Baystate to Host Free Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Medical Center will hold its popular free Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series during the month of February beginning with a look at “How Can I Prevent Heart Disease? What Should I Do If I Have It?” on Sunday, Feb. 5.

The Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series, presented by the Baystate Heart & Vascular Program as part of American Heart Month, will focus on presentations designed to inform those attending on the latest advances in heart and vascular care and how they can maintain or improve their heart and vascular health.

Preventive cardiologist Dr. Adam Stern of Baystate Medical Practices will present the first of four free seminars at the Baystate Health Education Center on 361 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke. His presentation will focus on risk factors that can be controlled in the prevention of heart disease, including a discussion on hypertension, high cholesterol, diet, diabetes, and other activities in the management of heart disease. All lectures will be held from noon to 2 p.m.

The free lectures will continue with “Peripheral Vascular Disease” on Feb. 12, featuring vascular surgeon Dr. Neal Hadron, chief of Baystate Vascular Services. He will discuss the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of PVD, as well as how to determine if you are at risk.

On Feb. 19, interventional cardiologist Dr. Amir Lotfi, medical director, Inpatient Heart & Vascular and the Baystate Regional Heart Attack Program, will present “The Science and Art of Medicine.” The session will focus on the complexities of cardiac medicine and how physicians utilize various tools and information to provide the best treatment for individual patients.

The series will conclude on Feb. 26 with “Heart Vision: What Cardiac Diagnostic Tests Teach Us,” presented by radiologist Dr. Christopher Moore, medical director, Cardiac Imaging at Baystate, and Dr. William Hisser, non-invasive cardiologist at Baystate, who will look at the various tests used to help diagnose and treat conditions of the heart. They will explain how each test plays an important role in viewing the anatomy and function of the heart. 
Those attending will learn about EKG, stress testing, ECHO, MRI, CT scans, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and more.

Light, heart-healthy refreshments will be served at the lectures, and educational handouts on heart and vascular health will be provided. Parking is free. Registration is required for each session by calling (800) 377-4325.

In addition, Baystate Franklin Medical Center offers full HDL/LDL cholesterol screenings on the second Wednesday of every other month beginning on Feb. 8 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room A located at the main entrance to the hospital. The fee is $10. Other dates include April 12, June 14, Aug. 9, Oct. 11, and Dec. 13. Pre-registration is required by calling (413) 773-2727. A 12-hour fast is required.