Parallax by Ankur Kalra

By Radcliffe CardiologyScience

Parallax by Ankur Kalra episodes

October 10, 2022 EP 78: Your Guide to Lipoprotein(a) with Dr. Salim S Virani
This week’s Parallax episode is focusing on the latest science and questions surrounding one of the conundrums of cardiovascular science: Lipoprotein(a).
Dr. Ankur Kalra invites Dr Salim S Virani to help simplify the concept of Lp(a) with answering key questions about its measurement and its place in practice and prevention.
Dr Virani is a Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program and Vice Provost of Research at Aga Khan University from early next year.
Lp(a) was first described in 1963. Since then, many epidemiologic studies have noted association of high Lp(a) levels with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, however, the role of this particle remained a conundrum (Kamstrup, 2017). New data from the development of novel drugs are offering strong evidence on the causality between Lp(a) and ASCVD and AVS (Kronenber et al. 2022).
Dr Virani, one of the authors of the new European Atherosclerosis Society consensus statement on Lipoprotein(a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis, summarises the key concepts, shares his advice on clinical practice and talks about emerging therapies.
What is Lp(a) and what are the main associations? In what patient population should we lower LP(a)? What do you tell patients about Lp(a) testing and how easy it is to get it tested?
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode.
Guest: @virani_md, host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCARDIO.
47 min
September 26, 2022 EP 77: ESC 22 in Review With Dr P Parwani: 5 Trials That Will Change Your Practice
Back by popular demand, Dr Ankur Kalra's guest is Dr Purvi Parwani, Director of Women’s Cardiovascular Disease Clinic and Assistant Professor at Loma Linda University Medical Center, US.
In this ESC 2022 edition of Parallax, Ankur asks Purvi to review her highlights of the congress. Purvi details the study design and key findings of each trial and provides her insights after attending the event in Barcelona. Ankur and Purvi discuss how each trial will inform their practice.
Trials covered in detail include:
- REVIVED: Study of Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention to Improve Survival in Heart Failure (NCT01920048)
- DANCAVAS: Danish Cardiovascular Screening Trial II (NCT03946410)
- DELIVER: Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With PReserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure (NCT03619213)
- SECURE: Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly Trial (NCT02596126)
- INVICTUS: INVestIgation of rheumatiC AF Treatment Using Vitamin K Antagonists, Rivaroxaban or Aspirin Studies, Non-Inferiority (NCT02832544)
What are the key take-home messages of ESC 22? How can we implement these findings into daily practice? Where are the opportunities for further research?
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest: @purviparwani, host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCARDIO.
1 hr 8 min
September 05, 2022 EP 76: Mission, Pakistan & Facing Heart Disease in an Underserved Community
Dr Sohail Khan was working as an interventional cardiologist in Salt Lake City, but he was growing more and more skeptical of the corporate aspects of his job. He had a dream about moving back to Pakistan and building a hospital there. Following the death of a colleague, he decided to take a leap.
In this inspiring episode, Dr Ankur Kalra’s guest is Dr Sohail Khan, Chief Operating Officer at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Karāchi.
Dr Khan talks about education in the US and his decision to move back to Pakistan. Ankur asks Sohail about his new professional home: NICVD, a free clinic providing primary heartcare for Pakistanis. They discuss some of the innovations Dr Khan works on to improve patient care that utilise simple but effective interventions. We learn more about free screening clinics and about Dr Khan’s work on the largest ever study in Pakistan on association of Lpa and CV disease in South Asians.
What were the considerations for Dr Khan when he decided to move to Pakistan? What is his advice to our listeners?
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest,@SKhanMHCM hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
46 min
August 15, 2022 EP 75: Leadership, Innovation & Professional Home with Dr Dipti Itchhaporia
Dr Dipti Itchhaporia, 70th President of American College of Cardiology (ACC), always met her fears with actions. One of her motivations to become a cardiologist was to be able to act in the face of acute situations. When Dr Itchhaporia, the fifth woman and the first of South Asian descent to fill in this position, was asked to summarise her presidential year, she answered: flourishing in opposition of languishing.
Dr Ankur Kalra’s guest in this episode of Parallax is Dr Dipti Itchhaporia, ACC Immediate-Past President, an interventional cardiologist and the Eric and Sheila Samson Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Health, director of disease management for Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, and associate professor at the University of California, School of Medicine.
In this personal interview, Dr Itchhaporia recalls her early years and the influences and decisions that led her to medicine and cardiology. She talks about her connection to ACC and the importance of choosing a professional home where one can find their purpose under the mentorship of their community. Ankur asks Dr Itchhaporia about the most memorable moments of her presidency. They talk about South Asian identity and curbing CVD in this population.
How does Dr Itchhaporia think about representation and the meaning of her historical position at ACC? What is Dr Itchhaporia’s message to women in cardiology?
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, @ditchhaporia hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
47 min
July 18, 2022 EP 74: Modern Medicine & Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita with Dr Kavitha Chinnaiyan
“Seek refuge in the attitude of detachment and you will amass the wealth of spiritual awareness. The one who is motivated only by the desire for the fruits of their action, and anxious about the results, is miserable indeed.”
Bhagavad Gita
In medical school, Dr Chinnaiyan was fascinated with embryology. The question that used to hunt her was how does once cell know to differentiate into so many different organs: what is that knowledge?
In this week’s Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra welcomes back Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan cardiologist, Professor of Medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and accomplished author.
This nurturing episode focuses on questions that touch on what it is that we seek as human beings and how can we cultivate awareness and authenticity while practicing modern medicine. Ankur asks Kavitha about what it means to be spiritual as a cardiologist. Kavitha talks about the experiences made possible by mindfulness. They discuss the difference between conditioning and growth. Kavitha talks about burn out and how we could make changes by embracing medicine not only as a measurable science but as an art.
What is happiness? How can we become more authentic by letting go of judgements? What can we achieve by looking at medicine not only as a science, but as an art?
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, @ChinnaiyanMD hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
You can find Drs Ankur Kalra, Erin Michos and Kavitha Chinnaiyan’s article on COVID-19 and the healthcare workers here: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/41/31/2936/5851729?login=false
48 min
July 04, 2022 EP 73: Passion, Faith & Entrepreneurship with Prof Carolyn Lam, Clinician Scientist
At the beginning of her career, Prof Lam thought that being able to multi-task is one of her strengths. After many accomplishments as a cardiologist and a researcher, she believes that there is more power in focus and being fully present.
This week’s guest on Parallax is Professor Carolyn Lam, Senior Consultant and Director of Women's Heart Health at the National Heart Centre Singapore, Professor at the Duke-National University of Singapore and co-founder of Us2.ai, an award-wining medtech start-up as well as the host of the Circulation on the Run Podcast.
In this refreshing and spiritual episode Carolyn reflects on her journey and the decisions and mentors that shaped her career as a heart failure specialist, trialist and as a public speaker. Ankur and Carolyn dive into the question whether being balanced is what we should be all aiming for. Ankur asks Carolyn about her work as a co-founder of Us2.ai, a start-up dedicated to the automation of the fight against heart disease by applying AI to echocardiography.
What makes Prof Carolyn Lam tick? What does spirituality and faith mean to Prof Lam? What are her thoughts on the role of AI in the democratization of medicine? What is her advice to our listeners?
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, @lamcardio hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
48 min
June 20, 2022 EP 72: Burnout, Clinician Wellbeing & Reforming Medicine with Dr Fisher
Even though Dr Fisher was excelling in his chosen vocation, cardiovascular medicine, over time he lost his sense of purpose. Despite his success, he felt wounded and disconnected. His training predisposed him to suppress his emotions when faced with suffering and tragedy in order to be a better doctor. Today, Dr Fisher is at the forefront of the campaign to end clinician burnout.
This week’s guest on Parallax is Dr Jonathan Fisher Cardiologist and Organizational Well-Being and Resiliency Leader at Novant Health.
In this insightful and solution seeking episode, Dr Fisher shares how his journey to build a well-balanced relationship with his profession paved a way for his role as Organizational Well-Being and Resiliency Leader. Dr Kalra and Dr Fisher discuss the need for a more human faced medical education and an open dialogue about wellness and emotional wellbeing. They talk about interventions that can have huge impact on individuals and institutions alike.
What are the warning signs of burnout? How can institutions tackle systemic problems? What are some of the conversations that can help? What is Dr Fisher’s advice to our listeners?
Follow this link to learn more about Ending Clinician Burnout Global Community: https://endingphysicianburnout.com
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, Dr Jonathan Fisher (@happyheartmd)hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
46 min
June 06, 2022 EP 71: Cardiology News, Journalism & Leadership with Shelley Wood
In 1999, when Shelley Wood started her career in medical journalism, there were only a few online resources. The main function of reporting on medical news was to make information accessible. Two decades later there is an abundant number of sources covering cardiology news, but TCTMD, home of Ms Wood, stands out with its “lively, thought-provoking, and rigorously objective journalism”.1
This week’s guest on Parallax is Shelley Wood, Managing Editor of TCTMD, Editorial Director at CRF and 2022 recipient of the Women Heart’s Wenger Award for Excellence in Media.
In this engaging episode, Ankur asks Shelley about her journey to medical journalism from theheart.org to TCTMD. Shelley recalls the early days of online news and shares her thoughts on what makes a content stand out in 2022. We learn more about the editorial decisions that go into leading one of the most trusted cardiology news services. Shelley, author of a bestselling novel, talks about how she balances her journalistic work with her creative writing.
How does Shelley Wood think about cardiology journalism today? What makes content good? What are Shelley’s plans as an editor and as a writer?
1. https://www.crf.org/crf/news-and-events/news/news/1539-shelley-wood-joins-the-cardiovascular-research-foundation-as-editorial-director-2
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, @ShelleyWood2 hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
50 min
May 23, 2022 EP 70: Technological Ecosystem, Innovation & Personalised Medicine with Dr Ami Bhatt
Years ago, Dr Bhatt, an early adopter of telemedicine, had difficult news for her patient that she wanted share with him in person. Her patient was resistant and they scheduled a video meeting. The patient asked Dr Bhatt to let him hear the news surrounded by his family in the safety of his home. Dr Bhatt learnt that she needed to listen to patients about how they want to be told things and how these interactions might effect them.
This week’s guest on Parallax is Dr Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer of ACC, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the ACHD program at Massachusetts.
In this engaging and in-depth episode, Dr Kalra and Dr Bhatt talk about the state of digital transformation today: They discuss the challenges and opportunities of telemedicine, artificial ‘collaborative’ intelligence and novel technologies that could enhance medical training. Dr Kalra asks Dr Bhatt about how she balances her responsibilities and her tips for approaching complex problems. Dr Bhatt also shares insights on the practicalities of her role as Chief Innovation Officer of ACC.
What is the next frontier in cardiovascular medicine? How can we best utilise available technology in medicine? What is Dr Bhatt’s advice to our audience?
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, Dr @AmiBhattMD hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
46 min
May 09, 2022 EP 69: Global Health, AI and Telemedicine with Dr Hunter Cherwek
The projects that Dr Cherwek, the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Humanitarian Award, values the most unite the following attributes: Simple, globally available, and impactful: In a recent study done in tea pickers in Assam, India, Dr Cherwek and his team first measured the impact of near eyesight correction on productivity and income. PROSPER showed that simple interventions can significantly improve the standard of living for communities.
This week guest on Parallax is Dr Hunter Cherwek, ophthalmologist and Vice President of Clinical Services at Orbis International.
In this unique episode Dr Kalra and Dr Cherwek discuss highly innovative solutions in ophthalmology that could be implemented in cardiovascular medicine.
They talk about AI assisted consultation, learning pathways incorporating simulators for early career practitioners and the Flying Eye Hospital. Dr Cherwek shares his experiences about working with local teams globally and the work that goes into setting up trials across the world.
How can we incorporate AI into practice and what does Dr Cherwek say to the sceptics? How can we make medical training accessible for more residents? What is Dr Cherwek’s advice to our listeners?
Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, Dr Hunter Cherwek hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.
43 min

About Parallax by Ankur Kalra

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See cardiology differently. Join Dr. Ankur Kalra for expert conversations exploring both the science and soul of cardiovascular care. Hear from legendary cardiologists and emerging leaders on clinical excellence, innovation, and the human experience of cardiology—burnout, spirituality, what it means to lead, and what it means to heal. Discover practical insights on GDMT optimization, heart failure management, interventional advances, and emerging research. Plus conversations on patient advocacy and the future of cardiology. Published every second Monday.