In this spring episode of Patient Innovations, co-hosts Mary MacCarthy and Rashmi Kandwal explore the vital role heart valves play in keeping us alive—and what happens when they don’t work as they should. With 2.5% of the U.S. population affected by heart valve disease and 40,000 babies born each year with congenital heart defects, the need for innovation is more urgent than ever.

Featured guests:

• Kris Bauerschmidt, entrepreneur and medical device leader, shares his journey receiving a mechanical heart valve and what life is like post-surgery.
• Dr. Maan Jokhadar, Cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, explains how heart valve care has evolved, when to repair vs. replace, and why anticoagulants like Warfarin are still necessary.
• Dr. Mayra Guerrero, Mayo Clinic Interventional Cardiologist and board member of the Heart Valve Society, discusses global collaboration in research and what innovations give her hope.

In this episode you will hear about:

• Living with a mechanical valve
• Evolving heart valve treatments
• Research priorities and future tech
• Why heart health starts with awareness

Have ideas on collaboration or want to sponsor Patient Innovations? Reach out to rashmi@healthcare.mn.

Next up: spinal cord injuries—featuring a Minnesota hockey legend's powerful recovery story.

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