UW Medicine Heart Institute

09/19/2024

04/18/2024

Thankful to Andy Dial for sharing his Heart Warrior journey with the world.

We are all proud to see how the expertise of Dr. Chris Burke, co-director of our specialty Thoracic Aortic surgical program, impacts the lives of patients like Andy.

You can more about this program and Dr. Burke here:
https://sites.uw.edu/uwmtap



🎬🎥 - Ryan Miller
Heart Warrior Andy

"Heart Warrior"- Andy Dial -Directed, Produced and edited: Ryan MillerInterviews: Dr. Christopher Burke, Cherie DialUW Medicine: Dr. Christopher BurkeHeartVa...

02/17/2024

Our last, but certainly not least, staff highlight for is Kristina (Kristy) Cosentino an Electrocardiogram (EKG) technician at UW Medicine for over 16 years.

As a tech, she performs EKGs and place heart monitors for inpatients. She performs EKGs for outpatients (walk-in patients) EKGs are a quick, painless, non-invasive way to give providers information about the electrical activity in the heart rhythm and other heart conditions. There are many reasons why EKGs are an important part of a patient's overall care. Here are just a just a few of the reasons: EKGs can detect an ST elevation myocardial infarction that needs, irregular heart rhythms that could make a patient more prone to have a stroke, irregular heart rhythms that are too fast or too slow, heart blocks, pre-operative workup (pre-anesthesia), monitor heart when on certain medications, EKGs are important to check heart when someone complains of symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, syncope, confusion, unexplained weakness/fatigue to see if those symptoms can be explained by checking heart rate and rhythm, etc. Quickly knowing about and treating a patient for a myocardial infarction is extremely important to stop further heart damage.

"I've always been interested in learning about healthcare, the human body & nutrition. I love people and so a healthcare job seemed like a good fit for me.

She loves seeing people get better and have good outcomes, working with the staff throughout the hospital who are talented, dedicated, kind and the staff with the funny sense of humor who make me laugh.

She finds most satisfaction when I am successful in figuring out the best way to help or how I should behave with a patient / family member who is sad, angry, etc. and of course when I get perfect quality EKGs.

Kristy is an essential member of our team like all of our cardiovascular professionals. This week is in honor of you all!

02/16/2024

Scott Ham is a Staff Cardiac Sonographer UWMC-Northwest who perform formal echocardiograms on adults. This is an ultrasound exam that can help healthcare providers diagnose various forms of heart disease.

Scott has 21 years of experience in the field of Echocardiography and we are lucky to have his help at UW-NW for just under 2 years.

"I chose to be in this role because it is a perfect blend of medicine, science, and public service. I also wanted to work with innovative technology. I enjoy most about this position are the technical challenges of actually performing the exam. Also, I enjoy face to face patient care. Lastly, I really enjoy working with the great group of sonographers at UWMC-Northwest. I have a lot of respect and appreciation for my coworkers!"

Thank you Scott and our sonographers across .

02/16/2024

Laura Bone is Cardiac Sonographer at UW Medicine's Montlake Campus.

Cardiac sonographers use ultrasound to assess the overall health of the heart. They are able to give the cardiology team a look at the heart’s structures and function without using invasive procedures or harmful radiation.

Laura has been a sonographer for 3.5 years and grew up in a medical household. She knew that healthcare would be a great fit for her. Laura chose ultrasound due to the direct involvement in patient care and work/life balance that it provides.

"I love working in an imaging modality that allows patients to watch their heart in real time. The attention to detail and problem solving that is required for echo makes every day an opportunity to learn and grow in this field."

Thank you to Laura an all our Sonographers today on

02/15/2024

Maheli Pena is an Echocardiogram (EKG) Technician on our team at Harborview Medical Center. She joined the HMC EKG lab full time a year ago to expand her EKG knowledge and thrives during patient interactions to apply heart monitors, perform EKGs and assist with treadmill exercise tests.

Thank you to all our EKGs on !

02/15/2024

Paula Walters is our Lead Nuclear Medicine Technologist at Outpatient Nuclear Cardiology Imaging atUW Medicine's Northwest Campus.

A Nuclear Cardiology Technologist administers small doses of radioactive tracers to image the heart. The most frequently performed test is a myocardial perfusion imaging scan. This non-invasive test shows blood flow to the heart during stress and rest, evaluates the pumping function of the heart as well as visualizes the size and location of a heart attack.

Paula has worked at UWMC-NW for 16 years but is one of our most experienced cardiovascular professional who has been working in imaging as a Radiologic Technologist or Nuclear Medicine Technologist for over 49 years.

"Over my career, I have worked in several local healthcare institutions, and this is my favorite place to work and type of work to do. These tests take 2-3 hours to perform, which gives time to really connect and get to know our patients. I find that very enjoyable and rewarding. Frequently patients are nervous or apprehensive about having a stress test performed on their heart and I really enjoy guiding them through the process. It makes my day when an initially anxious patient gives positive feedback after their test is completed."

Thank you to all our cardiovascular professionals for putting and to Paula for being a leader on our team.

02/14/2024

Today for we are proud to highlight Aleesha Duncan an Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician II on our non-invasive cardiology team at UW Medicine's Montlake Campus.

For the past 24 years as an EKG Technician Aleesha supports our team with stress tests, 's, and scanning cardiac monitoring. The information from the cardiac monitoring analysis helps to provide important information in determining the appropriate care plan for the patient.

Aleesha loves learning about the heart like how the heart functions, different heart rhythms and what they mean. Helping patients is also a foundational "why" for her commitment to this work.

"Patients are so appreciative of you and happy that you are there, it's always a good feeling."

Thank you Aleesha and all our EKG Technicians supporting our patients with an essential non-invasive diagnostic tool.

02/13/2024

Today for we highlight Ashley Bierlink our Lead Advanced Cardiovascular Technologist at our UW Medicine Montlake Cath Lab.

Ashley has 17 years of experience as a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS). Over 13 years of that time has been with UW Medicine + Heart Institute and 6 and a half of those years being the lead where she manage 16 Advanced Cardiovascular Technologists.

Ashley's committed herself to becoming a after her first anatomy and physiology class in college. She was fascinated by the complexity and functionality of the cardiovascular system.

Ashley is a mentor and precept new staff and also coordinate 5 cath labs with patient flow, staffing assignments, and physicians and fellows while in charge. Her role is important in overall patient care by ensuring adequate training of new techs and fellows and direct hands-on prep of devices and valves used and implanted in the cath lab. Ashley chose to be in the lead position because she is passionate about providing the best possible care and holding herself and others to a high standard. Ashley had a wonderful lead who guided her through her first few years out of school at her previous hospital. She was and still is inspired by her ability to be empathetic, caring and understanding and strive to uphold this practice throughout her career.

What Ashey enjoys the most about her role is the immediate satisfaction of helping a patient who is in need of revascularization or a new heart valve. She also enjoys watching the techs who are onboarding develop their technical skills and helping to mentor them continuously through their careers. Lastly, having the ability as a woman to shape the future of cardiology with compassion and leading by example is an honor that will last forever.

Thank you Ashley for your leadership and all of our cardiovascular techs for thier passion for helping patients in the Cath Lab.

02/12/2024

Our first highlight for is Denise Leighton@dleighton00, a Cardiac Sonographer with 24 ½ years of experience at !

As a Cardiac Sonographer she performs cardiac ultrasound exams with both inpatients and outpatients. Denise takes about 100 images per exam, then edits the images, performs measurements and writes up a preliminary report for the Cardiologist.

"I think it is an important part of a patients care because they are able to see their own heart on the screen and I think it makes them feel more connected to the care they are getting. Also, the exams are 30-60 minutes in a dark room which either makes patients fall asleep or tell you about their lives and their problems. What I like best is interacting with our patients, hearing their stories and being a part of their cardiac care."

Denise chose to become a Cardiac Sonographer after graduating from UW Business School and realizing she would be happier in a career where she was doing something for others. Denise went back to school and was thrilled to get a job at HMC because she loves the mission and how we serve the community.

On behalf of thank you for your professionalism and all you do for our patients, Denise!

02/12/2024

This week is celebrating Cardiovascular Professionals Week highlighting Technicians, Cardiac , Nuclear Cardiology Technologists, Cardiovascular Technologists, and Cardiac Monitor Technicians who use their expertise to perform procedures and acquire images that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. We will be highlighting a couple of those professionals throughout the week but thank you to all our heartcare professionals.