What Is the Inova Congenital Heart Program?

Doctor points to ultrasound image.

Unique program in region helps both adults and children A congenital heart defect, also known as congenital heart disease (CHD), occurs when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don’t develop normally before birth. While CHD is often diagnosed in infancy, some defects are harder to detect than others and may not be diagnosed…

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How Cardiovascular Genetic Testing Makes a Difference

mom, dad and son holding a family photo

Inova helps one family manage gene-influenced heart disease For decades, Stephen Aldo, now 62, was diagnosed with an “insignificant” heart murmur — nothing serious enough to affect his career with the United States Marine Corps. However, while stationed in Japan in 1984, a routine physical uncovered a disease that ultimately ended his military career. Stephen…

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Crucial Help for Victims of Sexual Assault   

The FACT program helps sexual assault victims.

Philanthropy drives pivotal FACT program at Inova When a person has been a victim of physical and sexual assault, they are at their most vulnerable. They may struggle with being able to inform others or share details of their story, much less offer forensic evidence of the crime. Thankfully, the Inova Ewing Forensic Assessment and…

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What is Pulmonary Hypertension? Learn the Facts to Breathe Easy

Oksana A. Shlobin, MD, is a member of Inova Medical Group board-certified in pulmonary disease. She is the director of education for the Inova Advanced Lung Disease and Transplant Program and director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Inova Fairfax Hospital.   Many people know that high blood pressure is cause for concern. But most people are not aware that…

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A Milestone for Double-Lung Transplant Patient

Colleen Adamson survives and thrives 20 years after lifesaving operation On the day Colleen Adamson was listed for a lung transplant by her Inova Fairfax Medical Campus doctors, they asked her if she was ready for the major operation. “Absolutely. I can’t breathe,” she told them. “I can’t wait.” Little did anyone know on July…

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Inova Children’s Heart Program Provides Specialized Care

Tiny Heartbeats: Lucas Collazo, MD, and Mitchell Cohen, MD, lead program that monitors congenital heart disease Lucas Collazo, MD, congenital cardiac surgeon, and Mitchell Cohen, MD,  pediatric and adult congenital electrophysiologist, serve on the highly regarded Inova Schar Heart and Vascular (ISHV)  team. In October 2017 they partnered to co-direct the Inova Children’s Heart Program,…

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Thirty Years of Cardiac Support

Mended Hearts celebrates anniversary at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus In September, the local chapter of Mended Hearts celebrated 30 years of supporting the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus (IFMC) community. Mended Hearts, a national organization and the largest peer-to-peer cardiac support network in the world, brings volunteers who have already had heart surgery into the rooms of…

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Why Do Physicians Watch Cholesterol So Closely?

Q&A with Lama Alsamara, MD, who specializes in internal medicine at Inova Medical Group – Falls Church I closely watch cholesterol because it’s the No. 1 risk factor for heart disease and stroke. That said, monitoring cholesterol is tricky. To begin with, your body needs some cholesterol. In addition, there are two main types of…

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Pain Relief: Nerve Blocks During Surgery Help Patients Feel Better Faster

Bimal P. Gandhi, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He serves as the Medical Director of Regional Anesthesia Services at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. Recovering from surgery can be a painful process. Prescription opioid medications can help patients manage post-surgical pain, but they have a well-publicized dark side: The United States is…

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Inova Reduces Opioid Prescribing in the ED

Martin Brown, MD, is board certified in Emergency Medicine and he serves as the Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Inova Alexandria Hospital. Dr. Brown has served on the Inova System Opioid Task Force and on the Alexandria City Opioid Work Group. Since 2015, Dr. Brown and the Inova Alexandria Hospital Emergency Department…

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