We are excited to announce that M Health Fairview staff have collaborated with the Second Chance for Life Foundation to deliver a free, four-part VAD educational webinar series this fall. Whether you are new to a VAD or a long-time recipient we know there are many unusual challenges. This webinar series is designed to further educate and support you and your caregiver in this journey. All the presenters are current or past M Health Fairview faculty have developed content with you in mind. Your attendance is welcome to any or all sessions of interest!

Second Chance for Life Foundation was founded by patients for patients. It exclusively supports M Health Fairview heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) patients and families throughout their journey. The Foundation aids through difficult times - mentally, physically, emotionally, financially.

Each session will last approximately one hour and there will be time for Q&A and some discussion.

Wednesday, September 15^th 12:00pm

Those Applying to Sainthood – Caregivers!

Michael Petty, PhD, RN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCNS

Advanced Practice Nurse Leader

University of Minnesota Medical Center

The success of any transplant or MCS recipient depends to a significant degree on the family caregivers who accompany the patients on their journey.  As a medical team we recognize the importance of family caregivers in our work with heart failure patients.  The goal of this session will be to focus on the family caregiver:

            • Identify challenges commonly described by caregivers

            • Discuss self-care strategies that might serve the caregiver

            • Share experiences, difficulties, solutions, and successes of caregivers in attendance

You will have the opportunity to bring your stories and contribute to the conversation. Please join us!

Wednesday, September 29^th 12:00pm

VAD as a Bridge to Transplant

Rebecca Cogswell, MD

Medical Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support  

University of Minnesota Division of Cardiology

&

Brian Roscoe, PsyD

Behavior Health Clinician

M Health Fairview

Transplant, is that the next step of your journey? Dr. Cogswell will share insights and help better understand the landscape of this transition: whether you have been waiting for just a few months or years this can be a tricky time. We know managing the emotional impact on you and your family can be challenging. Dr Roscoe will share tools and techniques for coping and becoming more comfortable during this uncertain period of life.

Wednesday, October 13^th 12:00pm

Living and Aging with VAD as a Destination

Valmiki “Val” Maharaj, MD

Advanced Heart Failure, Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support

University of Minnesota Division of Cardiology

&

Michael Finch APRN, NP 

Palliative Medicine

M Health Fairview

How does a VAD effect the aging process? We will discuss the impact of heart failure, VAD, and your body’s natural aging. Dr Maharaj will share insights on the medical journey of destination therapy while Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Michael Finch will discuss symptom management and ways to approach quality of life. It’s about heart life not heart failure!

Wednesday, October 20^th 12:00pm

VAD – Tips, Tricks and Futures

Darcy Hamre, RN BSN

VAD Coordinator
M Health Fairview

&

Dustin Szczech, RN BSN

Clinical Consultant

Abbott

Empowerment! This session will focus on ways to make living a little easier and help you thrive during your journey: We will exchange ideas with you and your caregiver. A few topics will include dressing and specialized clothing, creative tricks for remaining active throughout the year, driving and even at home strategies for testing! As a bonus Dustin from Abbott will sharing the directions they are taking this technology to continue to improve heart health!

For registration assistance contact Scott Stevens at [email protected] or ph 952-914-9366.

Hoping to see you there!

Second Chance for Life Foundation and your MCS team