Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta
Encyclopedia
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta is a partnership between the Calgary Health Region
Calgary Health Region
Calgary Health Region was formerly the governing body for healthcare regulation in an area of the Canadian province of Alberta. It was amalgamated with other regional health authorities in 2008 to become part of Alberta Health Services...

 and the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...

. Its mandate comprises all cardiovascular research, education and service delivery, with a service area extending from Saskatchewan, Southern Alberta and Eastern British Columbia. The Institute coordinates the activities of 1,500 individuals in Southern Alberta. Of its approximately 150 research and clinician members, over 50 are cardiologists
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

, making it the largest heart or cardiovascular institute in Western Canada by that measure.

Individuals affiliated with the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta have provided significant leadership and input to the Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan (CHHS-AP). Institute participation included Eldon Smith
Eldon Smith
Dr. Eldon R. Smith OC, MD, FRCPC is currently the Chair of the Strategic Advisory Board of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta . A cardiologist by training, he has also held numerous positions over his career including Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary and the...

 OC
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...

, MD
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

, FRCPC
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

 who was appointed as Chair of the Steering Committee by the Federal Canadian Minister of Health in 2006, as well as Norman Campbell MD
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

, FRCPC
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...

, also a member of the CHHS-AP Steering Committee.

Research

Research within the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta extends from basic biomedical and clinical research to health outcomes and care delivery research. Notable successes include:
  • A global change in treatment of arrhythmia as a result of trials led by D. George Wyse
    D. George Wyse
    Dr. D. George Wyse MD, FRCPC, PHD is currently the Chair of the International Experts Advisory Committee of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta . Dr. Wyse is a recognized and decorated international expert in the area of Cardiac Arrhythmia...

    .
  • APPROACH database and Heart Alert
  • Innovative STEMI protocol resulting in mean time to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of a commendable 62 minutes
  • Stephenson Cardiovascular MR Centre, ranking first internationally among CMR centres as measured by research impact factor points, and ranking first in North America among CMR centres as measured by volume of patient studies - a recent publication documented for the first time, the imaging of salvaged heart muscle as a result of a post-MI Intervention. To date, a White Paper on myocarditis with lead author Dr. Matthias Friedrich of the Stephenson CMR Centre, is the only White Paper ever published by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology
    American College of Cardiology
    The American College of Cardiology is a nonprofit medical association established in 1949 to advocate for quality cardiovascular care through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence health care policy...

    .
  • Highest 30-day myocardial infarction
    Myocardial infarction
    Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...

     survival rate in Canada according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information

Education

Programs under the jurisdiction of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta include Cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

 and Cardiovascular Surgery, in addition to contributions to other medical programs as well as graduate studies in the sciences.

The LCIA also offers fellowships and/or advanced training in interventional cardiology
Interventional cardiology
Interventional cardiology is a branch of cardiology that deals specifically with the catheter based treatment of structural heart diseases. Andreas Gruentzig is considered the father of interventional cardiology after the development of angioplasty by interventional radiologist, Dr. Charles...

, electrophysiology
Electrophysiology
Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues. It involves measurements of voltage change or electric current on a wide variety of scales from single ion channel proteins to whole organs like the heart...

, heart function and cardiac MRI.

Services

The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta provides the following services:
  • Nursing Units and Diagnostics - Cardiovascular patient services at Calgary area hospitals and private practices.
  • Interventional Cardiology - Catheter based treatments of structural heart disease.
  • The University of Calgary
    University of Calgary
    The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...

    's Department of Cardiac Sciences - Research of the cardiovascular system.
  • Stephenson Cardiovascular MR Centre - Diagnostic facility dedicated exclusively to Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR).

Expansion

To house a growing list of scientists, clinicians, and other members of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta (which already comprises the largest group of cardiologists in the province) several spaces are currently under construction.
  • Health Research Innovation Centre (HRIC) contains a new hub for the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta's basic scientists. The space, co-located on the same campus as the Foothills Medical Centre
    Foothills Medical Centre
    Foothills Medical Centre is the largest hospital in Alberta, Canada and is located in the City of Calgary. It is one of Canada's most recognized medical facilities and is one of the leading hospitals in Alberta, providing advanced healthcare services to over two million people from Calgary,...

    , opened in June of 2009. It is interesting to note that elements of different University of Calgary Institutes occupy the various floors / areas in this building, as to encourage research integration.
  • HRIC Teaching Research & Wellness Building (TRW), opened in Q3 of 2009, houses scientists focused on translational research. Directly connected to the primary area of HRIC, the spaces have been constructed to encourage interaction between basic and clinical researchers.
  • South Health Campus , a $1.5B project currently under construction, will offer a full suite of services relating to cardiovascular health.

Notable Personalities

  • Eldon Smith
    Eldon Smith
    Dr. Eldon R. Smith OC, MD, FRCPC is currently the Chair of the Strategic Advisory Board of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta . A cardiologist by training, he has also held numerous positions over his career including Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary and the...

     OC
    Order of Canada
    The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...

    , MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , FRCPC
    Cardiology
    Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

     - Officer of the Order of Canada
    Order of Canada
    The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...

    , penultimate Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology
    Canadian Cardiovascular Society
    The Canadian Cardiovascular Society is the national voice for cardiovascular physicians and scientists in Canada. The CCS is a membership organization that represents more than 1,800 professionals in the cardiovascular field. Its mission is to promote cardiovascular health and care through...

    , Chair of the steering committee responsible for developing a new Heart Health Strategy to fight heart disease in Canada.
  • L. Brent Mitchell MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , FRCPC
    Cardiology
    Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

     - Director, LCIA, Professor, University of Calgary
  • Jonathan Lytton PHD
    Doctor of Philosophy
    Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

     - Research Director, LCIA, Professor, University of Calgary
  • David Lau MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , PHD
    Doctor of Philosophy
    Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

     - Professor, University of Calgary, President of Obesity Canada and Chair of the Diabetes and Endocrine Research Group
  • Norman Campbell MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , FRCPC
    Internal medicine
    Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...

     - Professor, University of Calgary and Canada Research Chair in Hypertension Prevention and Control
  • Merril Knudtson MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , FRCPC
    Cardiology
    Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

     - Professor, University of Calgary
  • D. George Wyse
    D. George Wyse
    Dr. D. George Wyse MD, FRCPC, PHD is currently the Chair of the International Experts Advisory Committee of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta . Dr. Wyse is a recognized and decorated international expert in the area of Cardiac Arrhythmia...

     MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , FRCPC
    Cardiology
    Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

    , PHD
    Doctor of Philosophy
    Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

     - Professor Emeritus, University of Calgary
  • William Ghali MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , MPH
    Master of Public Health
    The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....

     - Professor, University of Calgary, Canada Research Chair in Health Services Research, Buchanan Chair in General Internal Medicine, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Health Scholar, Research Director for APPROACH.
  • Anne M. Gillis
    Heart Rhythm Society
    The Heart Rhythm Society is an international non-profit organization that promotes education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients. The Society was founded in 1979 and counted 5,100 members from over 70 countries as of January, 2009...

     MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , FRCPC
    Cardiology
    Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

     - Professor, University of Calgary, Director of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, 2nd Vice-Presicent, Heart Rhythm Society
    Heart Rhythm Society
    The Heart Rhythm Society is an international non-profit organization that promotes education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients. The Society was founded in 1979 and counted 5,100 members from over 70 countries as of January, 2009...

     (will become President in 2012, only the 2nd Canadian in the society's history to reach that level)
  • Matthias Friedrich MD
    Medicine
    Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

    , FRCPC
    Cardiology
    Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

     - Associate Professor, University of Calgary, Director of the Stephenson CMR Centre
  • Alvin Libin OC
    Order of Canada
    The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...

     - Officer of the Order of Canada
    Order of Canada
    The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...

    , Member of the Alberta Order of Excellence
    Alberta Order of Excellence
    The Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C...

    , Chair of the Libin Foundation
  • Michael Walsh PHD
    Doctor of Philosophy
    Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

     - Professor, University of Calgary, Canada Research Chair in Vascular Smooth Muscle, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

Libin/AHFMR Prize in Cardiovascular Research

  • 2008 Valentin Fuster
    Valentin Fuster
    Valentí Fuster is a Spaniard cardiologist – the only cardiologist to receive all four major research awards from the world's four major cardiovascular organizations....

  • 2006 James T. Willerson
    The Texas Heart Institute
    The Texas Heart Institute is a not-for-profit cardiology and heart surgery center located within the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1962 by Dr. Denton A. Cooley, its original charter stated its purpose was “the study and treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels...

  • 2004 Eugene Braunwald
    Eugene Braunwald
    - Biography :Eugene Braunwald, an eminent American cardiologist, was born August 15, 1929 to Jewish parents Wilhelm Braunwald and Clara Wallach in Vienna....


Sources & External Links

  • Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta - official web-site
  • Libin Institute blog
  • University of Calgary
  • Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan
  • Reach! - fund raising campaign of the Calgary Health Trust
    Calgary Health Trust
    The Calgary Health Trust connects donor passions with health care needs. They are raising funds for enhanced technology, programs and services at the Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General Hospital, Women's Health and Carewest continuing care centres.Since 1996, the...

     and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary
    University of Calgary
    The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...

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