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CLINICAL TRIALS AND RESEARCH
In addition to his weekly blog , Dr . Packer continued to be a prolific writer , publishing more than 50 papers during fiscal year 2022 in peer-reviewed journals . Some examples include :
• Khan MS , Kristensen SL , Vanduganathan M , Kober L , Abraham WT , Desai AS , Solomon SD , Swedberg K , Dickstein K , Zile MR , Packer M , McMurray JJ , Butler J . Natriuretic peptide plasma concentrations and risk of cardiovascular versus noncardiovascular events in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction insights from the PARADIGM-HF and ATMOSPHERE trials . Am Heart J . 2021:237:45-53 .
• Packer M , Anker SD , Butler J , Filippatos G , Ferreira JP , Pocock SJ , Carson P , Anand I , Doehner W , Haass M , Komajda M , Miller A , Pehrson S , Teerlink JR , Brueckmann M , Jamal W , Zeller C , Schnaidt S , Zannad F for the EMPEROR-Reduced Trial Committees and Investigators . Effect of empagliflozin on the clinical stability of patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction : the EMPEROR-Reduced Trial . Circulation . 2021 ; 143:326-336 .
• Tromp J , Bryant JA , Jin X , van Woerden G , Asali S , Yiying H , Liew OW , Ching JCP , Jaufeerally F , Loh SY , Sim D , Lee S , Soon D , Tay WT , Packer M , van Veldhuisen DJ , Chin C , Richards AM , Lam CS . Epicardial fat I heart failure with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction . Eur J Heart Fail . 2021 ; 23:835-838 .
• Packer M . Critical examination of mechanisms underlying the reduction in heart failure events with SGLT2 inhibitors : identification of a molecular link between their actions to stimulate erythrocytosis and to alleviate cellular stress . Cardiovasc Res . 2021 ; 117:74084 .
• Packer M . Pitfalls in utilizing eGFT slope as a surrogate for the effect of drugs on the risk of serious adverse renal outcomes in clinical trials of patients with heart failure . Circ Heart Fail . 2021 Jun ; 14 ( 6 ): e008537 . Doi : 10.1161 / CIRCHEARTFAILURE . 121.008537 .
In fiscal year 2022 , Dr . Packer acquired the PARADIGM-HF database , the largest database ever assembled for a heart failure trial to Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Institute , and began to coordinate analyses of the database with cardiologists and statisticians . The PARADIGM-HF database has yielded more than 50 publications worldwide .
Healing hearts through education , writing and leadership
During his 29-year career at Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas , William C . Roberts , MD , MACC , has been a leader , a writer / editor , an educator , and an internationally recognized authority on cardiac pathology . He has been the guiding force behind several innovative patient programs .
Perhaps one of the initiatives of which he is most proud is the founding of the Heart-to-Heart program , a first-of-its kind interactive program for heart transplant patients that ’ s been emulated across the country and around the world . In its eighth year , more than 180 Baylor Dallas heart transplant patients have been amazed and overwhelmed by the opportunity to hold their old diseased heart in their hands , listening to Dr . Roberts describe what went wrong with their old heart and learning how they can protect the health of their new heart . The experience has been life-changing for many participants , with some tearing up at the sight of their diseased heart , knowing they ’ ve been given a second chance with a new one .
In fiscal year 2022 , Dr . Roberts conducted educational sessions for the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute ’ s internship program in an environment devoted exclusively to cardiac pathology research . This eight-week-long program offers a wide range of opportunities educating the interns ( 18 years and older ) in the high global prevalence of cardiovascular disease , which remains the number one cause of death worldwide . Students study the underlying causes of cardiovascular diseases through hands-on examination of specimens and through a variety of research . In doing so , they are able to produce fact-based editorials for publication .
Students also participate in weekly cardiovascular conferences , attend cardiovascular specimen dictations and review histology sections for final diagnosis . Combined with working in a fast-paced office environment , their internship becomes one complete experience centered around the sciences , ethics and humanity .