Huntington Hospital’s Alex Durairaj, MD, medical director of cardiovascular services, was recently featured in the February issue of Business Life Magazine.
In the article, entitled “Healthy Hearts,” Dr. Durairaj shares that Huntington Hospital provides over 2,000 catheterizations and electrophysiology procedures, and 42,000 non-invasive cardiac diagnostic procedures each year.
Click here to read the full article in Business Life Magazine
In February, Girl Scout Troop 781 from Polytechnic School in Pasadena visited our hospital, bearing snacks, treats and hand-made cards to show appreciation for our nurses. The visit was part of their Silver Award project, entitled “Thank a Nurse.” The girls, Aleena Bhatti, Ellie Fay and Maya Kenny – who are all 8th graders – toured 6 West, critical care unit and the emergency department with carts full of goodies.
“These girls are so generous,” said Lorraine Nagano, RN, 6 West. “At the end of a long shift, it was such a nice surprise to see their carts and have a break.”
Prior to visiting the hospital, the girls spoke to over 180 elementary school students about the importance of nursing. They collected almost 300 thank-you notes, bringing a deeper appreciation and awareness of all thewonderful ways that nurses help patients.
Huntington Hospital has collaborated with the American Heart Association (AHA) to provide every baby born at the hospital this month with a red onesie and hat as a symbol of heart health and encouragement for a healthy future. These special hats were knitted and crocheted by volunteers from around the Los Angeles area through AHA’s program, Little Hats, Big Hearts™, empowering moms to live heart healthy lives and to help their children do the same.
Huntington Hospital is grateful for these volunteers, such as students from the crochet club at St. Philip the Apostle School in Pasadena for hand-making some of the hats that were donated to the hospital.
Thank you to Union Bank for sponsoring the Little Hats, Big Hearts™ program. For heart healthy tips, please visit: http://www.heart.org/
As a young, lively working mom of three, Tina Gocke always considered herself a healthy person. Yes, she had occasional migraines and fatigue, but she chalked those symptoms up to a busy life.
Tina’s life changed in September 2017, when she was outside playing with her kids. Suddenly she was unable to hold her water bottle – it dropped from her hand, and she began slurring her speech. Tina was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a “mini-stroke”, and was then released to return home and “carry on as usual.”
In the days that followed, Tina made an appointment with her doctor, Elana Sheldon, MD, to get a second opinion. After careful review, Dr. Sheldon referred Tina to Azhil Durairaj, MD, medical director of cardiology at Huntington Hospital.
Dr. Durairaj quickly diagnosed the culprit of Tina’s mini-stroke as an atrial septal defect. Tina had a hole in her heart. She was shocked. “Of all the things I ever feared happening to me, this was not one of them. How could it be that my heart had a defect and I never knew it?”
Tina came to Huntington Hospital in November 2017 for a procedure to correct the flaw in the wall between her heart’s atria. “I’m so thankful for the team at Huntington Hospital,” she says. “Dr. Durairaj made sure I was clear on everything, and all of the nurses were fantastic. They make you feel comfortable with what’s happening; they really care.”
With her heart repaired, Tina now considers her experience as a blessing in disguise. Her migraines have eased and she is feeling an amazing difference in her energy and endurance. “I have three small children and a husband. Not only do I need them, but they need me! I look at life and the importance of heart health differently now that Huntington Hospital gave me a second chance.”
Huntington Hospital, in partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA), is celebrating Heart Month in February. On Friday, February 2, hospital employees, volunteers, physicians and friends gathered at the hospital entrance for National Wear Red Day®, uniting with millions of people across the country to help raise awareness about heart disease in women.
According to the AHA, heart disease is the number 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. But it doesn’t affect all women alike, and the warning signs for women aren’t the same in men.
“With heart disease and stroke, women need to pay particular attention to their heart and brain health,” said Azhil “Alex” Durairaj, MD, FACC, FSCAI, medical director of cardiovascular services, Huntington Hospital. “Every day, I tell my patients to remember these important actions to help prevent heart disease – know your numbers (cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass numbers), and keep it simple – making small changes in your diet and lifestyle can make a big difference in your health.”
Huntington Hospital Heart and Vascular Center provides superior care, and we do it with heart. Find a local cardiologist that is affiliated with the hospital for your heart needs.
For more information about women and heart diseases, visit: Go Red for Women.
The Phil Simon Clinic Tanzania Project team departed for their 11th trip to Africa on Saturday! Kimberly Shriner, MD, director, Phil Simon Clinic, and a team of 60 volunteers will provide clinical care, education, psychosocial support and infrastructure assistance in Arusha, Tanzania.
Since their first trip in 2002, more than 120 of our employees and physicians have made the journey – providing basic health care, medication, HIV and anti-retroviral education, as well as manpower and support to the impoverished region.
The volunteers, who generously donate their time, energy, money and resources to participate, include medical personnel, social workers, microbiologists, kinesiologists, pharmacists, veterinarians and more.
We are so proud of the great work they will do throughout their time there! To learn more about Phil Simon Clinic Tanzania Project and to follow their journey, visit: https://philsimonclinic.org/tanzaniaproject/tanzania-2018/
Or follow them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/The-Phil-Simon-Clinic-Tanzania-Project-141265522590724/
Huntington Hospital announced today the election of two members to its board of directors, effective January 1, 2018. Louise Henry Bryson and Robert Y. Yu have been elected as returning board members.
“The healthcare industry is constantly changing, particularly for nonprofit hospitals,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital. “Louise and Robert have brought valuable guidance and expertise to the Huntington Hospital board in the past, and we are extremely grateful they are returning, as we work together to continue to provide high quality, compassionate care to our community.”
Louise Bryson previously served on the Huntington Hospital board of directors from 2011 to 2016. She is chair emerita of the board of trustees of the J. Paul Getty Trust and a founding board member of Southern California Public Radio. She is currently serving on the boards of American Funds, California Community Foundation, Public Policy Institute of California, and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). She is a trustee emerita of Pomona College and was inducted into the Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2010 and serves on its board. Louise was president of distribution for Lifetime Television and executive vice president and general manager of Lifetime Movie Networks until she retired in 2008.
Louise and her husband, John, have worked closely with Huntington Hospital through the years, including supporting patient assistance funds. Louise and John have four grown children and live in San Marino.
Also returning to the Huntington Hospital board of directors is Robert Y. Yu. Robert previously served on the Huntington Hospital board of directors between 2008-2013. He has served on the building, investment and quality board committees. Currently, Robert is CEO of R.Y. Properties, Inc. a private real estate services and development company. Previously, he was founder of Trust Bank, which merged with East West Bank, where he was a former director.
Robert and his wife, Shirley, have been generous donors of Huntington Hospital, including supporting the emergency room expansion. Robert and Shirley have three daughters and live in Arcadia.
If you or someone you know is experiencing problems with thinking or memory, please join us for the Early Memory Loss Conference, presented in partnership with Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles. The event will be held Saturday, February 17, 2018 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Braun Auditorium, Huntington Hospital, 100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena CA 91105. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided, as well as free parking. General admission is $20, with a limited number of scholarships available; professionals $100, no continuing education credits provided. To register, please call 844.HELP.ALZ (844-435-7259) or go to:
It is the beginning of the year, and what better way to start the year off than by donating blood! Much of the medical care we provide depends on a steady supply of voluntary blood donations, and yet only 3 percent of the eligible donors in California give blood. As the region’s only trauma center, blood donations given at our Blood Donor Center are vital to helping those in need. If there is a blood shortage, our hospital has to purchase blood through the Red Cross. By encouraging our friends and families to donate to our Blood Donor Center, you are helping people right here in our community. You could save a life!
To show her support, our President and CEO, Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, (pictured here with members of the team) recently visited the Blood Donor Center. As a trauma surgeon and intensivist for more than 20 years, Dr. Morgan understands firsthand the importance of blood donations. She is especially unique because she has O Negative blood type. O Negative blood cells are called “universal” meaning they can be transfused to almost any patient in need, which is particularly helpful for those who need blood in emergency situations.
Unfortunately, Dr. Morgan was not able to donate blood during her visit to the Blood Donor Center due to her recent trip to Africa prior to starting her position at Huntington Hospital. For more information about your eligibility to donate or to make an appointment, call the Blood Donor Center today at (626) 397-5422 or visit:https://www.huntingtonhealth.org/support-us/donate-blood/
If one of your 2018 resolutions is for you and your family to become more active, this article can help! L.A. Parent Magazine featured Phyllis Mo, DO, Huntington Health Physicians, in an article on family fitness.
Taking a walk is the best place to start. “There is light cardio and it also provides a little bit of weight-bearing exercise,” says Phyllis Mo, DO, a family medicine physician at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. “You’re supporting your own weight, which is helpful for building muscle and also for bone strengthening.”
To read the great tips, visit: www.laparent.com/family-fitness-making-first-move/
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