A Letter from the Forum Moderator

Dear Member of theheart.org,

Welcome to theheart.org Forum, where discussions among healthcare providers, clinicians, and researchers reflect our common goal of decreasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality around the world. Please add your commentary in the spirit of education and innovation. You are welcome to "agree or disagree" with thought-provoking conversation but please be considerate and concise and refrain from advertising and repetitive posts.

We hope you will view our Forum as a unique opportunity to exchange new information, present interesting case scenarios, render advice, or request an opinion. This international sounding board can effect a positive change in cardiovascular healthcare in every corner of the world; therefore, we enthusiastically welcome and encourage your participation.

Please conclude your message with your name and general location. We encourage you to disclose any real or apparent conflicts of interest. If you work for industry you are welcome to participate, but you should identify your affiliation. You may not cite or otherwise republish any of the contents of this Forum without the permission of the author or of theheart.org.

If you have any technical difficulties with the Forum, please click on the "help" icon at the top of every page. If this does not solve your problem please send an email message to info@theheart.org.

Sincerely,


Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD, FACP, FACC

Dr Shirley performs invasive cardiology, nuclear cardiology, and stress echocardiography in a private practice in Glasgow, KY. Her chief medical interests are CHF/HOCM and the promotion of primary PCI for acute MI. Recently she played a significant role in helping to launch an ambitious pilot study of primary PCI in Kentucky, the Kentucky Primary Angioplasty Pilot Project. She has also participated in the TIMI 19, Duke-HF, NRMI, and CRUSADE trials.

Dr Shirley received her undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky and went to medical school and did her residency and fellowship at the University of Louisville.

She is married with two daughters. Her interests include singing, writing poetry and songs, fitness, and, of course, theheart.org.