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The heart of innovation

October 27, 2012

Ohio State is at the forefront of heart care, with cardiac specialists working side by side with researchers across campus to uncover the secrets of heart disease.

Every minute, one person in the United States will die from a heart disease-related event.

That's why some of Ohio State's best and brightest minds are dedicated to preventing and treating heart disease. They're studying diagnosis and early detection, while pioneering new treatment options and preventing heart disease altogether--possible on a campus that houses the nationally ranked Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital and the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, a state-of-the-art lab.

Working together, Ohio State researchers and physicians have developed dozens of cutting-edge clinical trials and treatment options. Scientists are developing life-saving technologies used around the world, from minimally invasive surgery to new transplant options; doctors are pioneering personalized health care, focused on individual patients rather than diseases.

The result? Ohio State is in the nation's top 100 hospitals for heart attack outcomes. That's evidence that, whether in a lab or at the Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State is at the pulse of innovation in comprehensive heart care.

Predicting: Connor Senn, an Ohio State soccer walk-on, collapsed during a match in 2001 after suffering from a heart defect that was, at the time, undetectable. Ohio State researchers are working to change that--and honor Senn--with an in-depth look into the causes of sudden cardiac arrest in athletes. (Find out about the scholarship created in Senn's honor.)

Preventing: What if you could prevent heart disease? Ohio State is treating patients before they get sick--both through lifestyle changes and identifying high-risk genetic markers. Case in point: Ohio resident Matt Park, who came to Ohio State when he was worried about his daughters' health.

Treating: Ohio State heart experts are on the forefront of innovative procedures, from replacing heart valves using a catheter instead of open-heart surgery to using a new device to treat irregular heartbeat. The techniques are constantly changing, but the goal remains the same: a better chance at patient survival, and a better quality of life during and after treatment.