This week has been a great experience as I arrived in New York. I started this week my research that will be done with Dr. Jiwon Kim. Dr. Kim is a physician and a researcher who works with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and echocardiograms (echo) to better study the heart. Specifically she looks at strains and other measures to better understand how dysfunction of the left side of the heart can affect the right side. There are various measurements that can be taken and as mentioned strained has shown a high predictive value of ventricle function. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is the value gathered from base of the ventricle to the apex of the heart. This value signifies how the heart contracts during systole to eject blood. While the left side of the heart is well studied the right side of the heart is more difficult to study because of the decreased muscle mass surrounding the ventricle. With Dr. Kim we hope to test additional methods of measuring the strain that exists within the right ventricle and compare them with current methods.

Additionally this week I had the opportunity to shadow clinicians in various settings and to learn about many of the current challenges that they face. I was able to sit in with physicians as they were reading nuclear stress tests. This test is conducted by using a radiopaque marker that will help highlight areas of the heart that do not receive the proper blood flow. This is done by taking a baseline of the patient at rest and then putting the patient under stress such as with a treadmill. Another reading is taken and the regions of the heart that receive blood flow are highlighted due to receiving the radiopaque marker. By looking at the darker places physicians are able to determine areas that are probably lacking blood flow. After this patients may be sent to the Cardiac Cath Lab to have stents placed if needed.

I also had the chance to observe procedures within the catheter lab. I was able to see stents placed, FFR taken and a transcatheter heart valve placed. This was a great experience to not only see the operation but talk with the doctors about how they feel doing them.

Overall this week has been fun and exciting to learn more about the medical side of bioengineering that occurs.