Letter from the Chairman

Friends and Supporters,

Welcome to the summer issue of The Beat. In this edition, we have much to celebrate at the VCU Pauley Heart Center.  

In the realm of basic science, we congratulate Dr. Rakesh Kukreja, Dr. Anindita Das, and Dr. Fadi Salloum on their recent National Institutes of Health grants; Dr. Alex Tan, Dr. Jose Huizar, Dr. Mohammed Quader, and Salvatore Carbone on their grants received from the American Heart Association; Dr. Edward Lesnefsky on the renewal of his Veterans Administration Merit award; and Dr. Antonio Abbate and Dr. Salloum on their investigator-initiated studies supported by industry partnerships.

This year we’ve been busy with community outreach, including participating in the AHA’s Richmond Heart Walk and Bollywood Goes Red events and a forum at Lewis-Ginter Botanical Gardens. Dr. Jordana Kron and Dr. Phoebe Ashley, who share a passion for women’s health, led our first Women’s Heart Health Symposium in February. In April, we enjoyed gathering with our faculty and administration, along with some of our most ardent supporters, for the annual consortium.

Finally, I am excited to share with you a feature story on our nurses, who have received Beacon Awards and other accolades for their high levels of performance. Working with them on a daily basis, and having also had a family member recently in their care, I can’t imagine a better trained, more dedicated group.

At the Pauley Heart Center, teamwork is essential in the care of our patients. Many of them suffer complex medical conditions. Just as our researchers, physicians, and nurses are key players, so too are our donors who support our work here. Thank you for being an important part of the Pauley Heart Center team.

Sincerely, 

Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD

Chairman, Division of Cardiology