Community invited to V.I. Cardiac Symposium
Published: February 5, 2013
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ST. CROIX - Residents who would like to learn more about heart health can do so at the three-day Virgin Islands Cardiac Symposium, which starts Thursday at the V.I. Cardiac Center.
"The first day is the Community Day," said Lorelei Plaskett, a medical assistant at the V.I. Cardiac Center. "It means the community is welcome. We're inviting police, fire and the entire community to come out and listen."
The presentations during Community Day - which will be targeted to people without medical backgrounds - also will hone in on automatic external defibrillators, the portable devices that check heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm.
They are used in treating sudden cardiac arrest and are designed for easy use by people who do not have a medical background.
The symposium continues on Friday and Saturday, although on those days the presentations will be targeted toward physicians and others with a health care background.
On Thursday morning, Dr. Cora Christian will speak about the Million Hearts Campaign, a national initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with a goal of preventing a million heart attacks and strokes over five years.
Officials hope to accomplish that through a number of methods, including focusing clinical attention on preventing heart attacks and strokes and activating the public to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle, according to information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Other topics Thursday morning include a presentation on the signs and symptoms of strokes and heart attacks by Dr. Michael Potts, and a lecture about diabetes by Dr. Judith Barzey.
The morning wraps up with a presentation called "Fish Fry or Not," by dietician Joanne White. A heart-healthy lunch will be provided during the presentation, Plaskett said.
In the afternoon Thursday, discussion will turn to automatic external defibrillators, which also are called AEDs.
A panel discussion about AEDs will be followed with a lecture by Dr. Dedrick Luikens.
"The panel discussion will include a patient whose life was saved when they used the AED," Plaskett said.
The presentations Friday and Saturday are targeted more toward physicians and health care professionals and include a keynote address by Dr. Ola Akinboboye, president of the Association of Black Cardiologists. Residents also can attend.
Among a number of topics to be covered Friday and Saturday are syncope, cardiovascular complications of breast cancer and new treatment modalities of atrial fibrillation.
Continuing Education credits are available.
For information or to reserve a space on any of the days, call 778-6311, ext. 5223 or ext. 5224.
Registration is $295 for physicians; $75 for nurses, physicians assistants and allied health professionals; and $25 for students and members of the community.
The symposium starts at 7:30 a.m. and runs from Thursday through Saturday.
- Contact reporter Joy Blackburn at 714-9145 or email jblackburn@dailynews.vi.
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