Cardiovascular Intervention. SMART trial results show advantages for the self-expanding valve – already in regular use at UH for patients with a small annulus. But Dr. Attizzani says the study is likely to have wide impact elsewhere and cause clinicians who haven’t typically used these devices to take a second look. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gzz42n9v #TAVR #SMARTtrial #womenshealth #hearthealth #physicianexcellence #patientsfirst