Parallax by Ankur Kalra

In 2017, Rohin Francis AKA Medlife Crisis uploaded a YouTube video titled “Leonardo da Vinci's theory about the heart was right”. This first video about how the heart valves close was watched by 412K people, garnering more than 700 comments from a diverse audience who connected to the subject with fascination, curiosity and humour. This week’s guest on Parallax is Dr Rohin Francis, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust and prolific YouTuber. Rohin believes that authenticity is one of the keys of his videos’ success. When asked about his journey to medicine he summarises: “I was being rebellious and ended up doing the most cliché job for an Indian possible.” He turns the table and asks Ankur what he think is behind the stereotype of the Indian cardiologist. Rohin shares an advice that he received at the beginning of his career: “If you can deal with an average day, the exciting day will take care of itself.” Ankur asks Rohin about Medlife Crisis and the w

This week’s episode is dedicated to one of the biggest cardiovascular meetings, AHA’s Scientific Sessions. Dr Ankur Kalra’s guest is Dr Manesh Patel, chair of the AHA Committee on Scientific Sessions and Chief of the Division of Cardiology and Co-Director of the Heart Center at Duke University. Year on year, the organisers of the Scientific Sessions aim to give platform to cardiovascular science at its best: innovative, impactful, and collaborative. In this information-packed episode, Dr Patel takes us behind the scenes and talks about the work that goes into the curation of the programme and the considerations that shape the event. Dr Kalra asks Dr Patel about his highlights over the years and the movement and changes that he observed as vice chair and chair of the event. Dr Patel elaborates on the key late-breaking science trials in 2022. Dr Kalra and Dr Patel discuss the grading system of the award applications and share some useful information with our listeners. What does Dr Patel think about the funct

This week's Parallax is hosting a guest episode recorded for Internal Medicine & Beyond. Tune in to this new podcast from Dr Varun Aitharaju. Exploring Art & Advancement Within Medicine - A Conversation with an Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Ankur Kalra MD is an interventional cardiologist, entrepreneur, poet, and podcaster. In this episode, he discusses his journey in cardiology. He shares his non-clinical passions, including leading a non-profit organization and publishing a poetry book, and provides advice to future physicians on how to balance clinical medicine with other passions. Tune in for an extremely inspirational episode!

This week’s Parallax episode is focusing on the latest science and questions surrounding one of the conundrums of cardiovascular science: Lipoprotein(a). Dr. Ankur Kalra invites Dr Salim S Virani to help simplify the concept of Lp(a) with answering key questions about its measurement and its place in practice and prevention. Dr Virani is a Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program and Vice Provost of Research at Aga Khan University from early next year. Lp(a) was first described in 1963. Since then, many epidemiologic studies have noted association of high Lp(a) levels with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, however, the role of this particle remained a conundrum (Kamstrup, 2017). New data from the development of novel drugs are offering strong evidence on the causality between Lp(a) and ASCVD and AVS (Kronenber et al. 2022). Dr Virani, one of the authors of the new European Atherosclerosis Society consensus statement on Lipoprotein(a) in athero

Back by popular demand, Dr Ankur Kalra's guest is Dr Purvi Parwani, Director of Women’s Cardiovascular Disease Clinic and Assistant Professor at Loma Linda University Medical Center, US. In this ESC 2022 edition of Parallax, Ankur asks Purvi to review her highlights of the congress. Purvi details the study design and key findings of each trial and provides her insights after attending the event in Barcelona. Ankur and Purvi discuss how each trial will inform their practice. Trials covered in detail include: - REVIVED: Study of Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention to Improve Survival in Heart Failure (NCT01920048) - DANCAVAS: Danish Cardiovascular Screening Trial II (NCT03946410) - DELIVER: Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With PReserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure (NCT03619213) - SECURE: Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly Trial (NCT02596126) - INVICTUS: INVestIgation of rheumatiC AF Treatment Using Vitamin K Antagonists, Rivaroxab

Dr Sohail Khan was working as an interventional cardiologist in Salt Lake City, but he was growing more and more skeptical of the corporate aspects of his job. He had a dream about moving back to Pakistan and building a hospital there. Following the death of a colleague, he decided to take a leap. In this inspiring episode, Dr Ankur Kalra’s guest is Dr Sohail Khan, Chief Operating Officer at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Karāchi. Dr Khan talks about education in the US and his decision to move back to Pakistan. Ankur asks Sohail about his new professional home: NICVD, a free clinic providing primary heartcare for Pakistanis. They discuss some of the innovations Dr Khan works on to improve patient care that utilise simple but effective interventions. We learn more about free screening clinics and about Dr Khan’s work on the largest ever study in Pakistan on association of Lpa and CV disease in South Asians. What were the considerations for Dr Khan when he decided to move to Pakistan?

Dr Dipti Itchhaporia, 70th President of American College of Cardiology (ACC), always met her fears with actions. One of her motivations to become a cardiologist was to be able to act in the face of acute situations. When Dr Itchhaporia, the fifth woman and the first of South Asian descent to fill in this position, was asked to summarise her presidential year, she answered: flourishing in opposition of languishing. Dr Ankur Kalra’s guest in this episode of Parallax is Dr Dipti Itchhaporia, ACC Immediate-Past President, an interventional cardiologist and the Eric and Sheila Samson Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Health, director of disease management for Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, and associate professor at the University of California, School of Medicine. In this personal interview, Dr Itchhaporia recalls her early years and the influences and decisions that led her to medicine and cardiology. She talks about her connection to ACC and the importance of choosing a professional home where one can find

“Seek refuge in the attitude of detachment and you will amass the wealth of spiritual awareness. The one who is motivated only by the desire for the fruits of their action, and anxious about the results, is miserable indeed.” Bhagavad Gita In medical school, Dr Chinnaiyan was fascinated with embryology. The question that used to hunt her was how does once cell know to differentiate into so many different organs: what is that knowledge? In this week’s Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra welcomes back Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan cardiologist, Professor of Medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and accomplished author. This nurturing episode focuses on questions that touch on what it is that we seek as human beings and how can we cultivate awareness and authenticity while practicing modern medicine. Ankur asks Kavitha about what it means to be spiritual as a cardiologist. Kavitha talks about the experiences made possible by mindfulness. They discuss the difference between conditioning and growth.

At the beginning of her career, Prof Lam thought that being able to multi-task is one of her strengths. After many accomplishments as a cardiologist and a researcher, she believes that there is more power in focus and being fully present. This week’s guest on Parallax is Professor Carolyn Lam, Senior Consultant and Director of Women's Heart Health at the National Heart Centre Singapore, Professor at the Duke-National University of Singapore and co-founder of Us2.ai, an award-wining medtech start-up as well as the host of the Circulation on the Run Podcast. In this refreshing and spiritual episode Carolyn reflects on her journey and the decisions and mentors that shaped her career as a heart failure specialist, trialist and as a public speaker. Ankur and Carolyn dive into the question whether being balanced is what we should be all aiming for. Ankur asks Carolyn about her work as a co-founder of Us2.ai, a start-up dedicated to the automation of the fight against heart disease by applying AI to echocardiograp

Even though Dr Fisher was excelling in his chosen vocation, cardiovascular medicine, over time he lost his sense of purpose. Despite his success, he felt wounded and disconnected. His training predisposed him to suppress his emotions when faced with suffering and tragedy in order to be a better doctor. Today, Dr Fisher is at the forefront of the campaign to end clinician burnout. This week’s guest on Parallax is Dr Jonathan Fisher Cardiologist and Organizational Well-Being and Resiliency Leader at Novant Health. In this insightful and solution seeking episode, Dr Fisher shares how his journey to build a well-balanced relationship with his profession paved a way for his role as Organizational Well-Being and Resiliency Leader. Dr Kalra and Dr Fisher discuss the need for a more human faced medical education and an open dialogue about wellness and emotional wellbeing. They talk about interventions that can have huge impact on individuals and institutions alike. What are the warning signs of burnout? How can in

In 1999, when Shelley Wood started her career in medical journalism, there were only a few online resources. The main function of reporting on medical news was to make information accessible. Two decades later there is an abundant number of sources covering cardiology news, but TCTMD, home of Ms Wood, stands out with its “lively, thought-provoking, and rigorously objective journalism”.1 This week’s guest on Parallax is Shelley Wood, Managing Editor of TCTMD, Editorial Director at CRF and 2022 recipient of the WomenHeart’s Wenger Award for Excellence in Media. In this engaging episode, Ankur asks Shelley about her journey to medical journalism from theheart.org to TCTMD. Shelley recalls the early days of online news and shares her thoughts on what makes a content stand out in 2022. We learn more about the editorial decisions that go into leading one of the most trusted cardiology news services. Shelley, author of a bestselling novel, talks about how she balances her journalistic work with her creative writin

Years ago, Dr Bhatt, an early adopter of telemedicine, had difficult news for her patient that she wanted share with him in person. Her patient was resistant and they scheduled a video meeting. The patient asked Dr Bhatt to let him hear the news surrounded by his family in the safety of his home. Dr Bhatt learnt that she needed to listen to patients about how they want to be told things and how these interactions might effect them. This week’s guest on Parallax is Dr Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer of ACC, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the ACHD program at Massachusetts. In this engaging and in-depth episode, Dr Kalra and Dr Bhatt talk about the state of digital transformation today: They discuss the challenges and opportunities of telemedicine, artificial ‘collaborative’ intelligence and novel technologies that could enhance medical training. Dr Kalra asks Dr Bhatt about how she balances her responsibilities and her tips for approaching complex problems. Dr Bhatt also sha

The projects that Dr Cherwek, the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Humanitarian Award, values the most unite the following attributes: Simple, globally available, and impactful: In a recent study done in tea pickers in Assam, India, Dr Cherwek and his team first measured the impact of near eyesight correction on productivity and income. PROSPER showed that simple interventions can significantly improve the standard of living for communities. This week guest on Parallax is Dr Hunter Cherwek, ophthalmologist and Vice President of Clinical Services at Orbis International. In this unique episode Dr Kalra and Dr Cherwek discuss highly innovative solutions in ophthalmology that could be implemented in cardiovascular medicine. They talk about AI assisted consultation, learning pathways incorporating simulators for early career practitioners and the Flying Eye Hospital. Dr Cherwek shares his experiences about working with local teams globally and the work that goes into setting up trials across the world. How can

In a 1-minute video, wearing scrubs, Dr Siyab, Md voices his concerns over the decision to end mask mandate on certain US airlines. “The people that are so intensely against these mask mandates, they are not the ones who are taking buses or trains to get to work and get back home every day because they are part of the privileged class.” Dr Siyab’s mission is to be a voice of reason and appeal to those who are hesitant or against getting vaccines. His plight goes out to his 405.3K followers on TikTok every day. This week’s guest on Parallax is Dr Muhammad Siyab, PGY-6 Cardiology Fellow at Tulane University Heart and Vascular Institute. In this engaging episode Dr Siyab talks about what prompted him to take a public stand on social media and why did he choose the video-based platform. Ankur and Muhammad talk about inherent authenticity and connecting with others through media. Ankur asks Muhammad about the work that goes into creating videos and his thoughts about his role both as an influencer and a physicia

“There is a significant disparity in the inclusion of women on all national guideline committees, in addition to serving as a chair of cardiology guidelines. Further advocacy is required to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in our cardiology guidelines globally.” Rai D, et al. JAHA. 22 Why are we talking about inclusion, diversity, and equity? Recent years have seen many studies on the inequalities in representation of women in cardiology and yet the needle has not been moved as much as we hoped for. What does the data on the authorship of the guidelines tell us and what can be done to balance the scale? Dr Ankur Kalra’s guests this week are Dr Martha Gulati, internationally recognized cardiologist specializing in Women and Heart Disease, Heart Disease Prevention and Dr Devesh Rai, first year cardiology fellow at Rochester General Hospital. In this insightful and action-oriented episode Dr Gulati, chair of the recent 2021 AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR Guideline for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of

How can you navigate challenges whilst keeping an eye on your goals and your mission? This week’s guest on Parallax is Dr Nadia Sutton, Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Interventional Cardiology at University of Michigan. In this engaging and constructive episode, Nadia recalls her journey to medicine and reflects on the life decisions she had to make along the way: What is the career path that will get us closer to our mission? When is the right time to start family planning? How can we develop resilience in face of rejection? Nadia recalls the conversations with her colleagues and mentors as she progressed in her career. She talks about the practical aspects of tenure track and grant application. Ankur and Nadia discuss the importance of goal setting and exercising a positive mindset. Questions and comments can be sent to “podcast@radciffe-group.com” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, @nadia_sutton hosted by

Chemical engineering seemed like a sensible choice for Shon who is coming from a family of engineers. At the age of 18 the trajectory of his path took a turn when he blindly sent out 30 resumes and received one offer from a cardiologist to work in his lab. Looking back, he realizes that this was the first time “who” luck shaped his career in medicine. This week’s guest on Parallax is Dr Shon Chakrabarti, Vice President Medical Affairs at Inari Medical. In this rich and candid episode, Dr Chakrabarti recalls the early stages of his career and the non-linear route that led to his transition from an interventional cardiologist to working on devices that focus on improving the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This journey was paved by self-reflection, hunger for tangible results, and connections with mentors who dared to dream big and wished the same for their mentees. How did the transition from bedside medicine to industry shape the identity of Dr Chakrabarti? What are the highlights of his job as t

Joe’s journey as a patient with congenital heart disease set him on a route of becoming a professional patient advocate. Since 2016, his non-profit organisation, Team Uncle Joe is helping patients and families to better understand and help navigate CHD. Parallax host Dr Ankur Kalra invites Joe Valente, a Board-Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) and Co-Founder of Team Uncle Joe, to talk about his mission and practical considerations involving CHD care both from a patient and a healthcare provider perspective. In this informative and practical episode, Joe shares details about the process of getting certified as a BCPA and about the work that goes into setting up a non-profit organization. We learn more about how he and his team can support patients with CHD and what he considers to be the pillar of good patient-doctor communication. To learn more about Joe’s work please visit this website: https://teamunclejoe.org What were the most educational and the empowering experiences as a patient for Joe? What does b

In 2005, the concept of hemorrhagic MI was a preformed idea. In 2022, after years of collaboration, technical advances and research, the findings on large MI size have the potential to fundamentally improve the care of patients suffering from heart attacks. In this week’s Parallax podcast, Dr Ankur Kalra welcomes Dr Rohan Dharmakumar, Executive Director of the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center at IU School of Medicine, to talk about his research on hemorrhagic myocardial infarction (MI). In this in-depth and engaging episode, Dr Kalra and Dr Dharmakumar invite us to a journey from the inception of the idea through the application of experimental imagining with serial scans to collaborative, mechanistic studies that shed light on an unmet clinical need. What is the concept of hemorrhagic MI? How can these findings be translated to clinical practice? How can we mitigate hemorrhagic MI? Questions and comments can be sent to “podcast@radciffe-group.com” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode.

"There is a high global prevalence of hostile work environment in cardiology, including discrimination, emotional harassment, and sexual harassment.” Sharma G. et al. JACC 2021. Dr Naidu was at the beginning of his career when, having experienced micro-aggression, his chairman shared an insight that still shapes the way he thinks about addressing professional jealousy and bullying: “Don’t let people bring you down, you just keep working and lift them up.” In this week's Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra is joined by Dr Srihari S Naidu, Director of Cath Labs and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at the Westchester Medical Center and President Elect of NY ACC, for an honest conversation on a challenging topic within the cardiology community. Cardiology, a highly competitive field, still generates the sense that power is equal to strength. In this insightful and practical episode, Hari revisits his own experiences both as a leader and as a trainee, navigating complex situations. What can you do as a target when being