Causes: Health, Heart & Circulatory System Diseases & Disorders Research

Mission: The vision of the minneapolis heart institute foundation (mhif) is to create a world without heart and vascular disease.

Programs: Research: mhif had more than 200 research studies underway in 2017, as well as 188 peer-reviewed studies and manuscripts published. And mhif research physicians, staff and interns generated 71 abstracts that were accepted for presentation at national and international scientific meetings. Several of the research studies conducted at mhif in 2017 involved groundbreaking treatment approaches and technologies. Mhif is a research site for the seneca study to research stem cell therapy to repair heart damage in breast cancer survivors. In march, dr. Paul sorajja presented one-year outcomes for the mitraclip system in transcatheter mitral valve replacement (tmvr) patients during a late-breaking featured clinical research session at the american college of cardiology meeting. Mhif is the top enroller in the radiance-htn research study and was featured in a minneapolis kstp 5 news story in april for three siblings that were enrolled by mhif into the study. In august, mhif was the first in the world to enroll a patient into the triluminate study (industry sponsor: abbott) evaluating a new clip-based technology for tricuspid regurgitation (leaking tricuspid heart valves). Specific to the honu program, mhif research staff presented research results at the american heart association epi/lifestyle 2017 scientific sessions showing that, over a six-year period, new ulm adult residents were doing better in controlling their blood pressure, ldl cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides than residents in a comparison minnesota rural community.

education: mhif focuses on professional education to ensure that the research findings from the more than 200 research studies conducted each year with 2,200 participants are effectively translated into practice resulting in improved patient outcomes. In 2017, mhif established a process to promote physician-initiated educational programming resulting in planning for three new events in 2018. Our cardiovascular grand rounds education ensures attendees are well-versed in the latest research outcomes and evidence-based guidelines. Through 32 sessions, mhif provided 2,000 hours of continuing medical education and achieved a greater than 90% participant satisfaction. Mhif's 2017 research intern program was successful. Thirteen interns were selected from 240 candidates to assist mhif research physicians in investigator-initiated research. Interns received more than 100 hours of training over a 12-week intern program. Five of the 2017 interns presented at the american college of cardiology scientific sessions & expo, and three presented at the american heart association scientific sessions. Of the 183 intern alumni, 48 percent are now practicing physicians, 20 percent are in medical school, 14 percent are premed students, 14 percent are in other medical professions, and 4 percent are in non-health or unknown careers. For the ninth year, mhif's hearts beat back: the heart of new ulm project (honu) continued its efforts to reduce heart attacks and increase healthy lifestyles for people who live or work in new ulm, minnesota. Intervening throughout the community simultaneously where residents live, work, learn, play, and seek health care, many of the more than 13,000 residents were touched in some capacity throughout the year by project activities. In 2017, the project continued to implement a number of initiatives designed to help make it easier and safer for people to walk or bicycle in the community. Through the work of the project's community-based action teams, new crosswalk signs were installed at two busy intersections, walk to school days and a bike expo were held, and a safety campaign was launched to help educate drivers on the need to be more alert to people walking and biking and to follow the rules of the road. The league of american bicyclists designated new ulm as a bicycle friendly community at the bronze level in 2017, which recognizes that it provides safe accommodations for bicycling and encourages people to bike for transportation and recreation. The project also continued to promote changes in the food environment to make it easier for people to make healthier food choices; 50 percent of local eating establishments continue to partner with honu on these efforts. Quarterly networking and training events in 2017 inspired wellness leaders at companies throughout new ulm to consider new ways to bring wellness into worksites and make it easier for employees to be well at work. A total of more than 96 people from 35 organizations attended throughout the year.