Kym Mcnicholas On Innovation

What if the pain you're told is "just a muscle cramp" is actually a life-altering vascular emergency? In this high-impact episode of The Heart of Innovation, Kym McNicholas sits down with interventional cardiologist Dr. Hady Lichaa and his patient, Camille, to discuss a Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) diagnosis that was almost missed until it was too late. Camille was a mom just trying to walk to her car after her son's baseball game, but the claudication pain was so severe it brought her to tears. Despite visiting the Emergency Room twice, she was sent home with muscle relaxers while her leg was actively dying. In this episode, we unpack: The ER Red Flags: Why leg pain is often misdiagnosed as muscle cramps or venous clots. Arterial vs. Venous: The critical question a Nurse Practitioner asked that saved Camille's leg. The Reality of Bypass Surgery: The complex journey of multiple surgeries and complications. Smoking & Vascular Health: The honest truth about the role of smoking and the "Aha!" mome

Could we one day bypass heart blockages without ever opening the chest? In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, Kym McNicholas and Dr. James Joye, who invented PTAB (minimally invasive leg bypass device) sit down with Dr. Chris Bruce, the lead author of a groundbreaking NIH and Emory study that has achieved a world first: a fully percutaneous (catheter-based) coronary bypass. Known as the VECTOR procedure, this technique was recently used to save a patient whose anatomy made a traditional heart valve replacement life-threatening. By building an "extra-anatomic" bypass from the aorta to the coronary artery—all through a small puncture in the leg—Dr. Bruce and his team have opened a new frontier in cardiac care. We discuss how they "poked a hole" through the heart to save a life and whether this technology could eventually replace traditional bypass surgery for common blockages. #heartvalve #coronarybypass #heartbypass #heartsurgery #globalpadassociation #heartdisease

For many, amputation is seen as the final step to end the agony of PAD and CLTI. But what happens when you make that heartbreaking choice, and the pain stays behind? It's Limb Loss Awareness Month—a time for honoring those who have faced limb loss, but also for addressing the hard, silent realities of life after amputation. In this special episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips tackle Phantom Limb Pain, the "ghost signal" that tortures millions. We are joined by Dr. John Eidt, Chief of Vascular Surgery at Baylor Heart & Vascular, and David Veino, CEO of Neuros Medical, to reveal a medical breakthrough—a tiny implantable device specifically designed to "turn off" that phantom pain for good. In this episode, we unpack: ✔️Why amputation isn't always the end of the pain journey. ✔️The science of damaged nerves and phantom sensations. ✔️A new hope: How Neuros Medical's bioelectronic medicine is changing lives. ✔️Essential questions to ask your surgeon before a limb is lo

Is everything you know about obesity and diabetes wrong? Join Emmy Award-winning journalist Kym McNicholas and interventional cardiologist Dr. John Phillips on The Heart of Innovation as they sit down with world-renowned endocrinologist Dr. Anastasios Manessis. In this episode, we dive deep into the rapidly accelerating world of metabolic health to separate fact from fiction. What We Cover: GLP-1 Breakthroughs: We go beyond the headlines to discuss the real-world impact of GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists in managing chronic disease and cardiovascular health. The New Bag Gastric Balloon: Kym and Dr. Phillips explore the latest non-surgical innovations, including the recently FDA-cleared Allurion Gastric Balloon System. This swallowable technology—often referred to as a pill-sized bag—occupies gastric volume to support weight management without the need for surgery, endoscopy, or anesthesia. Myth-Busting Obesity Care: Dr. Manessis addresses common misconceptions about weight loss medications and the shif

Join us for a powerful PAD Awareness Day conversation with Michael Lepp, a globally respected human performance and cardiovascular physiology expert whose work spans elite athletics, endurance cycling, and high-pressure team dynamics. Michael has spent over 40 years coaching, consulting, and advising athletes and teams — from world-class endurance cyclists and cycling culture discussions to training pit crews for NASCAR Cup winners and serving as senior athletic advisor to Joe Gibbs Racing. His perspective blends physiology, performance science, and real-world human resilience. In this discussion, we explore: How elite performance principles from cycling and high-stress teams can inform PAD recovery and mobility Lessons from cardiovascular training and heart health in endurance athletes Practical movement, rehabilitation, and resilience strategies for people living with PAD Michael's experience shaping early PAD and cardiac rehab approaches in Charlotte, NC Whether you're living with PAD, caring for someone w

Are leg arteries ever "too small to treat"?   Around the world, many patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), especially those with below-the-knee and small vessel disease, are told their arteries are "too small" or "too distal" for intervention.   In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips interview Dr. Naoki Hayakawa, Chief and Director of Endovascular Therapy at Asahi General Hospital in Japan.Dr. Hayakawa is internationally recognized for tackling the most complex chronic total occlusions (CTOs), including small-caliber below-the-knee vessels that others may consider untreatable.  He has served as a live demonstration operator at major international meetings including JET, CCT Peripheral, Kokura Live, and Peripheral CTO Seminars, and has published extensively on:  • IVUS-guided wiring techniques  • Below-the-knee chronic total occlusions  • Drug-coated balloon therapy  • Transradial approaches for complex PAD  • Advanced re-entry and retrograde access

Sleep isn't just about feeling rested. It's about your heart. To close out American Heart Month, we're diving into one of the most overlooked drivers of cardiovascular disease: poor sleep. On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips explore: • Why sleep deprivation increases your risk of heart attack and stroke • The connection between sleep, vascular inflammation, and blood pressure • How disrupted sleep affects circulation and long-term cardiovascular health And then we introduce you to one of the most fascinating innovators in health tech today. Meredith Perry, Founder & CEO of Elemind, has developed a groundbreaking, non-pharmaceutical approach designed to help you fall asleep faster by interacting directly with brainwave activity. Instead of pills, sedation, or habit-forming medications, her technology aims to gently guide your brain into sleep. She's even tested it publicly through her bold "Sleeping with the CEO" campaign — putting strangers to sleep on th

Peripheral Artery Disease is more prevalent than most cancers — and often deadlier when missed. Yet it is still underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and too often treated in silos. On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips, Interventional Cardiologist, sit down with Dr. David Dexter, Vascular Surgeon at Sentara Health, who was named the Global PAD Association's Multidisciplinary Team Leader of the Year through the Global PAD Impact Awards. This PAD Awareness Day — observed the third Saturday of every February during American Heart Month — we are talking about why leg health is heart health. PAD is not just a leg problem. Blocked leg arteries are a warning sign for heart attack and stroke. And patients deserve a coordinated vascular care team — not fragmented care. In this conversation, we break down: • Why PAD is more common than many cancers — yet still diagnosed too late • The danger of treating patients in silos • What a true multidisciplinary vascular care team looks

Peripheral Artery Disease impacts 10M+ Americans — and nearly 70% don't know they have it. Congress has relaunched the PAD Caucus to address preventable amputations and gaps in screening and care. On The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I debrief with Dr. Bob Tahara, Dr. Andrew Klein, Dr. David Alper, patient advocate Dawn-Marie Hernandez, and Harlem Globetrotter Larry "Shorty" Coleman, who lost a leg to PAD. PAD is the leading cause of preventable limb loss and a major predictor of heart attack and stroke. Early detection saves limbs — and lives. #PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #AmputationPrevention #HealthPolicy #HeartHealth

In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, cohosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips feature multiple patients courageously sharing their lived experiences with Peripheral Artery Disease, including rare and often misunderstood cases that challenge what patients are told is "possible." Pamela's story highlights a critical gap in PAD care. After being told by a large hospital system that amputation was inevitable, she reached out to the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline. Through patient advocacy and care coordination, the underlying contributors to her disease were identified, including the role climate played in worsening her symptoms. Her decision to relocate to a warmer environment helped stabilize her condition and avoid limb loss, proving that earlier intervention and individualized care matter. Francine's journey offers another rare perspective. Diagnosed at just 48 despite being a runner, personal trainer, and fitness instructor, she was found to have a full occlusion in her left leg and int

A major Medicare billing issue is emerging across 24 states, and vascular specialists are warning it could delay—or deny—time-sensitive, limb-saving care for patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, we are joined by two leading voices on the front lines:

Hemorrhoids are far more common than most people realize — affecting more than half of adults at some point in their lives — yet many suffer in silence or believe surgery is their only option.  In today's LIVE episode, we bring together gastroenterology and interventional radiology to discuss the newest minimally invasive treatment: hemorrhoidal artery embolization. Today's Experts • Misha Ginsburg — Interventional Radiologist • Zuhair Yaseen

On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, we sit down with Dr. Jean Chen, a diabetes educator and retired podiatrist whose lifelong commitment to medicine was shaped by service, resilience, and lived experience. Dr. Chen knew she wanted to be a doctor by the age of five. Raised in Taiwan by a pediatrician father and a nurse mother who often cared for patients unable to pay, she learned early that medicine was about people first. After immigrating to the United States, growing up in Ohio, and studying at Cornell, her career took her through oncology before she found her calling in limb preservation through podiatry. Then her own path changed. Following a serious car accident, spinal cord injury, and surgical delays during COVID, Dr. Chen was left partially paralyzed, bringing her career as a practicing podiatrist to an unexpected end. At the same time, she was navigating her own journey with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and a heart catheterization. Rather than stepping away from care, Dr. Chen changed how

What if the most powerful New Year's resolution for your heart and leg health wasn't extreme—just consistent? On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips and Global PAD Association CEO Kym McNicholas talk about simple, realistic daily habits that can add up to meaningful improvements in circulation, vascular health, and quality of life, especially for people living with or at risk for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and heart disease. We focus on habits that are accessible, repeatable, and evidence-informed—not perfection. In this conversation, we discuss: Setting aside 30 minutes a day for walking—even if it's broken into three 10-minute sessions, and why gently pushing through leg discomfort can help improve circulation over time Easy dietary additions like chia seeds soaked overnight, fermented foods, and fiber support such as psyllium husk The role of plant sterols and gut health in overall cardiovascular wellness How 10 minutes of guided self-hypnosis

What happens when living with chronic disease leads you to an unexpected calling? On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, cohosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips sit down with Rob, founder of PAD Life Outdoors, who shares his powerful and deeply human journey of living with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) — a condition caused by poor circulation in the legs — while also navigating life after aortic stenting for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Along the way, Rob discovered something surprising. As his beard grew, a pair of spectacles appeared, and strangers began calling him Santa — he realized that spreading joy, hope, and holiday cheer gave him something medicine alone never could. This spring, Rob is taking that calling one step further by enrolling in Santa Claus School to become fully certified. In this heartfelt conversation, Rob opens up about: Living with the physical and emotional weight of PAD Recovering from major vascular disease and intervention How purpose and joy can help quiet the

Travel should be memorable for the right reasons — not stressful health surprises. In this upcoming episode of The Heart of Innovation, cohosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips dive into why planning ahead is critical when you're traveling with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), cardiovascular disease, mobility challenges, or strict dietary needs.

This week on The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips sit down for a powerful, patient-driven holiday special—one that reveals what people living with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) truly wish for this season. PAD is more common than prostate, breast, and colon cancer combined, yet still misunderstood. Our in-studio audience opened up about the physical and emotional toll of this disease—leg pain, cramps, burning, neuropathy, and wounds that won't heal—and the everyday battles most people never see. Their holiday wish list was honest, raw, and deeply human: More doctors trained in advanced limb-saving tools and techniques Fewer preventable amputations related to PAD and diabetes A world where fewer people smoke or vape, as nicotine and cannabis use fuel earlier, more aggressive PAD And a collective wish for patients themselves to enter the new year committed to realistic goals, healthier habits, and becoming active partners in their own care This conversation is heartfelt