On this episode of Advances in Care , host Erin Welsh and Dr. Craig Smith, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia discuss the highlights of Dr. Smith’s 40+ year career as a cardiac surgeon and how the culture of Columbia has been a catalyst for innovation in cardiac care. Dr. Smith describes the excitement of helping to pioneer the institution’s heart transplant program in the 1980s, when it was just one of only three hospitals in the country practicing heart transplantation. Dr. Smith also explains how a unique collaboration with Columbia’s cardiology team led to the first of several groundbreaking trials, called PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic TraNscatheteR Valve), which paved the way for a monumental treatment for aortic stenosis — the most common heart valve disease that is lethal if left untreated. During the trial, Dr. Smith worked closely with Dr. Martin B. Leon, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Chief Innovation Officer and the Director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Center for the Division of Cardiology. Their findings elevated TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, to eventually become the gold-standard for aortic stenosis patients at all levels of illness severity and surgical risk. Today, an experienced team of specialists at Columbia treat TAVR patients with a combination of advancements including advanced replacement valve materials, three-dimensional and ECG imaging, and a personalized approach to cardiac care. Finally, Dr. Smith shares his thoughts on new frontiers of cardiac surgery, like the challenge of repairing the mitral and tricuspid valves, and the promising application of robotic surgery for complex, high-risk operations. He reflects on life after he retires from operating, and shares his observations of how NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia have evolved in the decades since he began his residency. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances…
This year, 2020, was kicked off to a rather eventful start that has taken the MENA region as well as the world by surprise. Geopolitical tensions, and more recently the coronavirus, will likely play a major role in shaping the investment scene in terms of asset allocation (i.e. which asset classes to buy/sell) and the ultimate chore of security selection (i.e. what to buy/sell in each asset class). Granted, risk will continue to drive investment performance across the board, so it is up to investors to first understand their investment profiles, set their goals accordingly, and target risk-adjusted rates of return. In our annual strategy note, we try to provide our clients with a vision that is as clear as possible to navigate the Egyptian financial markets. Thus, we are making a pun on the year 2020, trying to convey 20/20 vision as much as possible. But keep in mind that while 20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity at a certain distance, it does not necessarily mean perfect vision1. Hence, in this note, we try to keep an eye out for our clients without being too hyperopic (farsighted) or too myopic (shortsighted). We update our calls on the different sectors and present our stock ideas for this year, both long and short ideas.…