Happy Valentine’s Day From Chicago!!!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: February 14, 2025
As Heart Month continues to raise much-needed awareness to heart disease, I’m excited to be in Chicago today for a special celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
Many of you know that Northwestern Medicine has provided extraordinary outcomes for over 700 patients of the HeartValveSurgery.com community. Here is a video I just posted from the party with world-renowned heart valve experts and their patients.
Celebrating At Northwestern Medicine
That is Dr. Patrick McCarthy, the Executive Director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, and Jane Kruse, Heart Valve and Atrial Fibrillation and Research Nurse Coordinator at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. So you know, Dr. McCarthy has received 204 patient testimonials from patients in the HeartValveSurgery.com community.
Here is Neil Bluhm, the patient and philanthropist that provided the financial resources to start the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.
That is Dr. Jane Wilcox, Chief of the Section of Heart Failure Treatment and Recovery, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine.
That is Dr. Anita Asgar, who is a leading interventional cardiologist and a new member of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.
Over the past two decades, the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (BCVI) has become a global destination for life-saving therapies, breakthrough procedures, and research that has transformed cardiovascular care. Click here to learn about our innovative programs and hear from patients whose lives have been transformed as a result.
As we look forward to National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day next week, I am wishing all of you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!!!
Keep on tickin!
Adam
P.S. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing members of our community, here is a written transcript of the video.
Adam Pick: Hi Everybody! It’s Adam with HeartValveSurgery.com. We are in Chicago, Illinois for a special celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine. In our community, Northwestern and its team of cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, physician assistants are nurses are cheered on by over 700 patients who have had successful heart valve surgery at Northwestern Chicago, Dupage, Palos Height and McHenry. I am thrilled to be joined by Dr. Patrick McCarthy, who is the Executive Director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. Dr. McCarthy, It is great to see you again. We’ve known each other for over 15 years. You and your team have treated so many patients in our community. Can you help everybody understand evolution of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute during the past 20 years.
Dr. Patrick McCarthy: Thanks to Neil Bluhm’s vision… Over the past 20 years, NM has become a destination for cardiovascular care, treating patients from over 27 different countries and 50 states. We partner with patients and physicians to provide seamless care regardless of their geography. The result? I am happy to share that over 95% of patients would recommend their physician at NM BCVI.
Adam Pick: This is Dr. Doug Johnston, who is Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. Doug, as the Chief here, can you share a little bit about the growth that BCVI has experienced?
Dr. Doug Johnston: Good to see you again Adam and great question. In the last 3 years alone, NM has seen a 42% increase cardiac surgery growth. Over the past 20 years, NM has gone from being unranked in US News & World Reports to becoming the No 7 cardiology and heart surgery program in America and a top 20 cardiac surgery program in the world by Newsweek.
Adam Pick: This is Dr. Anita Asgar, who is an interventional cardiologist that specializes in minimally-invasive transcatheter heart valve therapies. She’s also a NEW member of the NM team from Montreal, Canada. Dr. Asgar, Welcome to Northwestern! I have to ask, why are you joining BCVI at this time?
Dr. Anita Asgar: Hi Adam! In learning about BCVI… Its 20-year history… And its success. I wanted to be a part of that. I’m not the only one. For example, in the last 3 years, NM has recruited over 40 top-talent physicians, that focus on heart valve disease and related cardiac conditions. While today is our 20th anniversary… We’re looking forward to defining the future of heart care with experts and innovative therapies.
Adam Pick: I’m here with Dr. Jane Wilcox, a leading cardiologist here at BCVI. Dr. Wilcox, the medical advances in heart valve therapy have been amazing. How is BCVI helping patients live healthier lives through science, research and innovation?
Dr. Jane Wilcox: Innovation takes research. BCVI faculty have secured $120 million in ACTIVE NIH grants. To date, we have over 10,000 research participants in 100 clinical trials and are home to the top 1% of all researchers in the field of cardiology. This innovation has led to excellent patient outcomes, including the highest heart failure survival rate in the nation.
Adam Pick: On behalf of all the patients at HeartValveSurgery.com, patients all over the world, thanks so much to BCVI for including me this special 20th anniversary of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine.
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
Adam's Newest Blogs
Adam's Newest Posts
Adam's Video Library
Learn about heart valve surgery and patient success stories at Adam’s video library.
Heart Hospital Map
Search for heart hospitals that specialize in heart valve treatment.
