Ticker Talk

Episode 21: Ruzica’s Story: Self-Advocacy, Intuition, and Navigating the Cardiac Care Gap

In this episode of Ticker Talk, we share the remarkable and deeply personal story of Ruzica Subotic-Howell, a retired registered nurse and former military medic with over 40 years of experience in healthcare. Despite her extensive clinical background and expertise, Ruzica spent years searching for answers as she battled a life-threatening cardiac condition. Her experience offers a powerful example of the persistent gender gap in cardiac care, where women’s concerns are too often overlooked or misattributed. This conversation explores the profound shift from healthcare provider to patient. When her concerns weren’t taken seriously, Ruzica relied on her medical training to meticulously document her symptoms and advocate for herself. Now six months post-surgery, Ruzica reflects on the transformation that followed. Once defined by constant motion, she now lives with greater presence, balance, and mindfulness. Her story stands as a deeply human call for every listener to trust their instincts, track and document their symptoms, and never hesitate to advocate fiercely for their own care.

Episode 20: The Rhythm of Resilience: Vince Londini’s Story

In this episode, Ann-Marie welcomes Vince Londini - a heart patient, advocate, and dedicated patient partner - to discuss his lived experience with cardiovascular disease.  Vince’s story is one of perseverance and perspective. He talks candidly about the fear and uncertainty of heart disease, the importance of peer support, and the power of continuing to live your life fully, even when things feel out of control. Alongside medical treatment, Vince found immense support in his community through volunteering and by staying engaged with his work and family life. His message is grounded and encouraging: you can have a heart condition and still build a life full of meaning, impact, and connection. This conversation is a reminder that a heart condition is only one part of a person’s story—and that it’s possible to face it with honesty, resilience, and hope. For more information about VIRTUES [https://canetinc.ca/virtues/] and to self-refer to the VIRTUES Cardiac Care research study visit: https://referral.myvirtues.ca/virtues-heart-patient-self-referral [https://referral.myvirtues.ca/virtues-heart-patient-self-referral] Learn more about Vince's journey leading up to his heart event here [https://canetinc.ca/ticker-series/meet-vince/] To connect with others who have similar lived experiences, join the CANet Community of Patients & Caregivers at www.facebook.com/canetinc [http://www.facebook.com/canetinc]

Episode 19: The good, the bad, and the ugly: Exploring the Science of Cholesterol with Dr. Rob Hegele

In this episode of Ticker Talk, host Ann-Marie Julien speaks with Dr. Rob Hegele, distinguished Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Western University and Director of the London Regional Genomics Centre at Robarts Research Institute. Dr. Hegele also cares for over 2400 patients in his Lipid Clinic at University Hospital in London, Ontario. His research investigates the human genome to identify DNA markers that may suggest a hereditary predisposition to certain diseases. In doing so, this allows for preventative and personalized treatment strategies aimed at improving patients’ overall health outcomes.   This episode speaks to the role of lipids, particularly cholesterol and triglycerides, and their impact on cardiovascular health. Dr. Hegele explains the mechanisms behind LDL and HDL cholesterol, touches upon the lesser-known lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) and apolipoprotein b (ApoB) and emphasizes the importance of both primary and secondary prevention of heart disease. He brings listeners on a deep dive into the world of cholesterol management using concrete examples with a dash of light-hearted wit. Dr. Hegele’s insights into cholesterol and lipid management offer hope for individuals dealing with cardiovascular concerns. As research continues to evolve, the prevention and management of heart disease is becoming increasingly personalized and effective, ensuring a healthier future for patients worldwide. CANet’s educational materials offer a wealth of credible and well-presented information accessible on VIRTUES! To sign up for VIRTUES, click here. [https://referral.myvirtues.ca/virtues-heart-patient-self-referral]

Episode 18: From Awareness to Action: Insights on Women’s Heart Health with Dr. Najah Adreak

In this episode of Ticker Talk, host Ann-Marie is joined by Najah Adreak to discuss a crucial topic that touches the lives of countless women globally, yet often goes unnoticed until it’s too late: women’s heart health. Najah is a clinical researcher and Medical Doctor, with a focus and passion for women’s heart health, incorporating a racial and ethnic lens into women’s cardiac health, and less invasive cardiac surgery.  Throughout this conversation, Dr. Adreak emphasizes the significant disparities in heart disease awareness and treatment between men and women. Despite women's heart health being a critical issue, it remains largely underrecognized, understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. To address this knowledge gap, Najah underscores the importance of education and self-advocacy for women and urges collective action to address this public health crisis. She sheds light on initiatives led by the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance [https://www.cwhha.ca/] (CWHHA), such as the annual Wear Red Canada campaign [https://wearredcanada.ca/], which aims to start discussions on improving women’s cardiovascular health across the lifespan.  The conversation around women's heart health is just beginning, but with dedicated professionals like Dr. Adreak and the CWHHA  leading the charge, change is on the horizon. Najah’s message is clear: be your own advocate and support the women around you. Empower yourself and your community by starting the conversation, and together, we can make a difference in women's heart health.

Episode 17: Indigenous Perspectives in Healthcare: Insights from Dr. Alexandra King and Dr. Malcolm King

Dr. Alexandra King is a member of the Nipissing First Nation (Ontario). She is an Internal Medicine specialist, the inaugural Cameco chair in Indigenous Health and Wellness at the University of Saskatchewan, and co-lead of Pewaseskawn (the Indigenous Wellness Research Group). Dr. Alexandra King’s work supports Indigenous communities in improving health and wellness outcomes by understanding the needs of the communities she works with and the structural changes necessary to improve health outcomes. Dr. Malcolm King, a member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (Ontario), is a health researcher at the University of Saskatchewan and Scientific Director of the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research. Dr. King’s areas of interest include respiratory health concerns among Indigenous peoples, the intersection of education and health, health service delivery to vulnerable populations, and airborne disease transmission and chronic obstructive lung disease.  Together, they explore the innovative approaches to Indigenous health and wellness through the creation of the Mitewekwan project ᒥᑌᐍᑲᐣ (Cree meaning “the spirit behind the heartbeat”), which integrates Indigenous perspectives into cardiovascular and brain health research networks on the contextualization and adaption needed for culturally safe and responsive research and care. This conversation emphasizes the importance of Indigenous perspectives in research, community engagement, and the social and cultural determinants of health. They examine their roles in reshaping health research to prioritize Indigenous voices and experiences, aiming to improve health outcomes for Indigenous peoples while also benefiting broader communities. To learn more about Pewaseskwan, visit their website here [http://www.pewaseskwan.ca/]. For more information on the Mitewekwan, click here. [https://pewaseskwan.ca/projects/mitewekan/]