CardioSource WorldNews August 2015 | Page 17

Patient Focus CARDIOSMART CORNER Martha Gulati Named CardioSmart Editor-in-Chief Martha Gulati, MD, MS, has been named the new editor-in-chief of CardioSmart.org, replacing JoAnne M. Foody, MD. Her 5-year term began on Aug. 1. Gulati is an associate professor of medicine and clinical public health in the division of cardiology at Ohio State University. In addition, she serves as the Sarah Ross Soter chair in women’s cardiovascular health and the section director for women’s cardiovascular health and preventive cardiology. “I am honored to have the opportunity to head an initiative with such an important mis- sion,” Gulati said. “Patient education is key to early recognition and prevention of heart disease, and as physicians, it is our duty to provide our patients with the tools they need to keep their hearts healthy. CardioSmart provides the platform for just that.” Dr. Gulati brings experience as both an author and an editor to her position with CardioSmart, having written the best-selling book Saving Women’s Hearts, and publishing articles in The New England Journal of Medicine, Circulation and the Journal of the American Medical Association. She has served on the editorial board for the American Heart Association Heart Insight Editorial Board and Woman’s Day Magazine: Heart Health Advisory Board and as a reviewer for JACC. She has also received numerous honors in the cardiovascular field, including the ACC’s first CREDO (Coalition to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cardiovascular Outcomes) award and the National Red Dress Award for her efforts in raising awareness of heart disease in women and advancing research in this field. Conversation Starters: Heart Failure Helping heart failure (HF) patients understand major risk factors, as well as what they can do to stay as healthy as possible, is key to actively involving them in their treatment. Here are several important questions you should answer for patients during their next visit: ACC.org/CSWN • What is HF and what is the cause of theirs? • What is their current heart function? • What is their prognosis? • What are their treatment options? • Which of their medicines is for HF? • Would they benefit from advanced therapy like a defibrillator or left ventricular assist device? • What signs and symptoms should they look for to signal their HF is getting worse? • When should they call you? • What can they eat and how much alcohol can they drink? • How much sodium should be in their diet? • What sort of exercise should they do, and what should be avoided? CardioSource WorldNews 15