Q: You’ve practiced internal medicine for over 30 years. What first led you to explore the BaleDoneen Method?
A: It all started with trying to figure out what myeloperoxidase was and what do I do if it is elevated in a patient. After not getting satisfying answers, someone pointed me to the Beat the Heart Attack Gene book which had just been published.
Q: How did your view of cardiovascular prevention shift after training with Drs. Bale and Doneen?
A: After BDM training I understood that it was possible! I had not been taught that previously. And I learned how to communicate that to patients and execute it.
Q: What made you want to incorporate this method into your own patient care?
A: Once I knew that prevention was possible, how could I not!
Q: What’s been the most noticeable difference in outcomes or conversations with patients since making the switch?
A: People with strong family history of heart disease or prior heart attacks, now have HOPE! Since incorporating this into my practice over 10 years ago, I’ve not had one patient have a heart attack or stroke.
The Telemedicine Model and Expanding Access
Q: You were one of the first providers to offer BaleDoneen through telemedicine. What has that experience been like?
A: It has been nothing short of amazing! There is so much mis-information about vascular disease in traditional healthcare and it is a wonderful feeling to be able to share the truth with people and give them hope again.
Q: What types of patients do you feel benefit most from this virtual care model?
A: Really all types! If you have a family history, we can define what you can do to prevent it. If you are unsure of your family history, we can determine your risk and what to do to prevent it. If you have already had an event, or positive calcium score, we can figure out why, fix the why and prevent any further events.
Q: How do you build trust and connection with patients when you’re not in the room together?
A: Honestly, this had been what I was most concerned about. My patients become my friends. That’s important to me. To my surprise and pleasure, I’m able to form relationships through the video screen!
Q: What do you enjoy most about being able to bring this level of care to people outside your local community?
So many people don’t have access to this type of cardiovascular prevention, so I feel like I am spreading hope around the country!
Patient Communication and Whole-Person Care
Q: How do you explain inflammation and arterial disease in a way that helps patients take it seriously?
A: Inflammation is the spark that allows plaque to form. Any size plaque can be a problem when it first develops. It’s the clot that forms on top of the plaque that causes 85% of the heart attacks and strokes. If you have any size plaque, we have to figure out why.
Q: What do you say to patients who are told their blood pressure or cholesterol is “normal,” but who still may be at risk?
A: Standard of care and optimal care are different. Not everyone fits in the same “box”. We look at family history, your labs, your genetics, everything that makes a person unique, and then decide on what “normal” should be for them.
Q: How do you help patients move from reactive care to a prevention mindset?
A: Simply by explaining that prevention is possible. This is often a foreign concept.
Q: What do you think is missing from traditional cardiovascular screening today?
A: Using the technologies that we have today to look for that asymptomatic plaque AND understanding that even a small plaque can cause events and that stabilizing that plaque is possible.
Personal Insight and Experience
Q: You’ve spent decades caring for patients in-person and now virtually. What has remained constant in how you connect with people?
A: Understanding them as a unique person and listening to them to find out what their health goals are.
Q: What keeps you passionate about practicing medicine at this stage in your career?
A: Being able to spread hope and see the positive results.
Q: What does patient success look like to you?
A: That’s different for each patient. It goes back to what each patient sees as success.
Universal Questions
Q: Can you share a story about a patient transformation that still sticks with you today?
A: A 27 year old man I started to care for 10 years ago because his father had his first heart attack at age 52. We discovered several genetic concerns and extremely high inflammation and soft plaque already in his carotid arteries. Now, 10 years later, I’ve seen him get married, have 2 children, and advance in his career. He has no inflammation and stable carotid plaque. He has followed me into my BaleDoneen Method Telemedicine practice and shared his story with many friends that are also now my patients. That is a win!
Q: What do you wish more people understood about preventing heart attacks and strokes?
A: That each person is different and needs to be treated individually rather than considered one of many. And, prevention is possible!
Q: What motivated you to focus your career on prevention rather than treatment?
A: Once I understood that prevention was possible, how could I not! Treatment is still important because many people already have disease that needs to be controlled while we prevent further events.
Q: What’s one common misconception patients have about cardiovascular risk?
A: That it isn’t possible to accurately measure your risk. Which is true with current traditional risk stratifications. But at BDM we look at things differently.
Q: What’s one simple change patients can make today to improve their heart health?
A: Read one of the BDM books. There are immediately actionable items for everyone.
Q: What do you love most about working with patients using the BaleDoneen Method?
A: People who seek our help believe that prevention is possible and want to learn what they need to do. It’s that willing spirit to learn that is so wonderful!
