Ticker Talk

In this episode of Ticker Talk, we share the remarkable and deeply personal story of Ruzica Subotic-Howell, a retired registered nurse and former military medic with over 40 years of experience in healthcare. Despite her extensive clinical background and expertise, Ruzica spent years searching for answers as she battled a life-threatening cardiac condition. Her experience offers a powerful example of the persistent gender gap in cardiac care, where women’s concerns are too often overlooked or misattributed.

This conversation explores the profound shift from healthcare provider to patient. When her concerns weren’t taken seriously, Ruzica relied on her medical training to meticulously document her symptoms and advocate for herself.

Now six months post-surgery, Ruzica reflects on the transformation that followed. Once defined by constant motion, she now lives with greater presence, balance, and mindfulness. Her story stands as a deeply human call for every listener to trust their instincts, track and document their symptoms, and never hesitate to advocate fiercely for their own care.

In this episode, Ann-Marie welcomes Vince Londini - a heart patient, advocate, and dedicated patient partner - to discuss his lived experience with cardiovascular disease. 

Vince’s story is one of perseverance and perspective. He talks candidly about the fear and uncertainty of heart disease, the importance of peer support, and the power of continuing to live your life fully, even when things feel out of control. Alongside medical treatment, Vince found immense support in his community through volunteering and by staying engaged with his work and family life.

His message is grounded and encouraging: you can have a heart condition and still build a life full of meaning, impact, and connection. This conversation is a reminder that a heart condition is only one part of a person’s story—and that it’s possible to face it with honesty, resilience, and hope.

For more information about VIRTUES and to self-refer to the VIRTUES Cardiac Care research study visit: https://referral.myvirtues.ca/virtues-heart-patient-self-referral

Learn more about Vince's journey leading up to his heart event here

To connect with others who have similar lived experiences, join the CANet Community of Patients & Caregivers at www.facebook.com/canetinc

In this episode of Ticker Talk, host Ann-Marie Julien speaks with Dr. Rob Hegele, distinguished Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Western University and Director of the London Regional Genomics Centre at Robarts Research Institute. Dr. Hegele also cares for over 2400 patients in his Lipid Clinic at University Hospital in London, Ontario. His research investigates the human genome to identify DNA markers that may suggest a hereditary predisposition to certain diseases. In doing so, this allows for preventative and personalized treatment strategies aimed at improving patients’ overall health outcomes.  

This episode speaks to the role of lipids, particularly cholesterol and triglycerides, and their impact on cardiovascular health. Dr. Hegele explains the mechanisms behind LDL and HDL cholesterol, touches upon the lesser-known lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) and apolipoprotein b (ApoB) and emphasizes the importance of both primary and secondary prevention of heart disease. He brings listeners on a deep dive into the world of cholesterol management using concrete examples with a dash of light-hearted wit.

Dr. Hegele’s insights into cholesterol and lipid management offer hope for individuals dealing with cardiovascular concerns. As research continues to evolve, the prevention and management of heart disease is becoming increasingly personalized and effective, ensuring a healthier future for patients worldwide.

CANet’s educational materials offer a wealth of credible and well-presented information accessible on VIRTUES! To sign up for VIRTUES, click here.  

In this episode of Ticker Talk, host Ann-Marie is joined by Najah Adreak to discuss a crucial topic that touches the lives of countless women globally, yet often goes unnoticed until it’s too late: women’s heart health. Najah is a clinical researcher and Medical Doctor, with a focus and passion for women’s heart health, incorporating a racial and ethnic lens into women’s cardiac health, and less invasive cardiac surgery. 

Throughout this conversation, Dr. Adreak emphasizes the significant disparities in heart disease awareness and treatment between men and women. Despite women's heart health being a critical issue, it remains largely underrecognized, understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. To address this knowledge gap, Najah underscores the importance of education and self-advocacy for women and urges collective action to address this public health crisis. She sheds light on initiatives led by the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA), such as the annual Wear Red Canada campaign, which aims to start discussions on improving women’s cardiovascular health across the lifespan. 

The conversation around women's heart health is just beginning, but with dedicated professionals like Dr. Adreak and the CWHHA  leading the charge, change is on the horizon. Najah’s message is clear: be your own advocate and support the women around you. Empower yourself and your community by starting the conversation, and together, we can make a difference in women's heart health.

Dr. Alexandra King is a member of the Nipissing First Nation (Ontario). She is an Internal Medicine specialist, the inaugural Cameco chair in Indigenous Health and Wellness at the University of Saskatchewan, and co-lead of Pewaseskawn (the Indigenous Wellness Research Group). Dr. Alexandra King’s work supports Indigenous communities in improving health and wellness outcomes by understanding the needs of the communities she works with and the structural changes necessary to improve health outcomes.

Dr. Malcolm King, a member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (Ontario), is a health researcher at the University of Saskatchewan and Scientific Director of the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research. Dr. King’s areas of interest include respiratory health concerns among Indigenous peoples, the intersection of education and health, health service delivery to vulnerable populations, and airborne disease transmission and chronic obstructive lung disease. 

Together, they explore the innovative approaches to Indigenous health and wellness through the creation of the Mitewekwan project ᒥᑌᐍᑲᐣ (Cree meaning “the spirit behind the heartbeat”), which integrates Indigenous perspectives into cardiovascular and brain health research networks on the contextualization and adaption needed for culturally safe and responsive research and care.

This conversation emphasizes the importance of Indigenous perspectives in research, community engagement, and the social and cultural determinants of health. They examine their roles in reshaping health research to prioritize Indigenous voices and experiences, aiming to improve health outcomes for Indigenous peoples while also benefiting broader communities.

To learn more about Pewaseskwan, visit their website here.

For more information on the Mitewekwan, click here.

Dr. Anthony Tang is a Professor of Medicine at Western University and Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Additionally, Dr. Tang is a Staff Cardiologist at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Scientific Director and CEO at the Cardiovascular Network of Canada (CANet). His clinical and research expertise is largely related to diagnosing and management of patients with cardiovascular conditions, particularly in heart failure patients. 

As we celebrate Heart Month, Dr. Tang shares valuable insights into heart health, in particular, heart disease—a condition affecting approximately 1.3 million Canadians. Throughout this conversation Dr. Tang emphasizes the importance of improving patient care and their health outcomes, understanding effective treatment strategies, and creating innovative health solutions to support patients in managing their heart health.

Listeners are reminded that a proactive approach to managing risk factors through lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing cardiovascular conditions. By focusing on eating nutritious foods, smoking cessation, good sleep, regular exercise, and reducing alcohol intake, you can take control of your heart health and improve your overall well-being. These insights underscore the importance of such changes, especially during Heart Month, as a time to continue raising awareness and encouraging healthier choices.

Click here for more information on Wear Red Canada. 

For more on CANet’s Digital Health solutions for the management of complex cardiovascular conditions click here. 

Visit here for more information on Heart Month in Canada.

In this episode, host Ann-Marie is joined by Dr. Krystina Lewis to discuss the pivotal role of decision aids in fostering patient engagement in healthcare. Krystina is an Associate Professor with the School of Nursing at the University of Ottawa and an Affiliate Researcher with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the Center for Implementation Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Her research focuses on effective interventions to promote patient and public engagement in health care.

Patient decision aids are tools—booklets, videos, web portals—designed to help patients understand their options, clarify their values, and make informed health decisions that align with their preferences and needs. This conversation highlights the development, evaluation, and implementation of decision aids, their positive outcomes, and the challenges of integrating them into clinical practice. 

One significant project discussed is the update of the Cochrane review on patient decision aids. While this systematic review highlights the positive outcomes of decision aids—like better-informed patients and clearer personal values—other outcomes such as patient adherence and cost-effectiveness mark an exciting avenue for future research.

Click here to access the A to Z Inventory of Patient Decision Aids.

Ottawa Personal Decision Guide - Ottawa Hospital and Research Institute & University of Ottawa, translated into over 10 languages and adapted for Indigenous peoples) 

In this episode, we hear from Trina O'Brien Leggott, a heart patient with inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Trina's familial journey with HCM began when her youngest brother experienced unusual symptoms, leading to his diagnosis of HCM. This discovery led to family screenings that traced the condition back to their father, 40 years previous.

Trina's personal experience with HCM escalated in January 2012, after suffering a cardiac arrest while watching a movie with her husband. Thanks to a timely emergency response and a successful implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) procedure, Trina recovered and returned to her regular routine within weeks.

Despite experiencing mixed emotions related to her ICD, both discomfort at relying on a device and gratitude for the role it plays in keeping her heart functioning, her perspective on life has forever shifted. Trina reflects on her journey with gratitude, recognizing her heart condition and ICD as something that will always be a part of her life - "It's about learning to live with a tool that helps you carry on."

Trina emphasizes the importance of life-long learning, being an informed patient, and the level of engagement that blossoms from developing a deeper understanding of one's own treatment and care. Her engagement with healthcare has continued to grow with her work as a Patient Partner on the VIRTUES CIED project, contributing to research aimed at improving remote monitoring by reviewing terminology and gauging how patients might respond to different ways of presenting information.

Join Trina as she shares her story of resilience and her hopes for the future of cardiovascular care.

Hear more about Dr. Ratika Parkash’s VIRTUES CIED project on her Ticker Talk episode here.

In this episode, host Ann-Marie delves into the complexities of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) with Dr. Robert Rose, a scientist and professor in the departments of Cardiac Sciences, Physiology and Pharmacology at the Cumming School of Medicine, Libin Cardiovascular Institute at the University of Calgary.

Unpacking the intricacies of cardiovascular disease, the Robert Rose Laboratory conducts cutting-edge research, and among many areas of focus, seeks to unravel the elusive causes of AF, a widespread cardiac condition that remains not fully understood. This discussion illuminates the promising role of the natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B), a receptor in the heart, in regulating and sustaining normal heart rhythm. Impaired activity of the NPR-B is associated with a greater risk of developing AF. These findings could lead to the creation of new preventative treatments for AF in the form of NPR-B agonists.

Dr. Rose shares his enthusiasm for the innovative advancements in cardiac research and his hopeful perspective on future therapeutic strategies to prevent and manage arrhythmias and design patient-specific or condition-specific treatment approaches.

Click here to read the full study discussed in the episode.

For more information on the NPR-B research coming out of the Robert Rose Laboratory, click here.

In this episode, we delve into the deeply personal and transformative journey of Marc Bains, who was catapulted onto a life-changing path following a heart failure diagnosis at the age of 23. 

He unfolds his decade-long experience with heart failure, revealing how his initial fears evolved into a story of adaptation and resilience, marked by crucial treatment developments and a heart transplant that transformed his lived experience as a patient into a passionate advocate. During this episode, Marc discusses the creation of HeartLife Foundation, a national patient-led heart failure organization, and the inspiring term ‘Heart Life’ – a concept born from the desire to positively redefine living with heart failure and transform the lives of those with heart failure through education, empowerment, and engagement. 

Ann-Marie and Marc explore his impactful journey of advocacy, the community’s role in providing support to folks with cardiovascular disease, and the collective effort to push for equitable care within healthcare policy. The creation of the Canadian Heart Failure Patient and Caregiver Charter and collaboration with Senator Yona Martin, who is tabling a private member bill for a national strategy for heart failure, are just two examples of the collective strides being taken to empower those who are navigating heart failure and promote access to equitable high-quality care. 

Click here for more information on the HeartLife Patient and Caregiver Charter.

Click here for more information on the Canadian Heart Function Alliance

Bill S-284 – An Act to Establish a National Framework on Heart Failure