Kim and Lee Receive AHA Funding for Innovations Into Cardiac COVID-19 Research
Research Update | Daniel Kim, PhD, Associate Vice Chair of Research
When it comes to COVID-19, a lot is still unknown. The pandemic is ongoing, and many people suffer from long-term symptoms caused by this virus. One very common symptom is chest pain, which is the basis of co-PIs Dr. Daniel Kim and Dr. Daniel Lee’s latest research project funded by the American Heart Association titled “Rapid Cardiovascular MRI for Quantifying Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in COVID-19 Survivors.” “One of the pathways of chest pain in COVID happens in coronary microvascular dysfunction,” Kim says. Small blood vessels in downstream levels can get clogged. When this happens, these vessels supplying blood to the heart will cause chest pain. COVID- 19 causes inflammation in these vessels. However, cardiac MRI can detect these abnormalities. MRI offers a very comprehensive test when examining the long- term effects of the virus. It offers many different types of images, which help to determine unintended or unidentified pathways. Medical professionals need to know all the pathways this virus causes abnormalities.
The outcome of the project seek to show whether small vessel clogging is worse in long-term COVID-19 patients as opposed to controls. This team of investigators, including Drs. Brad Allen, Michael Markl, Ravi Kalhan, and Jacob Schauer, will test to see if blood flow to the heart is different for patients with normal and abnormal exercise capacity. This project also seeks to understand whether measurement of blood flow to the heart indicates exercise intolerance. Answering this question will help to shed light on the best methods for measuring blood flow when using MRI mechanisms. The PIs note, “COVID-19 is a novel virus and it is not going away. Right now, we’re at the learning phase. There is a need to treat people but you can’t treat them if you don’t know how it works.”
Northwestern Faculty Presentation Addresses LGBTQIA+ Imaging and Health Needs
Faculty Update | Nicole Beaubien, Communications Intern
Dr. Anugayathri Jawahar, an abdominal imaging radiologist at Northwestern University, has successfully developed a lecture series with Dr. Anne Darrow designed to educate Chicagoland medical students and residents about transgender imaging and LGBTQIA health equity. The awareness program and the educational series was the outcome of a grant approved by the American College of Radiology for the state chapter of Chicago Radiological Society. The first lecture series took place for the aspiring medical students and residents of UIC and Cook County hospitals on June 13 th , 2023 with Dr. Anne Darrow, Dr. Anugayathri Jawahar, and Dr. Morlie Wang. According to Jawahar, there is lack of knowledge about what terminologies are acceptable to use for transgender patients, which commonly creates instances of insensitivity and patient dissatisfaction. In fact, 50% of trans patients have reported having to educate their healthcare provider on such topics. Jawahar, alongside Darrow, Kulkarni and Wang, strives to address this gap in knowledge and educate about the recommendation for screening protocol in this transgender patient population. “We want them to be aware that there are certain recommendations and guidelines for the healthcare of this community,” Jawahar noted, “How am I supposed to guide them [her patients] if I don’t have the knowledge?”
Jawahar aims to enlighten aspiring physicians by “empowering” them with this information “so that they might help others.” For instance, she emphasized that patients should know what to watch for after they undergo surgeries and that radiologists should be aware of the potential complications that occur in these patients related to how specific gender-reassignment surgeries appear in imaging. Jawahar also spoke of the emotional turmoil that comes with discrimination, which is exemplified when added to medical stress in these patient groups. She aspires to create an environment where transgender patients feel safe and comfortable under the care of their medical providers while simultaneously receiving high-quality treatment. Another statistic presented at Jawahar’s lecture stated that 23% of trans patients do not seek healthcare due to fear of mistreatment. This issue is very important to Jawahar and her team, as she stated: “The knowledge gap has to be filled so that we achieve equity and inclusion in patient care." As she conducts more classes in the future, Jawahar hopes to both create a safe space for transgender patients in imaging and to encourage LGBTQ+ medical students to pursue a career in radiology. Addressing health equity in radiology – and across every medical specialty – paves the way for a safer and more welcoming future of medicine. The Read | Volume 6 | Page 9
Department of Radiology
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