The Heart of Innovation

What are the warning signs of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), and how is medical innovation changing how we treat blood clots today?

In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kim McNicholas and interventional cardiologist Dr. John Phillips sit down with Richard Davis, an engineer and medical developer whose life was completely rewritten after being hit by a truck at 23 years old. Richard shares his gripping story of survival—from being pinned inside a vehicle to developing life-threatening blood clots, surviving severe pulmonary embolisms, and ultimately transitioning his expertise into creating vascular medical devices that save lives.

Discover how modern medical advancements are moving beyond standard medical therapy to actively remove clots and restore blood flow safely.

TIMESTAMPS & CHAPTERS

0:00 - The Accident That Changed Everything

2:15 - Living with an Undiagnosed Clotting Disorder

4:40 - Facing a Life-Threatening Pulmonary Embolism

7:10 - Moving Beyond Medication: Advanced Clot Removal

9:35 - How Patient Participation Drives Medical Innovation

12:00 - The Next Generation of Vascular Care

GET FREE MEDICAL SUPPORT & ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES

If you or someone you know is dealing with deep vein thrombosis, severe leg pain, swelling, or vascular complications, find absolute support with our completely free community connections:

• Free Vascular Resources & Specialist Connections: https://www.padhelp.org

• Learn More About Enrolling in Clinical Trials: https://www.padtrials.org

• Call the Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347)

• Join the Private Facebook Support Group: http://www.PADsupportGroup.org

• Stream Live Radio Every Saturday Morning on AM 1220 KDOW or visit: https://www.theheartofinnovation.org #PulmonaryEmbolism #VascularHealth #BloodClotSurvival #MedicalInnovation #TheHeartOfInnovation #PatientAdvocacy #DVTPrevention

Could artificial intelligence identify Peripheral Artery Disease before patients face limb loss? Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a machine-learning model that analyzes a simple light-based signal from the toe to detect PAD with remarkable accuracy. This breakthrough has the potential to make PAD screening faster, more accessible, and eventually available on your smartphone. Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips sit down with vascular surgeon Dr. Elsie Ross, cardiologist Dr. Mattheus Ramsis, and engineering PhD student Ava Faccetti to break down how artificial intelligence is transforming vascular health and what this could mean for millions living with undiagnosed disease.

FULL RESEARCH DISCUSSION: Altmetric: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-026-02655-w/metrics DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-026-02655-w

People who think they have PAD can call the Global PAD Associaton's Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS to learn more and get assistance finding a testing site or treatment.

#peripheralarterydisease #padsupport #legpain #legcramps #ABItest #vasculardiseasediagnosis #paddiagnosis #ucsandiego #newpadresearch #globalpadassociation

Can staying active really help reverse Type 2 diabetes?

In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, Emmy Award-winning journalist Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips sit down with multi-Emmy Award-winning CBS San Francisco Bay Area sports anchor Vern Glenn to talk about his personal journey reversing Type 2 diabetes — and why golf became far more than just a game.

For Vern, the golf course became part of a larger commitment to movement, consistency, fitness, and long-term health. Walking the course, staying active, and building daily habits around exercise helped him take control of his blood sugar and inspire others to rethink what healthy living can look like.

That mission is also what inspired the Vern Glenn Invitational Celebrity Golf Tournament. The event brings together former and current stars from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and beyond — many of whom continue participating in events like this not just for competition, but to stay active, connected, and healthy long after their professional playing careers end.

Vern believes seeing athletes continue to prioritize fitness sends an important message: movement matters at every age. Whether it's walking 18 holes, staying social, or simply finding activities that keep you moving, the goal is building habits that support heart health, circulation, weight management, and better metabolic health over time.

We also discuss the growing connection between exercise, obesity, cardiovascular disease, circulation, and diabetes prevention and reversal.

⛳ SIGN UP FOR THE VERN GLENN INVITATIONAL: https://www.vernglenninvitational.net/

👇 TELL US IN THE COMMENTS 👇 Has walking, golf, or exercise helped improve your health, blood sugar, or circulation?

👍 LIKE THIS VIDEO 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more conversations on innovation, heart health, PAD, diabetes, longevity, and lifestyle medicine 📢 SHARE this episode with someone who needs motivation to get moving again

📞 Need help navigating Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), diabetes-related circulation issues, or limb salvage options? Visit: PADHelp.org ☎️ Call the PAD Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS

#Diabetes #Type2Diabetes #Golf #VernGlenn #DiabetesReversal #Fitness #HeartHealth #Walking #LifestyleMedicine #Longevity #PAD #Exercise #TheHeartOfInnovation

She lost her leg in a traumatic accident… and turned it into a mission to help others find strength, identity, and purpose again.

This is the story behind Less Leg More Heart — and why it matters for every patient facing limb loss or PAD.

I'm talking with Tina Godfrey Hurley, founder of Less Leg More Heart, alongside Dr. John Phillips, about what happens after amputation — physically, emotionally, and mentally — and how patients rebuild their lives in ways most people never see.

Tina's journey started with a devastating accident that led to limb loss at a young age. Today, she's helping others navigate trauma, identity, mental health, and recovery through her nonprofit and advocacy work.

We're getting into: • What patients really experience after limb loss • The emotional side of recovery doctors don't always see • How identity, confidence, and purpose evolve after trauma • Why community and support systems change outcomes • What PAD patients can learn from the amputee community

If you've ever thought, "no one understands what this feels like," this conversation will hit home.

🎥 SUBSCRIBE for real conversations that go beyond medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart

🆘 NEED HELP NOW? 📞 PAD Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS

🌐 TRUSTED RESOURCES https://padhelp.org https://padsupportgroup.org

#PAD #PeripheralArteryDisease #Amputation #LimbLoss #VascularHealth #PatientStories #TheHeartOfInnovation #PADAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #LessLegMoreHeart

A silent killer hiding in plain sight — and you may not know you're at risk.

I talk with a CEO living with this genetic heart condition and what it means for you.

Dr. John Phillips and I talk to one of the most respected minds in tech, Phil McKinney, former CTO of Hewlett Packard and now CEO of CableLabs, to talk about something far more personal than innovation:

A genetic heart condition he didn't know he had.

It's called apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy where the heart muscle thickens, particularly at the tip of the heart. That thickening can interfere with blood flow and increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythms.

And here's what you need to know:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects about 1 in 500 people...many of whom don't even know they have it.

For some, the first sign is a life-threatening event.

Phil was fortunate. His condition was caught early.

Not everyone gets that chance.

We break down what this condition actually is, why it's often missed, and how something as simple as knowing your family history could change your outcome. If there's heart disease in your family, or unexplained symptoms like shortness of breath, chest discomfort, dizziness, or fainting, those are not things to brush off.

This is about awareness. It's about asking better questions. And it's about catching something early enough to do something about it.

🔔 CALL TO ACTION (your ecosystem)

👉 If something doesn't feel right, don't ignore it. Start by learning more: PADhelp.org 👉 Talk to a patient navigator: 1-833-PAD-LEGS 👉 Join our community: padsupportgroup.org 👉 Subscribe for more real conversations that could help you protect your health — or someone you love

#HeartHealth #SilentKiller #GeneticRisk #HCM #HypertrophicCardiomyopathy #KnowYourRisk #HeartOfInnovation #HealthcareInnovation #PADAwareness #VascularHealth

I'm interviewing a vascular surgeon who has PAD… and the doctor who treated him. Get ready for an inside look at what medicine looks like from both sides.

Dr. John Phillips and I are talking to Dr. Kevin Lurie, a vascular surgeon from Alaska who was recently diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease and treated for blockages below the knee.

We're also talking to Dr. Amr El Serghany, the vascular surgeon from Hawaii who performed the procedures using the Reflow Medical retractable stent.

Patients say it all the time: "If doctors had PAD, they would understand the pain." Now you'll hear from one who does… and the doctor who treated him.

This conversation goes deeper than anything we've done before: • What it's like for a doctor to become the patient • The reality of PAD pain and limitations • How treatment decisions are made in real life • What changes when the physician understands the experience firsthand • How this is reshaping the way both doctors approach care This is where clinical expertise meets lived experience — and it changes everything.

🎥 JOIN THE LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE Want to be part of the conversation or join us live?

📧 Email: [email protected] to get the private studio link

⏰ Every Wednesday — join our weekly show

🆘 NEED HELP NOW? If you're dealing with leg pain or navigating a PAD diagnosis: 📞 Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347) We'll help guide you to answers, support, and next steps

🔗 ESSENTIAL PAD RESOURCES Main Website: https://padhelp.org

Clinical Trials: https://padtrials.org Support Community: https://padsupportgroup.org

🚶‍♂️ START WALKING AS MEDICINE Join our free PAD walking program: https://padhelp.org

📣 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL 👍 Like this video if it helped you 💬 Comment your experience — we read everything 📤 Share with someone who needs this 🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about PAD

#PAD #PeripheralArteryDisease #CollateralNation #VascularHealth #PADAwareness #WalkingAsMedicine #SaveALimb #PatientStories #VascularSurgery

We are going to be talking about the extent to which doctors save legs. Dr. John Phillips and Kym McNicholas talk about the latest advances in limb saving care. We will share real stories from the front lines of fighting for life and limb.

What if the pain you're told is "just a muscle cramp" is actually a life-altering vascular emergency?

In this high-impact episode of The Heart of Innovation, Kym McNicholas sits down with interventional cardiologist Dr. Hady Lichaa and his patient, Camille, to discuss a Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) diagnosis that was almost missed until it was too late.

Camille was a mom just trying to walk to her car after her son's baseball game, but the claudication pain was so severe it brought her to tears. Despite visiting the Emergency Room twice, she was sent home with muscle relaxers while her leg was actively dying.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The ER Red Flags: Why leg pain is often misdiagnosed as muscle cramps or venous clots.

• Arterial vs. Venous: The critical question a Nurse Practitioner asked that saved Camille's leg.

• The Reality of Bypass Surgery: The complex journey of multiple surgeries and complications.

• Smoking & Vascular Health: The honest truth about the role of smoking and the "Aha!" moment that led Camille to quit for good.

• Limb Salvage: How to find the right specialist when you are weeks away from an amputation.

This is more than a patient story; it's a manual for self-advocacy. If you have leg cramping while walking, heavy legs, or non-healing wounds, do not wait.

RECLAIM YOUR HEALTH: 🚶 FREE WALKING PROGRAM: https://padhelp.org 📞 LEG SAVER HOTLINE: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (Speak to someone who understands) 👥 WARRIOR COMMUNITY: PADsupportGroup.org (12,000+ members) 📧 RESULTS REVIEW: Email your ABI or Ultrasound results to [email protected] for educational insight.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. We do not diagnose; we help you understand terminology to have better conversations with your doctor.

#PAD #PeripheralArteryDisease #MedicalMisdiagnosis #LimbSalvage #VascularHealth #SaveMyPiggies #KymMcNicholas #DrHadyLichaa

Could we one day bypass heart blockages without ever opening the chest? In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, Kym McNicholas and Dr. James Joye, who invented PTAB (minimally invasive leg bypass device) sit down with Dr. Chris Bruce, the lead author of a groundbreaking NIH and Emory study that has achieved a world first: a fully percutaneous (catheter-based) coronary bypass. Known as the VECTOR procedure, this technique was recently used to save a patient whose anatomy made a traditional heart valve replacement life-threatening. By building an "extra-anatomic" bypass from the aorta to the coronary artery—all through a small puncture in the leg—Dr. Bruce and his team have opened a new frontier in cardiac care. We discuss how they "poked a hole" through the heart to save a life and whether this technology could eventually replace traditional bypass surgery for common blockages. #heartvalve #coronarybypass #heartbypass #heartsurgery #globalpadassociation #heartdisease

For many, amputation is seen as the final step to end the agony of PAD and CLTI. But what happens when you make that heartbreaking choice, and the pain stays behind?

It's Limb Loss Awareness Month—a time for honoring those who have faced limb loss, but also for addressing the hard, silent realities of life after amputation. In this special episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips tackle Phantom Limb Pain, the "ghost signal" that tortures millions.

We are joined by Dr. John Eidt, Chief of Vascular Surgery at Baylor Heart & Vascular, and David Veino, CEO of Neuros Medical, to reveal a medical breakthrough—a tiny implantable device specifically designed to "turn off" that phantom pain for good.

In this episode, we unpack:

✔️Why amputation isn't always the end of the pain journey.

✔️The science of damaged nerves and phantom sensations.

✔️A new hope: How Neuros Medical's bioelectronic medicine is changing lives.

✔️Essential questions to ask your surgeon before a limb is lost.

RESOURCES & SUPPORT:

📞 Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (723-5347)

👥 Join the Community: PADSupportGroup.org (12,000+ members)

📧 Results Review: Email [email protected] for terminology help with your ABI or CTA.

Disclaimer: For educational purposes only. We help you understand terminology to advocate for yourself.

#LimbLossAwarenessMonth #PhantomPain #Amputation #NeurosMedical #VascularSurgery #TheHeartOfInnovation #PAD #CLTI

Is everything you know about obesity and diabetes wrong? Join Emmy Award-winning journalist Kym McNicholas and interventional cardiologist Dr. John Phillips on The Heart of Innovation as they sit down with world-renowned endocrinologist Dr. Anastasios Manessis. In this episode, we dive deep into the rapidly accelerating world of metabolic health to separate fact from fiction.

What We Cover:

• GLP-1 Breakthroughs: We go beyond the headlines to discuss the real-world impact of GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists in managing chronic disease and cardiovascular health.

• The New Bag Gastric Balloon: Kym and Dr. Phillips explore the latest non-surgical innovations, including the recently FDA-cleared Allurion Gastric Balloon System. This swallowable technology—often referred to as a pill-sized bag—occupies gastric volume to support weight management without the need for surgery, endoscopy, or anesthesia.

• Myth-Busting Obesity Care: Dr. Manessis addresses common misconceptions about weight loss medications and the shifting clinical standards for 2026.

• A Holistic Approach: Learn how endocrinology-driven strategies combine nutrition, exercise, and medicine for long-term health optimization.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Anastasios Manessis, MD, FACE, ECNU, ABOM, is a double board-certified endocrinologist specializing in diabetes, metabolism, and obesity medicine. As the lead at Endocrine Associates of West Village PC, he is at the forefront of innovative, patient-focused metabolic care.

Don't miss this essential guide to the new hope—and new meds—changing lives in 2026.

Subscribe to our channel for more life-saving breakthroughs!

SHAREABLE LINK TO WATCH: https://youtube.com/live/dAJZsb8WQJ0?feature=share

#ObesityTreatment #DiabetesCare #GLP1 #WeightLossInnovation #GastricBalloon #HeartOfInnovation #MedicalAdvances #DrAnastasiosManessis #KymMcNicholas #DrJohnPhillips

Join us for a powerful PAD Awareness Day conversation with Michael Lepp, a globally respected human performance and cardiovascular physiology expert whose work spans elite athletics, endurance cycling, and high-pressure team dynamics.

Michael has spent over 40 years coaching, consulting, and advising athletes and teams — from world-class endurance cyclists and cycling culture discussions to training pit crews for NASCAR Cup winners and serving as senior athletic advisor to Joe Gibbs Racing. His perspective blends physiology, performance science, and real-world human resilience.

In this discussion, we explore:

How elite performance principles from cycling and high-stress teams can inform PAD recovery and mobility

Lessons from cardiovascular training and heart health in endurance athletes

Practical movement, rehabilitation, and resilience strategies for people living with PAD

Michael's experience shaping early PAD and cardiac rehab approaches in Charlotte, NC

Whether you're living with PAD, caring for someone who is, or interested in human performance across sport and health, this interview delivers evidence-based insight rooted in decades of experience.

👉 Don't miss this unique blend of sports science, heart health expertise, and real-world PAD awareness work.

#PADAwareness #PeripheralArteryDisease #MichaelLepp #HumanPerformance #Cycling #NASCAR #CardioRehab

🔴 TUNE IN SATURDAY | 11:06 AM PT | 2:06 PM ETThe Heart of Innovation — Live on the #1 Healthcare Radio Show in the SF Bay Area

🏆 Named by Feedspot 2025: #1 Women in Innovation Podcast in the NationNearly half of all American adults have high blood pressure and only 1 in 4 have it under control.

For millions, the pills aren't working. But there's a procedure most doctors AND patients have never heard of. And it's been FDA-approved.

This Saturday, host Kym McNicholas, CEO of the Global PAD Association, and interventional cardiologist Dr. John Phillips sit down with two of the people who refused to give up on it:

👩‍🔬 Julie Trudel, PhD: Senior Director, R&D, Coronary & Renal Denervation, Medtronic 🧬 Jason Fontana, PhD: VP of Global Marketing & Renal Denervation General Manager, MedtronicRenal denervation is a minimally invasive procedure that targets overactive nerves near the kidneys, nerves that can silently drive blood pressure up no matter how many medications you take.

It's not a pill. It's not surgery. It's a one-time catheter-based procedure that disrupts the signals causing the problem at the source.

The road to get here?

Anything but smooth.

Early trials failed.

The medical community walked away. Other companies exited the space entirely. But Medtronic kept going, redesigning the technology, running new trials, and fighting for FDA approval that finally came in 2023.

Medicare coverage followed in late 2025.So why don't more patients know about it?

Why aren't more physicians offering it?That's exactly what we're asking this Saturday.If you or someone you love has been told their blood pressure is "uncontrollable, " this episode is for you.

📻 Watch live via the link in our stream.

Set your reminder now.

If you have questions about circulation issues in your legs, which is typical for patients with long time high blood pressure, call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS or go to PADhelp.org

#HeartOfInnovation #RenalDenervation #Hypertension #UncontrolledBloodPressure #WomenInInnovation #CardiovascularHealth #Medtronic #PatientAdvocacy #HeartHealth #BloodPressure #GlobalPADAssociation #MedTech #Innovation

Are leg arteries ever "too small to treat"? Around the world, many patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), especially those with below-the-knee and small vessel disease, are told their arteries are "too small" or "too distal" for intervention. In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips interview Dr. Naoki Hayakawa, Chief and Director of Endovascular Therapy at Asahi General Hospital in Japan.Dr. Hayakawa is internationally recognized for tackling the most complex chronic total occlusions (CTOs), including small-caliber below-the-knee vessels that others may consider untreatable. He has served as a live demonstration operator at major international meetings including JET, CCT Peripheral, Kokura Live, and Peripheral CTO Seminars, and has published extensively on: • IVUS-guided wiring techniques • Below-the-knee chronic total occlusions • Drug-coated balloon therapy • Transradial approaches for complex PAD • Advanced re-entry and retrograde access techniques His work challenges outdated assumptions about what is and isn't possible in limb salvage.In this conversation, Dr. Hayakawa sets the record straight on: • What can truly be treated in small vessel PAD • When vessels are actually too small • The importance of imaging and IVUS guidance • Why patients must seek experienced operators for complex disease • What global standards of care should look like If you or someone you love has been told "nothing more can be done," this episode is essential viewing. - Concerned about leg circulation or told your vessels are too small?Call the Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGSBecause "too small to treat" should never be the final answer without expert evaluation. Subscribe to The Heart of Innovation for global leaders in vascular innovation, limb salvage, and PAD care. #PeripheralArteryDisease#PAD#LimbSalvage#BelowTheKnee#ChronicTotalOcclusion#EndovascularTherapy#IVUS#CriticalLimbIschemia

Sleep isn't just about feeling rested.

It's about your heart.

To close out American Heart Month, we're diving into one of the most overlooked drivers of cardiovascular disease: poor sleep.

On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips explore:

• Why sleep deprivation increases your risk of heart attack and stroke • The connection between sleep, vascular inflammation, and blood pressure • How disrupted sleep affects circulation and long-term cardiovascular health

And then we introduce you to one of the most fascinating innovators in health tech today.

Meredith Perry, Founder & CEO of Elemind, has developed a groundbreaking, non-pharmaceutical approach designed to help you fall asleep faster by interacting directly with brainwave activity. Instead of pills, sedation, or habit-forming medications, her technology aims to gently guide your brain into sleep.

She's even tested it publicly through her bold "Sleeping with the CEO" campaign — putting strangers to sleep on the streets of New York, on trains, and even on planes.

This isn't a gimmick. It's a conversation about the future of sleep, brain science, and cardiovascular prevention.

If you struggle with: • Insomnia • Racing thoughts at night • High blood pressure • Stress-related sleep issues • Cardiovascular risk factors

This episode is for you.

Because heart health doesn't start in the cath lab.

It starts at night.

Subscribe to our channel for conversations at the intersection of innovation and cardiovascular care.

Have questions about vascular or cardiovascular health? Call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS.

Early detection saves lives. And limbs.

Let's rethink sleep. Let's rethink heart health. Let's innovate.

#SleepScience #HeartHealth #AmericanHeartMonth #CardiovascularHealth #InsomniaSolutions #MedTechInnovation #PeripheralArteryDisease #VascularHealth #Elemind #BrainHealth

Peripheral Artery Disease is more prevalent than most cancers — and often deadlier when missed. Yet it is still underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and too often treated in silos.

On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips, Interventional Cardiologist, sit down with Dr. David Dexter, Vascular Surgeon at Sentara Health, who was named the Global PAD Association's Multidisciplinary Team Leader of the Year through the Global PAD Impact Awards.

This PAD Awareness Day — observed the third Saturday of every February during American Heart Month — we are talking about why leg health is heart health.

PAD is not just a leg problem. Blocked leg arteries are a warning sign for heart attack and stroke. And patients deserve a coordinated vascular care team — not fragmented care.

In this conversation, we break down:

• Why PAD is more common than many cancers — yet still diagnosed too late • The danger of treating patients in silos • What a true multidisciplinary vascular care team looks like • How cardiology, vascular surgery, podiatry, wound care, and primary care must work together • Why "Sock It to PAD" and Red Sock Day matter during American Heart Month • What patients should demand from their care teams

Too many amputations are preventable. Too many heart attacks have warning signs in the legs first.

It is time to connect the dots.

If you or someone you love has leg pain when walking, numbness, wounds that won't heal, diabetes, kidney disease, or a history of smoking — this conversation could save a limb and a life.

📞 Call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline with questions about PAD.1-833-PAD-LEGS 🔔 Subscribe to @TheWayToMyHeart for more conversations that challenge the status quo in cardiovascular care. 👍 Like, comment, and share to raise awareness this PAD Awareness Day.

Because saving legs saves lives.

#PADAwarenessDay #SockItToPAD #PeripheralArteryDisease #VascularCare #HeartHealth #AmericanHeartMonth #PreventAmputation #LegHealthIsHeartHealth #PAD

Peripheral Artery Disease impacts 10M+ Americans — and nearly 70% don't know they have it.

Congress has relaunched the PAD Caucus to address preventable amputations and gaps in screening and care.

On The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I debrief with Dr. Bob Tahara, Dr. Andrew Klein, Dr. David Alper, patient advocate Dawn-Marie Hernandez, and Harlem Globetrotter Larry "Shorty" Coleman, who lost a leg to PAD.

PAD is the leading cause of preventable limb loss and a major predictor of heart attack and stroke.

Early detection saves limbs — and lives.

#PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #AmputationPrevention #HealthPolicy #HeartHealth

In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, cohosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips feature multiple patients courageously sharing their lived experiences with Peripheral Artery Disease, including rare and often misunderstood cases that challenge what patients are told is "possible."

Pamela's story highlights a critical gap in PAD care. After being told by a large hospital system that amputation was inevitable, she reached out to the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline. Through patient advocacy and care coordination, the underlying contributors to her disease were identified, including the role climate played in worsening her symptoms. Her decision to relocate to a warmer environment helped stabilize her condition and avoid limb loss, proving that earlier intervention and individualized care matter.

Francine's journey offers another rare perspective. Diagnosed at just 48 despite being a runner, personal trainer, and fitness instructor, she was found to have a full occlusion in her left leg and intermittent blockages in her right. After undergoing a femoral-popliteal bypass, multiple stents, and angioplasty procedures, Francine transformed her lifestyle through the Dean Ornish program and a low-fat vegan diet. She has since completed four half marathons and continues teaching group fitness, yoga, and Reiki.

Theresa's story exposes how often PAD is dismissed, even when the warning signs are clear. With a family history of PAD, Theresa recognized the symptoms early. At 46, she sought help after developing walking pain, only to be told repeatedly that it was a back problem and that she was "too young" to have PAD. A Doppler study was performed but interpreted as normal. For five years, as her symptoms worsened and her walking distance shrank to less than ten metres, she continued to advocate for herself before finally insisting on a vascular referral.

Within minutes of meeting a vascular consultant, Theresa was diagnosed with severe PAD. Imaging revealed a 100 percent blockage in her right leg and 80 percent in her left. Angioplasty provided temporary relief, but restenosis occurred quickly. A second procedure resulted in arterial injury, requiring placement of a 30-centimetre stent in her right thigh. Despite ongoing pain, Theresa developed remarkable collateral circulation, so robust that it complicated intervention attempts. Today, she remains closely monitored by a responsive vascular specialist and manages her condition with vigilance, pacing, and rest. She also notes a meaningful improvement in walking pain after starting Wegovy, an observation she continues to discuss with her care team.

Equally important, Theresa speaks candidly about the emotional toll of PAD. A special education teacher who loves to travel, she feared the disease would take away the life she loved, as it had for her father. After a period of isolation, she made a conscious decision that PAD would be part of her story, but not the author of it. She now works full time, travels when she can, adapts when needed, and lives by a powerful truth: she controls PAD, not the other way around.

Together, these stories reinforce a message too many patients never hear in time: Leg pain, cramping, and difficulty walking are not normal aging. They are warnings.

📞 In the U.S.? Call the Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS to talk with someone about possible circulation issues in your legs.

🌐 Learn more about PAD and conservative treatment options Visit padhelp.org to understand PAD, early symptoms, and access our free proprietary structured walking program, available to everyone.

👥 Join our PAD Facebook Support Community Connect with patients and caregivers at padsupportgroup.org.

👍 Support the show Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications at youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart so you never miss an episode.

#PeripheralArteryDisease #PADawareness #HeartHealth #AmericanHeartMonth #LegPainIsNotNormal #CirculationMatters #VascularHealth #StructuredWalking #PatientStories #PreventAmputation #StrokePrevention #HeartDiseaseAwareness #TheHeartOfInnovation #TheWayToMyHeart

A major Medicare billing issue is emerging across 24 states, and vascular specialists are warning it could delay—or deny—time-sensitive, limb-saving care for patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).

On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, we are joined by two leading voices on the front lines:

🔹 Dr. Elliot Adams, Vascular Surgeon, whose office-based lab (OBL) is directly impacted by the denials

🔹 Dr. Bob Tahara, Vascular Surgeon and Past President of the OEIS (Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society)

Physicians are reporting that new Medicare CPT codes for modern PAD revascularization procedures—codes that replaced deleted legacy codes—are being denied by Medicare contractors Noridian and Novitas, despite being billed correctly. These denials affect procedures that often mean the difference between saving a leg or losing it.

If not clarified and corrected quickly, this issue could: • Block reimbursement for limb-salvage procedures in office-based labs • Delay urgent care for PAD patients • Increase preventable amputations and suffering

At the same time, patients are already calling our Leg Saver Hotline nightly due to delays and denials through Medicare Advantage plans—often in severe pain, afraid they're running out of time. This Medicare CPT issue risks compounding that crisis.

🚨 We need clinicians and patients to hear this—and to speak up.

👉 If you are a physician, clinician, or billing professional seeing these denials

👉 If you are a patient who has received a Medicare denial or delay for PAD care

👉 If you've been told a limb-saving procedure won't be covered

Please tune in. Your experience matters.

You can also email [email protected] for info on joining the LIVE in studio discussion!

📞 NEED HELP OR SUPPORT?

Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS

If you've received a denial letter or are facing delays, call us. You are not alone.

#peripheralarterydisease #padsupport #medicare #medicaredbilling #medicaredenials