Page 26 - SFHN Feb 2021

Profiles In Cardiology

JOE DIMAGGIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Laura D’Addese, MD, FAAP R. Allen Ligon Jr., MD

Dr. Laura D’Addese, a pediatric cardiologist specializing in Dr. Allen Ligon cares for both pediatric and adult patients
heart failure and transplant medicine, vividly remembers a with congenital heart disease, focused on improving their
childhood experience with her mother, a teacher, which quality of life through procedures performed in the cardiac
sparked an interest in medicine. “One of my mom’s students cath lab. From premature babies requiring PDA closure to sen-
had been hit by a car and we visited him in the ICU. He was ior citizens in need of valve replacements, Ligon and his team
hooked up to all sorts of machines and when we got back to utilize the latest innovations in minimally-invasive, non-surgi-
our car my mom was overcome with emotion. cal technology to correct potentially fatal issues. “We had a
I remember having a lot of questions. Why do kids get sick? patient come to us on the verge of being put on life-support
How does the body heal? What were his parents feeling? It who was ultimately discharged in less than 48 hours with a
made me want to help others in that situation.” new lease on life,” said Ligon of the percutaneous valve ther-
That desire ultimately led to a career in cardiology, caring for pediatric patients with apy patient who had a defective heart valve replaced without requiring open-heart sur-
acute and chronic heart failure, as well as those who have undergone heart transplanta- gery.
tion or require mechanical circulatory support. An interventional cardiologist, Ligon is fascinated by how science can be applied to
“In this area of medicine, we assist patients and parents for what can be years at a positively impact life and move healthcare forward. Transcatheter technology, in the right
time,” said the fellowship-trained D’Addese. “It’s a long journey. We become part of their patient-candidate, can now replace all four valves of the heart outside the operating
families and get to watch our patients grow. I really enjoy that.” room.
“I’m fortunate to be able to apply my skill set to help others. Caring for the cardiac
Svetlana Shugh, MD community feels like a calling to me.”

A trio of numbers recently filled Dr. Svetlana Shugh with
pride.
“Our pediatric heart transplant program just celebrated its JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER
10th anniversary. We’ve transplanted 67 patients so far and
have a 100% survival rate one and three years after surgery.” Arthur Katz, MD
The outcome exceeds national benchmarks for transplant
success and Shugh, a pediatric cardiologist that specializes in Arthur Katz, M.D., Jupiter Medical Center specialist in
treating patients with heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and those advanced cardiothoracic surgery, is the award-winning
who need or have had a transplant, says the credit belongs, in institution’s Medical Director, Cardiac Surgery. Dr. Katz
part, to the collaborative nature of the program. “Ours is a leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to the diagnosis
multi-disciplinary approach that includes sub-specialty experts every step of what can be and treatment of a wide range of complex surgeries.
a long journey for patients. We also involve families in the care plan, and their dedication He has performed more than 2,000 “off-pump” coronary
to the process is a big part of the success we’re having.” artery bypass grafts and is considered a national authority
Shugh’s patients range from infants to young adults, with relationships between doctor, on the procedure. He also specializes in heart valve surger-
patient, and families lasting years. Some of her greatest satisfaction comes from celebrat- ies, reconstructions, ablations, tumor excisions, and repair
ing milestones, like when a child is able to attend school after being critically ill. of other heart defects.

Dr. Katz is highly regarded in the field, with more than 25 years of experience, and
MEMORIAL CARDIAC & VASCULAR INSTITUTE is board certified and fellowship trained in cardiothoracic surgery. He graduated with
honors from New York Medical College and completed his residency in general sur-
Omosalewa Adewale, MD gery at NYU Medical Center. Dr. Katz is also recognized as a Top Doctor by Palm
Beach Illustrated Magazine.

Dr. Omosalewa Adewale has practiced medicine on three
continents, in stops as varied as Lagos, Nigeria, the UK, and El Matthew Kolek, MD, MSC
Paso, Texas. Now in South Florida, she says people every-
where are basically the same. “Everyone has families, jobs, Matthew Kolek, M.D., MSC, specialist in treatment of
fears, and aspirations in life, it’s only their environment and complex cardiac arrhythmias, is on Jupiter Medical Center’s
experiences that make them seem different. At the heart of team of experienced electrophysiologists. Board certified in
every human being is a person who wants to be loved.” cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology, Dr. Kolek
The heart has always held a particular interest for Adewale, performed Jupiter Medical Center’s first WATCHMAN™
especially as it relates to imaging, a sub-specialty that can offer implant procedure in January. As an experienced specialist
insights throughout the continuum of cardiac disease. Her in the only FDA-approved device proven to reduce stroke
global medical experiences have taught her caring is a key to a physician’s success and a risk due to non-valvular atrial fibrillation, Dr. Kolek ushers
smile goes a long way. in this new service for the award-winning hospital.
“It’s my job to make a difference for patients, whether that’s calming fears, providing Dr. Kolek’s areas of specialty include treatment of complex cardiac arrhythmias; left
support, or perspective about a diagnosis,” said Adewale, the medical director of cardiac atrial appendage closings; laser lead extraction; and a broad range of cardiac device
imaging at Memorial’s Cardiac & Vascular Institute. “It’s an awesome responsibility, and therapies such as the WATCHMAN™ implant and Micra lead-less pacemaker proce-
a privilege too.” dures.
Dr. Kolek graduated medical school from the University of Utah School of
Ralph Levy, MD Medicine, completed his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and
earned fellowships also at Vanderbilt in cardiovascular diseases and cardiac electro-
physiology.
After nearly 30 years practicing medicine in South Florida,
Dr. Ralph Levy is still passionate about “going to work.” That’s
a trait that has served him well as he’s overseen the growth and
development of Memorial’s Cardiac & Vascular Institute
(MCVI), which now features the highest surgical volume in
Broward County.
As chief of adult cardiac medical services, Levy helped ••••••••••••••••••••••••
implement the integrated, multi-disciplinary approach at what
has become a truly comprehensive cardiovascular institute.
“Nothing is more exciting to me than normalizing a patient’s life, where they no longer Visit us online at
have to spend all their time thinking about medical issues.”
In addition to his duties at MCVI, Levy is also active in clinical cardiac research, explor- www.southfloridahospitalnews.com
ing the consequences of cancer treatments on the heart. He is also associate professor at
Florida International University’s Wertheim College of Medicine and works with resi-
dents in Memorial’s Graduate Medical Education program.

26 February 2021 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News