Presented by Montefiore Medical Center in Partnership with Everyday Health
and the New York City American Heart Association

WHAT: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. To celebrate American Heart Month, Montefiore Medical Center (@MontefioreNYC), Everyday Health (@EverydayHealth) and the New York City American Heart Association (@FoundersHeart) are hosting a Twitter chat to discuss heart disease – what it is, what are the major risk factors and ways to prevent it.

WHY:    February is American Heart Month and it provides an important time for everyone to focus on their heart health. Heart disease can stem from a variety of conditions including abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), heart failure and coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing more than 385,000 people each year and carrying a cost of more than $108 billion annually.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 20, 1-2 p.m.

HOW:  Join the Twitter chat using the hashtag #HealthTalk

WHO:  Robert Michler, M.D. (@RMichlerMD)
           Surgeon-in-Chief, Montefiore Medical Center
           Samuel I. Belkin Chair
           Chairman, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
           Chairman, Department of Surgery
           Co-Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care
           Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Robert Michler, M.D., is an internationally noted heart surgeon who specializes in complex aortic and mitral valve repair. His research interest in regenerating the injured heart has led to clinical trials in autologous skeletal myoblast and cardiac stem cell transplantation. He is an NIH-funded investigator and leader in clinical trial enrollment. Dr. Michler and his teams have advanced knowledge in the fields of heart transplantation, mechanical heart devices, minimally invasive heart surgery and surgical robotics. His work led to FDA approval for selective cardiac robotic procedures including mitral valve repair and coronary bypass surgery.