Center for Multicultural Cardiovascular Care

Overview

As a leader in heart and vascular care, Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute recognizes that rates of disorders such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), cerebrovascular disease (Stroke), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and premature renal failure are high among certain groups of patients due to cultural backgrounds.

These disorders are 3 to 4 more common among these patients and lead to higher rates of:

• Vascular Disease, which can result in limb amputation and stroke
• Heart Disease, including heart attack, heart failure and aortic aneurysm
• Kidney Disease. Including kidney failure, renal hypertension, dialysis and kidney transplant

These related diseases affect the patients’ quality of life.

Research suggests that among minority and cultural groups, patients with these conditions may not have access to the advanced treatments they need or treatment may be offered only after the disease has gotten much worse. These treatments include limb revascularization to prevent amputation, vascular treatments for renal artery disease, coronary artery stent or bypass surgery, carotid artery stent or bypass surgery and aortic aneurysm repair.

The Center for Multicultural Cardiovascular Care is designed to:

• Research and understand the nature of heart and vascular diseases that are unique to special groups
• Identify appropriate testing for high risk populations
• Provide access to treatment
• Understand how treatments differ among races and cultures

What We Treat

Specialists in the Multicultural Cardiovascular Care Center provide the following services:

• Risk factor evaluation and planning
• General Cardiology Care
• Treatment of specific conditions such as
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart Failure
• Amyloidosis – ATTR
• Peripheral Artery Disease and amputation prevention
• Carotid Artery Disease and stroke prevention
• Hypertension
• Cardiometabolic Disease (including diabetes and obesity)
• Arrhythmias

In addition, the Multicultural Cardiovascular Center works with our community partners to provide screening and education to identify and prevent future disease

Our Team

Leadership:

• Lee Kirksey, MD – Department of Vascular Surgery

Team:

Clinical Cardiology

• Chete Eze-Nliam MD, MPH

Electrophysiology

• Oussama Wazni, MD

Vascular Medicine

• Jay Bishop, MD
• Geoffrey Ouma, DO

Heart Failure

• Paulino Alvarez, MD
• Emanuel Finet, MD
• Mazen Hanna, MD
• Eileen Hsich, MD
• Miriam Jacob, MD
• Randall Starling, MD, MPH
• Ziad Taimeh, MD
• H. Wilson Tang, MD

Preventive Cardiology

• Luke Laffin, MD - Hypertension Specialist
• Dennis Bruemmer, MD, PhD– Diabetes Specialist

Vascular Surgery

• Francis Caputo, MD
• Lee Kirksey, MD
• Sean Lyden, MD

Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

• Haytham Elgharably, MD
• Eric Roselli, MD
• Patrick Vargo, MD

Make An Appointment

What to Expect

Whether you are coming from around the corner or around the world, you want to know what to expect before, during and after your visit with us. If you have any questions while reviewing this information, please contact us. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Becoming a Patient by Discipline

Your needs as a patient can guide your care. For example, you may need monitoring and regular follow-up over a long period of time, or maybe you have just been diagnosed with a condition and need to establish a care and treatment plan. Perhaps you are exploring treatment options and need a surgery consultation.. No matter what your needs, we are here for you every step of the way. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call.

By Phone

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
216.444.6697 or toll-free 800.223.2273, ext. 46697

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
toll-free 877-843-2781

Department of Vascular Surgery
216.444.4508 or toll-free 800.223.2273, ext. 44508

Directions

Cleveland Clinic is located at:
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195

Your appointment will be scheduled in the Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute (J or F Building).

When you make your appointment, ask for your physician’s name and desk number.

You may find the following links helpful:

• Door-to-door/valet directions
• Door-to-garage directions
• Travel Guide

If you have trouble finding your physician’s desk once you arrive at Cleveland Clinic, you can ask any of our Red Coats for directions. They are happy to help.

Online

Use our secure online form to submit an appointment request 24/7. We will receive it and follow-up with you as soon as possible.

• Submit an online request

Online Second Opinions

Use our secure online form to submit an online second opinion request.

• Submit an online second opinion request

Physician Referrals

Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET):
toll-free 800.659.7822

• More info on referrals, transfers and critical care transport.

At all other times, call Patient Access Services locally 216.444.8302 or toll-free 800.553.5056

News & Publications

• What Happened When Barbers Helped Black Men With High Blood Pressure, Dr. Barzilai, Health Essentials, 04/19/18
• Heart Disease: Reducing Risks for African-Americans, Dr. Kirksey, Health Essentials, 02/15/2017
• Smoking tied to increased heart failure risk in African-Americans, Dr. Joyce, AHA News, 04/16/2018

Resources

Facts and stats

African Americans:

• 3% have heart disease
• 33% have hypertension
• 4% have had a stroke

South Asians have a three to five fold increased risk of myocardial infarction

Hispanics or Latinos (Mostly Mexican Americans):

• 8% have heart disease
• 9% have hypertension
• 4% have had a stroke

Facts and stats: risk factors

• Obesity 29.7% found in Mexican Americans and 48.4% African Americans
• Hypertension 41.2% found in African Americans

References

• Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.
• South Asians and Cardiovascular Risk.
• Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in South Asian Populations.