Welcome back to Heart2Heart Talk, where we speak from the heart, for the heart.

This season, we’ve been pulling back the curtain on clinical trials — what works, what needs fixing, and what it feels like to walk this road as a patient or caregiver.

In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when research finally crosses into real life:

👉 How does innovation move from a lab… to an actual bedside?
👉 What helps patients feel safe saying “yes” to something new?
👉 And what does real shared decision-making look like when the stakes are high?

Mary is joined by Dr. Sameer Gafoor, an interventional cardiologist at Swedish Medical Center known for blending innovation with heart-centered care. He’s one of those rare physicians who listens deeply, explains clearly, and guides patients through every step — especially when research becomes part of their treatment options.

Together, they explore:

• What “bringing research to the bedside” really looks like
• Why trust and clear communication matter more than anything
• The emotional side of trial enrollment — for patients and providers
• Barriers teams face with paperwork, logistics, and timing
• How shared decision-making builds confidence and connection
• What needs to shift so trials become more open, diverse, and patient-friendly
• Why the future of research depends on listening to lived experience

If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the scenes before a patient gets access to something new, this episode brings you right into the room.

🧠 About Our Guest – Dr. Sameer Gafoor

Dr. Gafoor is an interventional cardiologist and a national leader in structural-heart innovation at Swedish Medical Center. He’s known for:

✔ Bringing complex research into real patient care
✔ Leading teams that blend innovation with compassion
✔ Explaining options in clear, plain language
✔ Championing shared decision-making as the heart of good medicine

His work sits right where science, humanity, and trust meet — which is exactly why he’s the perfect voice for this conversation.

🔗 Swedish Heart and Vascular Institute

About HeartBridge Collective
HeartBridge Collective is a patient-led community changing the way heart valve patients and caregivers connect, learn, and feel supported. We bridge real stories, lived experience, and expert insight so patients never have to walk this road alone. Through peer support, honest conversations, and advocacy that pushes the system forward, we’re building a space where every voice matters — and every heart has a place to land.

https://www.maryburrell.com/heartbridgecollective

Bridging hearts, minds, and innovation — one lived experience at a time.

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