Team Of Top US Cardiac Specialists To Perform Critical Operations On Children In China

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 16 May 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Heart disease is the world's most common birth defect, affecting one in every 100 children. Without treatment, one third of these children die before their first birthday. In developed countries, children are typically diagnosed and treated at birth. Children's HeartLink, an international medical nonprofit, is reaching out and helping build sustainable pediatric cardiac programs in the underserved regions of the world, to help more children have the same opportunity. May 17 - 24, Children's HeartLink will be sending a team of volunteers from New York hospitals on a cardiac medical mission to Changchun, China, to provide advanced training and participate in lifesaving operations on needy children.

Last September at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, the Bracco/Children's HeartLink Initiative was recognized as it announced the commitment's estimated total value of $1,000,000. The partnership will provide life-saving training, equipment and direct patient funding to Jilin Heart Hospital, in Changchun, Jilin Province, China -- reaching more than 12,000 children in the next 3 years.

"The commitment from Bracco, combined with Children's HeartLink and medical volunteers from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and other New York hospitals, will assist in the development of a sustainable cardiac program for children in Jilin Province, one of the poorest regions in China. This Initiative, launched with President Clinton's encouragement, reflects Bracco's spirit and corporate culture," said Fulvio Renoldi Bracco, Bracco AMT's Chairman and CEO.

The project will involve the training of medical personnel at the Jilin Hospital in China. The Bracco/Children's HeartLink Initiative will reach an estimated 4,000 children a year with emphasis on improving the quality of care. "In China, congenital heart disease is the primary cause of death of infants. This Initiative has the ability to impact thousands of lives" Elizabeth Bickel, President of Children's HeartLink, added. All assistance, whether in the diagnosis and treatment of patients or improvement of support services, is carried out with the intent of transferring skills while participating in the treatment of children.

"We hope to establish lasting professional relationships with the local team at Jilin Hospital through Children's HeartLink, offering observations and recommendations to improve pediatric cardiac services in the region," said the mission's medical leader, Dr. Jonathan Chen, M.D., chief of pediatric cardiac surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.

About Children HeartLink

Children's HeartLink is an international medical non profit, building sustainable programs to prevent, treat and cure heart disease among needy children in developing countries by mobilizing extraordinary hearts, minds and resources around the world. For nearly 40 years, Children's HeartLink has worked in more than 40 countries providing $58 million, providing treatment, education and training for medical professionals, technical assistance, rheumatic fever prevention programs, and donated equipment and supplies. Children's HeartLink currently works with hospitals in Kenya, India, China, Costa Rica, Ukraine, Vietnam, Malaysia, Ecuador and South Africa. Children's HeartLink has been involved in helping Chinese children since 2000. Currently, Children's HeartLink works in partnership with three other sites in China: the 1st Hospital of Lanzou University, West China Hospitals of Sichuan University 1 & 2, and the Shanghai Children's Medical Center.

About Bracco Group

Founded in 1927, the Bracco Group is today a worldwide integrated Healthcare Group, one of the world leading companies in the imaging agent business, with annual turnover of more than 900 million Euro -- around 60% of which is from foreign sales. Bracco SpA, holding company of the Bracco Group, also markets ethical and OTC pharmaceutical products and healthcare services in Italy, as well as Advanced Medical Technology systems on a world wide basis through the Bracco AMT companies, ACIST Medical Systems, based in Minneapolis, and Volume Interactions of Singapore. Bracco is present in approximately 80 countries both directly and through joint-ventures or affiliates, and currently employs more than 2,300 people worldwide, over 300 of which are dedicated to R&D, Medical and Regulatory Affairs.

Team list

-- Jonathan M. Chen, M.D., pediatric cardiac surgeon at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and the Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell

-- Johanna Schwarzenberger, M.D., pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist at Morgan Stanley Children's HospitalRalph Slepian, M.D., pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist at the Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center

-- Mike Ushay, M.D., pediatric intensivist , Montefiore Medical Center

-- Alejandro Torres, M.D. pediatric interventional cardiologist at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

-- Patrick Flynn, M.D., pediatric echo cardiologist at the Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill CornellTom Beaulieu, CCP, pediatric perfusionist, St. Michael's Medical Center

-- Jillian Kirkpatrick, R.N., pediatric ICU nurse at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian

-- Erin Driscoll, R.N., pediatric cath lab nurse at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

Children HeartLink