Welcome to the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center (MDHVC)
Named after heart surgery pioneer Dr. Michael DeBakey, the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center is committed to providing patients with the highest quality care today and fostering a brighter tomorrow through research and innovation.
As one of the top cardiovascular hospitals in the united States, our mission is to provide the most effective, efficient, and compassionate cardiovascular care through research in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, education and a full continuum of patient care to the satisfaction of those we serve.
Our vision is to become the premier international benchmark for cardiology and cardiovascular surgery.
News
Cardiovascular regenerative cell expert Cooke to join Methodist faculty
Houston – 3/4/2013
John P. Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., a renowned expert on the use of stem cells to repair blood vessels, has agreed to join The Methodist Hospital faculty as chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center. He starts work July 1.
Two LVAD Brothers
Two brothers with muscular dystrophy live with heart pumps that help keep them alive
Houston – 1/28/2013
Tyler Wertz, 18, and his 16-year old brother Austin Tucker, fight, tease, love and support each other like most brothers do. Unlike most brothers, however, they share the same uncertain future—both have heart assist devices keeping them alive while they struggle with a debilitating disease.
As young boys, Tyler and Austin were diagnosed with Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, a disease that slowly weakens the arms and legs and damages the heart.
"Sometimes I'll be walking and I'll fall down for no reason," Tyler said. "It can be scary and embarrassing, but it's just something I have to deal with."
In 2010, Tyler's heart condition became so grave that doctors at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center implanted a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), a battery-run device that assists the pumping of the heart, in an attempt to improve his quality of life. Austin received one in 2012.
A simpler way to predict heart failure
Houston – 11/07/2012
The most widely used models for predicting heart failure rely on a complex combination of lifestyle, demographic, and cardiovascular risk factor information.
But today Vijay Nambi, M.D., Ph.D., and Christie Ballantyne, M.D., of The Methodist Hospital Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and the Baylor College of Medicine presented new data that show two biomarkers can improve heart failure risk prediction as part of a simpler model. Their presentation was part of the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012 in Los Angeles.
New endovascular graft gives hope to some aortic aneurysm patients
Houston – 10/10/2012
MDHVC can now offer a new kind of branched aortic graft to its patients.
The Zenith Fenestrated AAA Endovascular Graft can be implanted using minimally invasive techniques, meaning patients for whom open surgery is deemed risky have a new option at Methodist. The Zenith is produced by Cook Medical.
MRI scans now safe for patients with pacemakers
Houston – 9/6/2012
Cardiologist Dr. Dipah Shah tells Christi Myers of KTRK Channel 13 how the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center can now re-program pacemakers and defibrillators allowing patients with these devices to obtain an MRI.
Houston's Olympic torch bearer: William Zoghbi, M.D.
Houston – 7/9/2012
The flame igniting the London 2012 Olympic Games was carried Monday, July 9th through Bicester, England, by William Zoghbi, M.D., Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center cardiologist and Weill Cornell Medical College professor of medicine. He was the only Houston resident invited to participate.
Zoghbi, who is president of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and represents that group, was invited to participate by the Coca-Cola Company, a London 2012 sponsor.
Read more Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center News
Events
Several times a year, the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center invites colleagues from around the world to continuing medical education conferences, where our world-renowned experts share the benefits of their knowledge.
Cardiovascular Surgery
Re-Evolution Summit IV
MICS Hands-On Summit
3/7/13 - 3/8/13
Houston, Texas
Cardiac surgery is undergoing a significant paradigm shift towards increasing minimal access surgery within all subspecialty areas of practice. This conference provides up-to-date evidence based information and hands-on exposure to the latest in all aspects of minimal access cardiac surgery with an emphasis on hybrid approaches.
This event is designed for cardiovascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, fellows, residents, physician assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners in the cardiovascular specialties.
Learn more at re-evolutionsummit.org
Southwest Valve Summit – On the River
4/12/13 - 4/14/13
Austin, Texas
This Heart Valve Summit – on the River, is designed to highlight case based decision making for the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of heart valve disorders. With an emphasis on functional anatomy, imaging innovation, and percutaneous valve interventions, this course will engage and educate cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, internal medicine specialists, and fellows in training. This interdisciplinary summit will combine short presentations, debates, and an ask-the-expert live valve conference to expose participants to the most relevant medical, surgical, and interventional options for contemporaray patient care. The topics, cases, and discussions will include both accepted and controversial treatment paradigms and will offer novel perspectives and recommendations to all members of the heart valve team.
This event is designed for cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, internal medicine specialists, cardiovascular imaging technologists, fellows, residents, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners in the cardiovascular specialties.
Learn more at methodisthealth.com/SouthwestValveSummit
Cardiovascular Fellows' Bootcamp
Houston – 8/16/13 - 8/18/13
Cardiovascular Fellows' Bootcamp is a condensed weekend course in the fundamentals of cardiovascular sciences for fellows and residents designed to upgrade knowledge early in training.
The content of the program is ideal for first-year vascular surgery, interventional cardiology, CT surgery, vascular medicine, interventional radiology fellows and third-year primary certificate VS residents. For more information, complete our online contact us form or call 713-441-9989.
Imaging
Cardiac MRI Workshop
Program Dates
6/10/13 - 6/14/13
10/14/13 - 10/18/13
Houston, Texas
Cardiovascular MRI (CMR) is a unique imaging modality that is used in diagnosing and subsequently managing cardiovascular diseases in patients. CMR provides a robust, noninvasive means of assessing myocardial function, viability, and morphology. Additionally, it can be useful in assessing valvular heart disease, cardiac tumors, and the vascular system. There are many advantages to obtaining CMR; with detailed images and quantitations, referring physicians are able to obtain one test to answer their questions with the treatments of their patients. This technology holds tremendous promise in evaluating and treating CV diseases.
Associated with its robust nature, CMR is also a very complex technology with a steep learning curve. As a result, there are currently few centers performing CMR in routine clinical practice. The Cardiovascular MRI Workshop is a weeklong program that covers the practical applications of Cardiac MRI. Topics will include basic MRI priciples, cardiac anatomy, late gadolinium enhancement, stress imaging, vascular imaging, case interpretations and troubleshooting of image acquisitions. This program emphasizes the development of practical skills and knowledge, therefore it is limited to small groups in order to better facilitate lectures and hands-on experiences. The workshop is geared for cardiologists, radiologists, and technologists who are interested in gaining exposure to CMRI, and attendees can expect to review more than 50 clinical CMR cases.
This event is designed for cardiologists, radiologists, and MRI technologists.
Learn more at methodisthealth.com/cmri
SAVE THE DATE
4th Annual Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging for the Clinician
9/13/13 - 9/15/13
Houston, Texas
Cardiovascular imaging plays a vital role in the management of the cardiovascular patient. This symposium offers the opportunity, in addition to didactic lectures by world experts, to have small group tutorials in each imaging modality, and hands-on experience with heart specimens to better visualize and understand cardiac and valvular structure and enhance correlations with cardiac imaging.
The 4th Annual Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging for the Clinician is designed for cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, internists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, critical care physicians, advanced cardiovascular practitioners, fellows in training, cardiovascular nurses, sonographers, cardiovascular imaging technologists in areas such as echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, cardiac CT, and cardiac MRI.
Collaborative & Other Events
No courses scheduled at this time. Please check back again at a later date.
MDHVC Annual Report
The Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center 2012 Annual Report
Learn more about MDHVC's commitment to advancing cardiovascular care through innovative research, education and patient care. (pdf version)
Heart & Vascular Screenings
Be good to your heart with a Heart & Vascular Screening Package.
It's quick, noninvasive and could save your life. Choose from one of four Heart & Vascular Screening Packages from the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center.
You can register for a Heart & Vascular Screening Package online or call 713-DEBAKEY (332-2539).
Patient Journey
U.S.News & World Report
Ranked as one of the top hospitals in the country in Cardiology and Heart Surgery!
The Methodist Hospital ranked among the country's top hospitals in 13 specialties in U.S. News & World Report's 2012 America's "Best Hospitals" issue, and was named the No. 1 hospital in Texas.
The Methodist Hospital also ranked No. 1 in the Houston area in the magazine's Best Metro Area Hospitals list.
Learn more
