By creator to wvumedicine.org
Posted on 11/5/2019
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – On Saturday, Robert Parsons, a 61-year-old male from Chesapeake, Ohio, obtained a brand new lease on life when surgeons on the West Virginia University Heart and Vascular Institute and the WVU Drugs Transplant Alliance carried out West Virginia’s first coronary heart transplant.
“In the present day marks a brand new chapter for transplantation in West Virginia,” Michael Shullo, Pharm.D., affiliate vice chairman of transplant companies for WVU Drugs and chief of the WVU Drugs Transplant Alliance, mentioned. “That is the end result of an incredible crew effort to help entry to organ transplantation for all West Virginians and sufferers from our surrounding areas.”
The operation took a complete of six hours and concluded at midday. By four p.m., Parsons was steady and brought off the ventilator. He was sitting up and visiting along with his siblings from Huntington.
The transplant crew included heart surgeons Vinay Badhwar, M.D.; Muhammad Salman, M.D., and Chris Cook, M.D.; heart failure cardiologists Christopher Bianco, D.O.; George Sokos, D.O., Marco Caccamo, D.O.; anesthesiologists Matthew Ellison, M.D., and John Bozek, M.D.; surgical assistants; transplant coordinators; nurses; pharmacists; social employees; dietitians; and perfusionists.
“On behalf of the large crew of your WVU Coronary heart and Vascular Institute, it’s an honor and privilege to carry entry to this much-needed and valuable, life-saving remedy to our affected person as we speak,” mentioned Dr. Badhwar, transplant surgeon and government chair of the WVU Coronary heart and Vascular Institute and the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. “We’ve got opened the doorway to a brand new future for West Virginians, who not should journey out of state for coronary heart transplantation.”
The WVU Drugs program has a number of extra sufferers in want at the moment on a ready listing for coronary heart transplantation.
“This coronary heart transplant was the primary ever in West Virginia’s 156-year historical past, and it marked a pivotal second for the Institute because it continues to ascertain itself as one of many premier coronary heart and vascular packages in america,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the West Virginia College Well being System, mentioned. “We’re pleased with the crew of devoted professionals who made this surgical procedure a hit, and we’re honored to carry this crucial service to the folks of West Virginia and all we serve.”
For extra data on the WVU Coronary heart and Vascular Institute, go to WVUMedicine.org/Heart. For extra data on transplantation or to refer a possible coronary heart transplant affected person, contact the WVU Drugs Transplant Alliance at 304-974-3004. To register as an organ donor, go to www.registerme.org/wvumedicine.
Coronary heart Transplant Personnel Listing
- Michael Shullo, Pharm.D., affiliate vice chairman, transplant companies
- Vinay Badhwar, M.D., transplant surgeon and government chair, WVU Coronary heart and Vascular Institute
- Muhammad Salman, M.D., transplant surgeon and surgical director of Superior Coronary heart Failure
- Chris Prepare dinner, M.D., procurement cardiac surgeon
- Katherine Lestitian, P.A.-C., cardiac surgical assistant
- George Sokos, D.O., medical director of Superior Coronary heart Failure
- Marco Caccamo, D.O., transplant heart specialist
- Christopher Bianco, D.O., transplant heart specialist
- Robert Nagel, lead surgical nurse coordinator
- Adam Charlton, lead surgical technician
- Tamisa VanMeter, surgical technician
- Amy Lieb, surgical nurse
- Christina Zacharia, lead perfusionist
- Kelsey Redick, perfusionist
- Melissa Duarte, perfusionist
- Rachelle Zomak, director, transplant operations and compliance
- Lynsey Biondi, M.D., doctor director, transplant companies
- Kim Meyer, supervisor, transplant high quality
- Chavonne Newman, supervisor, transplant coordinator
- Alexis Albright, transplant coordinator
- Jessica Stein, transplant coordinator
- Gretchen Kipp, Pharm.D., transplant pharmacist
- Carrie O’Neil, transplant social employee
- Chelsea Wilson, transplant dietitian
- Candace Dafonzo, transplant monetary coordinator
- Matthew Everett, information specialist
- Margaret Buttars, transplant service consultant
- Elizabeth Tennant, transplant service consultant
- Krystal Fauvie, administrative assistant
— to wvumedicine.org
