This week Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips and Emmy Award-winning journalist Kym McNicholas talk about how physicians stay on the cutting-edge of treatment, especially with one of the most debilitating diseases most have never heard of yet impacts 3 in 5 heart attack sufferers and 1 in 5 over age 60, known as peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.) (plaque build-up in the leg arteries). Kym is LIVE from a conference in Italy for this broadcast where she talks to some of the most advanced physicians in the world who treat P.A.D. 

This week Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips and Emmy Award-winning journalist Kym McNicholas talk about how physicians stay on the cutting-edge of treatment, especially with one of the most debilitating diseases most have never heard of yet impacts 3 in 5 heart attack sufferers and 1 in 5 over age 60, known as peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.) (plaque build-up in the leg arteries). Kym is LIVE from a conference in Italy for this broadcast where she talks to some of the most advanced physicians in the world who treat P.A.D.

All of us have the power to create change. The advances in technology are now such that if you have an idea, it’s easier than ever to execute on it. “Kym McNicholas On Innovation” shares the journeys of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors from around the world who will inspire you to create your own financial independence. The show also features some of the most advanced technologies you’ve never heard of that could be have an impact on your life, your business, and your career. 

Regular featured segments include “The Edge” which highlights businesses that are game-changing in the enterprise. Plus, each week in “HealthTech”, you’ll hear about a company that’s creating better, safer, faster, and cheaper technologies that will improve patient care and lower costs. And in our “Female Seeking Startup” series hear the success stories of some of the most powerful women who are creating game-changing technologies.

Produced and Published by The Innovators Network (http://TheInnovators.Network)

The Heart of Innovation with Kym McNicholas

The Heart of Innovation is 60 minutes with life and limb saving potential. Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Patient Navigator Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips discuss new exciting ideas and innovation in healthcare. They tackle some of the greatest barriers to timely, effective patient care and discuss solutions with physicians, clinicians, policy makers, and most importantly, patients.

The Heart of Innovation is 60 minutes with life and limb saving potential. Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Patient Navigator Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips discuss new exciting ideas and innovation in healthcare. They tackle some of the greatest barriers to timely, effective patient care and discuss solutions with physicians, clinicians, policy makers, and most importantly, patients.

The Heart of Innovation

How Doctors Stay On The Cutting-Edge

It is my honor to recognize Dr. Jonathan Myers, PhD and the PREPARE-IT research team with the 2026 Best Walking Initiative of the Year Award through the patient-nominated Global PAD Impact Awards.

Dr. Myers, Director of Cardiopulmonary Research at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Clinical Professor at Stanford University, is the principal investigator of PREPARE-IT: Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation in PAD, a randomized trial studying exercise therapy and cardiovascular risk management in patients with symptomatic PAD undergoing femoral-popliteal stenting. (PubMed)

And I love the question this research is asking.

PREPARE-IT plans to study 300 patients with symptomatic claudication and compare three approaches: a six-week exercise and risk-management program before their procedure, rehabilitation after their procedure, or a combination of both before and after. Researchers will look at outcomes including time to claudication symptoms, six-minute walk performance, exercise capacity, strength, vascular function, biomarkers and quality of life. (PubMed)

Think about what that could mean for PAD care.

We spend tremendous time and resources restoring blood flow. But opening an artery doesn't automatically restore someone's strength, endurance, confidence or ability to walk.

What happens if we begin preparing the patient before we ever open the artery?

And what happens if we don't stop when the procedure is over?

That's the bigger conversation I want to have with Dr. Myers.

We'll talk about why walking remains such a powerful therapy for PAD, why structured exercise continues to be underused, what decades of exercise research have taught us about intermittent claudication, and whether prehabilitation + revascularization + rehabilitation could eventually change the way we think about the entire PAD treatment journey.

PREPARE-IT is also particularly meaningful to us because patients and patient advocates are involved alongside clinicians, caregivers, payers and health-system leaders in the research. (PCORI)

Because ultimately, success shouldn't simply be:

Did we open the artery?

It should also be:

Can the patient walk farther? Can they function better? Can they get back to living their life?

That's why Dr. Jonathan Myers and PREPARE-IT are receiving our 2026 Best Walking Initiative of the Year Award.

The purpose of the Global PAD Impact Awards is simple: to celebrate excellence, elevate education, and help patients everywhere find hope through knowledge.

FOLLOW US!

Subscribe to our channel: YouTube.com/@thewaytomyheart

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Want to join our live studio audience?

Email: info@padhelp.org for the link.

THE LEG SAVER HOTLINE

Need help understanding your PAD diagnosis, finding a PAD specialist, discussing another opinion, or joining our FREE PAD Walking Program?

Call 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347)

THE PAD RESOURCE HUB

Official Website: PADhelp.org Find PAD Clinical Trials: PADtrials.org Private PAD Support Community: PADsupportgroup.org Join The Great Circulation Challenge 

During PAD Awareness Month, we're challenging patients, physicians, healthcare professionals, families and friends around the world to help us collectively walk the 60,000 miles of the human circulatory system while learning how movement supports vascular health.

TheGreatCirculationChallenge.org Disclaimer 

The Global PAD Impact Awards are based on patient nominations and experiences shared with the Global PAD Association. The awards recognize contributions to PAD care and are not an endorsement of any physician, healthcare organization, product, device, treatment or therapy.

Exercise recommendations are individualized. People with PAD should talk with their healthcare team about what type and intensity of exercise are appropriate for their medical condition.

Topics covered: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), intermittent claudication, walking for PAD, walking as medicine, supervised exercise therapy, PAD exercise, prehabilitation, rehabilitation, peripheral artery stenting, PREPARE-IT trial, Jonathan Myers PhD, six-minute walk test, PAD research, vascular rehabilitation, Global PAD Impact Awards.

#PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #WalkingAsMedicine #JonathanMyers #PREPAREIT #IntermittentClaudication #PADWalking #SupervisedExerciseTherapy #VascularRehabilitation #PADResearch #GlobalPADImpactAwards

It is my honor to recognize Dr. Jonathan Myers, PhD and the PREPARE-IT research team with the 2026 Best Walking Initiative of the Year Award through the patient-nominated Global PAD Impact Awards. Dr. Myers, Director of Cardiopulmonary Research at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Clinical Professor at Stanford University, is the principal investigator of PREPARE-IT: Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation in PAD, a randomized trial studying exercise therapy and cardiovascular risk management in patients with symptomatic PAD undergoing femoral-popliteal stenting. (<a title="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F40527394%2F%3Futm_source%3Dchatgpt.com&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1788925200000000&usg=AOvVaw2iOabWwWTuo-l2bPd-guVm" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F40527394%2F%3Futm_source%3Dchatgpt.com&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1788925200000000&usg=AOvVaw2iOabWwWTuo-l2bPd-guVm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">PubMed</a>) And I love the question this research is asking. PREPARE-IT plans to study 300 patients with symptomatic claudication and compare three approaches: a six-week exercise and risk-management program before their procedure, rehabilitation after their procedure, or a combination of both before and after. Researchers will look at outcomes including time to claudication symptoms, six-minute walk performance, exercise capacity, strength, vascular function, biomarkers and quality of life. (<a title="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F40527394%2F%3Futm_source%3Dchatgpt.com&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1788925200000000&usg=AOvVaw2iOabWwWTuo-l2bPd-guVm" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F40527394%2F%3Futm_source%3Dchatgpt.com&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1788925200000000&usg=AOvVaw2iOabWwWTuo-l2bPd-guVm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">PubMed</a>) Think about what that could mean for PAD care. We spend tremendous time and resources restoring blood flow. But opening an artery doesn't automatically restore someone's strength, endurance, confidence or ability to walk. What happens if we begin preparing the patient before we ever open the artery? And what happens if we don't stop when the procedure is over? That's the bigger conversation I want to have with Dr. Myers. We'll talk about why walking remains such a powerful therapy for PAD, why structured exercise continues to be underused, what decades of exercise research have taught us about intermittent claudication, and whether prehabilitation + revascularization + rehabilitation could eventually change the way we think about the entire PAD treatment journey. PREPARE-IT is also particularly meaningful to us because patients and patient advocates are involved alongside clinicians, caregivers, payers and health-system leaders in the research. (<a title="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcori.org%2Fresearch-results%2F2023%2Fcomparing-effectiveness-exercise-therapy-and-lifestyle-change-interventions-among-patients-peripheral-artery-disease%3Futm_source%3Dchatgpt.com&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1788925200000000&usg=AOvVaw0bVtLLgFSjMswOCPwwavzb" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcori.org%2Fresearch-results%2F2023%2Fcomparing-effectiveness-exercise-therapy-and-lifestyle-change-interventions-among-patients-peripheral-artery-disease%3Futm_source%3Dchatgpt.com&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1788925200000000&usg=AOvVaw0bVtLLgFSjMswOCPwwavzb" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">PCORI</a>) Because ultimately, success shouldn't simply be: Did we open the artery? It should also be: Can the patient walk farther? Can they function better? Can they get back to living their life? That's why Dr. Jonathan Myers and PREPARE-IT are receiving our 2026 Best Walking Initiative of the Year Award. The purpose of the Global PAD Impact Awards is simple: to celebrate excellence, elevate education, and help patients everywhere find hope through knowledge. FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our channel: YouTube.com/@thewaytomyheart JOIN THE CONVERSATION Want to join our live studio audience? Email: <a title="mailto:info@padhelp.org" href="mailto:info@padhelp.org" data-linkindex="5">info@padhelp.org</a> for the link. THE LEG SAVER HOTLINE Need help understanding your PAD diagnosis, finding a PAD specialist, discussing another opinion, or joining our FREE PAD Walking Program? Call 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347) THE PAD RESOURCE HUB Official Website: PADhelp.org Find PAD Clinical Trials: PADtrials.org Private PAD Support Community: PADsupportgroup.org Join The Great Circulation Challenge During PAD Awareness Month, we're challenging patients, physicians, healthcare professionals, families and friends around the world to help us collectively walk the 60,000 miles of the human circulatory system while learning how movement supports vascular health. TheGreatCirculationChallenge.org Disclaimer The Global PAD Impact Awards are based on patient nominations and experiences shared with the Global PAD Association. The awards recognize contributions to PAD care and are not an endorsement of any physician, healthcare organization, product, device, treatment or therapy. Exercise recommendations are individualized. People with PAD should talk with their healthcare team about what type and intensity of exercise are appropriate for their medical condition. Topics covered: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), intermittent claudication, walking for PAD, walking as medicine, supervised exercise therapy, PAD exercise, prehabilitation, rehabilitation, peripheral artery stenting, PREPARE-IT trial, Jonathan Myers PhD, six-minute walk test, PAD research, vascular rehabilitation, Global PAD Impact Awards. #PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #WalkingAsMedicine #JonathanMyers #PREPAREIT #IntermittentClaudication #PADWalking #SupervisedExerciseTherapy #VascularRehabilitation #PADResearch #GlobalPADImpactAwards

PAD Walking Before AND After a Stent? | Dr. Jonathan Myers & PREPARE-IT

New minimally invasive treatments for arthritis and chronic joint pain are giving some patients options beyond medications, injections and more invasive surgery. Vascular surgeon Dr. Daniel Nathanson explains Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE), MSK embolization and how image-guided vascular techniques are being used to target inflammation and pain.

Dr. John Phillips and I welcome Dr. Daniel Nathanson of the San Francisco Vein & Vascular Institute in San Francisco, California, for a fascinating look at how tools traditionally associated with vascular intervention are expanding into the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.

Dr. Nathanson is a board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive, image-guided treatments. His work includes Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) for knee osteoarthritis as well as musculoskeletal or MSK embolization for chronic pain involving areas such as the shoulder, hip and other joints.

So how does embolization help arthritis pain?

Rather than replacing a joint, these procedures use a tiny catheter to reach abnormal blood vessels associated with inflammation. The goal is to reduce that inflammatory blood flow and, in appropriately selected patients, reduce pain and improve function. For knee osteoarthritis, GAE is being explored as a minimally invasive option for patients who continue to have pain despite conservative treatment and are looking for alternatives to knee replacement.

We also explore how this concept is moving beyond the knee. Dr. Nathanson discusses emerging applications of MSK embolization for chronic joint and tendon pain involving the shoulder, hand and wrist, hip, knee, Achilles tendon, plantar fascia and more.

If you are dealing with osteoarthritis, chronic knee pain or persistent joint pain, this conversation will help you understand where these newer minimally invasive treatments may fit, who may be a candidate, and why vascular specialists are becoming part of a rapidly evolving area of arthritis care.

Learn more about Dr. Daniel Nathanson and San Francisco Vein & Vascular Institute: San Francisco, California Search: San Francisco Vein & Vascular Institute / Dr. Daniel Nathanson

Need help with Peripheral Artery Disease or another opinion before an amputation? Call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS

Find PAD clinical trials and research opportunities: PADTrials.org

Join The Great Circulation Challenge Help us walk the 60,000 miles of the human circulatory system together. SIGN UP: www.TheGreatCirculationChallenge.org

Subscribe to @TheWayToMyHeart for more conversations on new treatments, vascular disease, circulation, PAD, limb salvage and medical innovation.

Please LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE. If you know someone living with arthritis or chronic joint pain who is looking for treatment options, send them this conversation.

#Arthritis #Osteoarthritis #KneePain #GenicularArteryEmbolization #GAE #MSKEmbolization #ArthritisTreatment #JointPain #MinimallyInvasive #KneeArthritis #ChronicPain #VascularSurgery #DrDanielNathanson #MedicalInnovation

New minimally invasive treatments for arthritis and chronic joint pain are giving some patients options beyond medications, injections and more invasive surgery. Vascular surgeon Dr. Daniel Nathanson explains Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE), MSK embolization and how image-guided vascular techniques are being used to target inflammation and pain. Dr. John Phillips and I welcome Dr. Daniel Nathanson of the San Francisco Vein & Vascular Institute in San Francisco, California, for a fascinating look at how tools traditionally associated with vascular intervention are expanding into the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Dr. Nathanson is a board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive, image-guided treatments. His work includes Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) for knee osteoarthritis as well as musculoskeletal or MSK embolization for chronic pain involving areas such as the shoulder, hip and other joints. So how does embolization help arthritis pain? Rather than replacing a joint, these procedures use a tiny catheter to reach abnormal blood vessels associated with inflammation. The goal is to reduce that inflammatory blood flow and, in appropriately selected patients, reduce pain and improve function. For knee osteoarthritis, GAE is being explored as a minimally invasive option for patients who continue to have pain despite conservative treatment and are looking for alternatives to knee replacement. We also explore how this concept is moving beyond the knee. Dr. Nathanson discusses emerging applications of MSK embolization for chronic joint and tendon pain involving the shoulder, hand and wrist, hip, knee, Achilles tendon, plantar fascia and more. If you are dealing with osteoarthritis, chronic knee pain or persistent joint pain, this conversation will help you understand where these newer minimally invasive treatments may fit, who may be a candidate, and why vascular specialists are becoming part of a rapidly evolving area of arthritis care. Learn more about Dr. Daniel Nathanson and San Francisco Vein & Vascular Institute: San Francisco, California Search: San Francisco Vein & Vascular Institute / Dr. Daniel Nathanson Need help with Peripheral Artery Disease or another opinion before an amputation? Call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS Find PAD clinical trials and research opportunities: PADTrials.org Join The Great Circulation Challenge Help us walk the 60,000 miles of the human circulatory system together. SIGN UP: <a>www.TheGreatCirculationChallenge.org</a> Subscribe to @TheWayToMyHeart for more conversations on new treatments, vascular disease, circulation, PAD, limb salvage and medical innovation. Please LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE. If you know someone living with arthritis or chronic joint pain who is looking for treatment options, send them this conversation. #Arthritis #Osteoarthritis #KneePain #GenicularArteryEmbolization #GAE #MSKEmbolization #ArthritisTreatment #JointPain #MinimallyInvasive #KneeArthritis #ChronicPain #VascularSurgery #DrDanielNathanson #MedicalInnovation

Treating Arthritis With Embolization From Your Shoulders To Your Feet

What does it take to heal a wound when poor blood flow is working against you?

Dr. Robert McLafferty has spent his career as a vascular surgeon working to save life and limb. But there's another side to him that we first introduced you to several months ago: he's also a songwriter and musician.

Now both worlds are coming together.

Dr. McLafferty is back on The Heart of Innovation as he prepares for Modern Wound Care Management (MWCM) in Washington, an interdisciplinary conference bringing wound care experts together to discuss real-world cases, treatment strategies and ways to improve outcomes for patients with difficult-to-heal wounds.

He'll be joined by other speakers from the conference as we talk about what's changing in wound care and some of the latest strategies being used to help wounds heal.

This conversation is especially important for people living with advanced peripheral artery disease known as chronic limb-threatening ischemia, or CLTI.

When a patient with severely reduced blood flow develops a wound on the foot or leg, healing can become incredibly difficult. These are the patients at greatest risk for infection, tissue loss and amputation, and wound care cannot be separated from the underlying circulation problem.

We'll talk about:

• What's new in treating complex wounds • Why some wounds simply won't heal • The connection between blood flow and wound healing • What patients with PAD and CLTI need to understand about their wounds • The importance of interdisciplinary care in preventing amputations • Real-world cases and treatment strategies being discussed at MWCM • What patients and caregivers should be asking when a wound isn't getting better

And then we're changing gears.

Dr. McLafferty has officially released his first album!

When we last talked with him, music was the passion he pursued outside the operating room. Now he's taken that passion all the way to releasing an album while continuing his work to save life and limb.

We're going to hear how it happened, what inspired the music and what it feels like to finally put something so personal out into the world.

Saving limbs and making music. I can't think of many people who can say they're doing both.

If you or someone you love has PAD and a wound that isn't healing, rest pain, gangrene, or you've been told amputation may be necessary, call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline:

1-833-PAD-LEGS

We can help you understand your options, prepare questions for your doctors and identify resources for another evaluation when appropriate.

Subscribe to @TheWayToMyHeart for more conversations with physicians, innovators and patients working to change the course of peripheral artery disease and prevent unnecessary amputations.

The Heart of Innovation is hosted by Kym McNicholas.

This program is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Wound treatment and revascularization decisions depend on the individual patient and should be discussed with the treating medical team.

#WoundCare #PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #CLTI #LimbSalvage #AmputationPrevention #VascularSurgery #ChronicWounds #WoundHealing #TheHeartOfInnovation

What does it take to heal a wound when poor blood flow is working against you? Dr. Robert McLafferty has spent his career as a vascular surgeon working to save life and limb. But there's another side to him that we first introduced you to several months ago: he's also a songwriter and musician. Now both worlds are coming together. Dr. McLafferty is back on The Heart of Innovation as he prepares for Modern Wound Care Management (MWCM) in Washington, an interdisciplinary conference bringing wound care experts together to discuss real-world cases, treatment strategies and ways to improve outcomes for patients with difficult-to-heal wounds. He'll be joined by other speakers from the conference as we talk about what's changing in wound care and some of the latest strategies being used to help wounds heal. This conversation is especially important for people living with advanced peripheral artery disease known as chronic limb-threatening ischemia, or CLTI. When a patient with severely reduced blood flow develops a wound on the foot or leg, healing can become incredibly difficult. These are the patients at greatest risk for infection, tissue loss and amputation, and wound care cannot be separated from the underlying circulation problem. We'll talk about: • What's new in treating complex wounds • Why some wounds simply won't heal • The connection between blood flow and wound healing • What patients with PAD and CLTI need to understand about their wounds • The importance of interdisciplinary care in preventing amputations • Real-world cases and treatment strategies being discussed at MWCM • What patients and caregivers should be asking when a wound isn't getting better And then we're changing gears. Dr. McLafferty has officially released his first album! When we last talked with him, music was the passion he pursued outside the operating room. Now he's taken that passion all the way to releasing an album while continuing his work to save life and limb. We're going to hear how it happened, what inspired the music and what it feels like to finally put something so personal out into the world. Saving limbs and making music. I can't think of many people who can say they're doing both. If you or someone you love has PAD and a wound that isn't healing, rest pain, gangrene, or you've been told amputation may be necessary, call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS We can help you understand your options, prepare questions for your doctors and identify resources for another evaluation when appropriate. Subscribe to @TheWayToMyHeart for more conversations with physicians, innovators and patients working to change the course of peripheral artery disease and prevent unnecessary amputations. The Heart of Innovation is hosted by Kym McNicholas. This program is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Wound treatment and revascularization decisions depend on the individual patient and should be discussed with the treating medical team. #WoundCare #PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #CLTI #LimbSalvage #AmputationPrevention #VascularSurgery #ChronicWounds #WoundHealing #TheHeartOfInnovation

How Doctors Stay On The Cutting-Edge

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