An Early Interest in Immunology Set the Stage for Building a Scientific Career at Mount Sinai

Updated on Feb 8, 2026 | Featured, School

Ananya Parthasarathy, MSBS

Ananya Parthasarathy, MSBS, a first-year student in the PhD in Biomedical Sciences program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, recalls developing an interest in immunology while growing up in India, including becoming involved in a project to investigate bacterial contents in Indian street foods.

She completed her Master of Science in Biomedical Science at the Icahn School of Medicine in June 2025, and is now continuing to work in the Immunology Multidisciplinary Training Area in the lab of Karen Edelblum, PhD, studying intraepithelial lymphocytes. Before this, she completed her bachelor of science, with honors, in biology at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru, India, where she gained research experience working with bacterial and cnidarian model organisms.

In this Q&A, she discusses why she chose Mount Sinai, the focus of her research in the immune system, and her career aspirations.

Why did you choose to study at Mount Sinai?

I chose to study at Mount Sinai because of the strong research focus of the MSBS program, particularly the wide array of research opportunities in studying immune functioning at barrier sites. Through the MSBS program, I gained not only theoretical knowledge from immunology elective courses, but also invaluable research experience in working with mouse models and using a variety of experimental techniques to study immune functioning in the small intestine.

What were some of your accomplishments during your time in the Master of Science in Biomedical Science (MSBS) program?

During my time in the MSBS program, I had multiple opportunities to present my research to faculty and my peers to receive feedback on my project. In doing so, I received awards such as best presentation at the MSBS Research Symposium in June 2024, and best poster presentation at the Pathology Research Day in May 2025. Outside of Mount Sinai, I attended the American Physiology Society Summit in April 2025, where I was awarded a Research Recognition Award and a Distinguished Abstract Award. Towards the end of my MSBS journey and the start of my PhD, I applied for and received the Society for Mucosal Immunology Technique-Sharing Travel Grant, which will contribute to my PhD project in 2026.

How did the MSBS program prepare you to apply for a PhD program?

The research and academic experience I gained during the MSBS program prepared me for PhD applications. Being part of PhD-level courses delving into fundamental concepts of biomedical science and immunology ensured I had a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge to conduct research. The exposure to multiple research techniques and the resources available at Mount Sinai allowed me to perform independent research and write a thesis for my MSBS degree, which ultimately prepared me for research as a graduate student.

Why continue your education at Mount Sinai with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences?

I enjoyed working in the Edelblum Lab, which is the primary reason I chose to continue my education at Mount Sinai. During the MSBS program, I completed all the academic requirements for the PhD in Biomedical Sciences, which allowed me to jump straight into full time research as a first-year PhD student. Additionally, the multitude of opportunities at Mount Sinai to present one’s research, as well as the accessibility and availability of resources to answer a wide array of research questions, encouraged me to continue my education at Mount Sinai. I also appreciate the collaborative nature of the immunology and graduate student departments at Mount Sinai, and was keen to continue working in such a supportive environment.

What made you interested in the immunology training area?

I have always been interested in understanding how bacteria influence the human body, particularly the immune system. Growing up in India, I was no stranger to conversations about the hygiene hypothesis and the importance of probiotics to the gut microbiome; these conversations made me interested in understanding how microbes in the human body can influence immune functioning at steady state, as well as how this can change in the context of disease. I interned at a microbiology lab in high school to investigate bacterial contents in Indian street foods, and conducted research for my undergraduate thesis on how skincare products affect the human skin microbiome.

What is the focus of your research?

My research in the Edelblum lab explores the role of gd intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) in intestinal homeostasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As an MSBS student, I studied the role of CD47 in gd IEL migration, and am finishing up this project to publish soon. For my PhD, I am investigating regulators of gd IEL activation and migration at steady state, focusing on the role of CD103 in signal transduction.

What are your plans after you complete your PhD?

After my PhD, I intend to continue conducting research in immune functioning at barrier sites, whether that be in industry or academia. As a first-year student, I look forward to gaining more experience in academic research, as well as in teaching and mentoring, to better understand the trajectory of my scientific career post graduate school.

Learn more about the PhD in Biomedical Sciences Program

Here’s What You Should Know About the New Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation

Jan 5, 2026 | Children's Health, Family Medicine, Featured, Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics

For several decades, federal guidelines regarding hepatitis B vaccination for infants in the United States had been unchanged and consisted of a first shot given at birth, a second at 1-2 months, and a third at 6-18 months.

In December 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new recommendations for hepatitis B vaccinations. For infants born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B, the agency recommended the initial shot only at two months or after, and for infants to undergo antibody testing to determine whether the second and third shots are needed.

“The medical community hasn’t changed its stance on hepatitis B vaccinations, however,” says Daniel Caplivski, MD, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine, and Director of the Icahn School of Medicine Travel Medicine Program.

Daniel Caplivski, MD, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (left), and Roberto Posada, MD, Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (right).

“Hepatitis B is a virus that, for many people, once they get the infection, they have it for the rest of their lives,” says Roberto Posada, MD, Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “It can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, both of which are very preventable through childhood vaccination.”

Why are medical experts recommending that infants receive hepatitis B vaccinations at birth and to receive all shots? Drs. Caplivski and Posada explain the rationale behind the schedule and other facts about the virus.

Why should babies be vaccinated for hepatitis B at birth?
Dr. Posada: This recommendation had been in place since 1991. There are a few reasons why medical experts had pushed for hepatitis B vaccination for infants at birth. Usually, we check pregnant women for hepatitis B. But some people might not have access to full prenatal care, or the check sometimes gets missed. A mother in that situation can unknowingly pass hepatitis B on to the child. Vaccination at birth can prevent that.

Another reason is that the opportunity to protect the child is highest at the moment of childbirth. Once a child and mother are discharged, they might not return for follow-up appointments, or do so at the appropriate times. Thus, giving the hepatitis B vaccination right at childbirth at least provides that initial protection.

What’s the risk of waiting to vaccinate infants for hepatitis B?
Dr. Posada: For infants, other than hepatitis B being passed from the mother, the virus can be transmitted to some degree through household exposure to someone who has hepatitis B. For example, sharing utensils, an infant putting a parent’s toothbrush in the mouth—these are not the main ways of contracting the disease, but they can happen. We want to vaccinate the kids in the event there is someone in the household with hepatitis B.

Other than for infants, the main way hepatitis B is transmitted is through sexual transmission or contact with contaminated blood, such as via needles. That’s another reason to vaccinate children before they become sexually active.

Is the hepatitis B vaccine effective at preventing transmission?
Dr. Caplivski: Ever since we adopted the practice of vaccinating infants at birth, the rate of infants and children contracting hepatitis B has dropped to practically zero.

And the success of vaccinating at childbirth has been replicated around the world. In China, after they adopted a three-dose vaccination schedule from birth, the prevalence of hepatitis B carriers under 5 years old fell from 10 percent to around 0.3 percent in 10 years. That’s a lot of lives saved from chronic complications of the disease.

What could be the consequences of contracting hepatitis B?
Dr. Posada: If a baby gets it at birth, they’re very likely to have it for the rest of their life. And because the infection is lifelong, the more chances for cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer to develop in the lifetime. Someone who contracts it at an older age has a higher chance of clearing the infection from the body.

Dr. Caplivski: The long-term consequences of liver failure and cancer are incredibly difficult for a patient. It is a medically intensive disease, but it also has a huge impact on health care expenditures. All of these could be avoided through vaccinations at childbirth.

According to statistics from the CDC, about 9 in 10 infants who become infected go on to develop lifelong chronic infection. The risk goes down as a child gets older. About 1 in 3 children who get infected before age 6 will develop chronic hepatitis B. Approximately 15–25 percent of people with chronic infection develop chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
Is it safe for infants to be vaccinated at childbirth?
Dr. Posada: The vaccine is a recombinant vaccine—meaning it is not a live virus; it is only protein from the virus synthesized in the lab. It cannot cause infection. Other than discomfort at the time of injection, we have had decades of data showing that hepatitis B vaccination at childbirth is safe.
Would the new recommendation by CDC create any access changes?

Dr. Caplivski: Historically, insurers have used CDC recommendations to base their coverage of vaccinations. While the federal entity is retreating from actively recommending hepatitis B vaccinations at childbirth, don’t forget that state departments of health can have their own recommendations and intervene if needed. In the case of New York State, there has been no change in guidelines, and we are still actively recommending hepatitis B vaccinations at childbirth.

What the new CDC action might have caused is a worsening of vaccine skepticism. Even in that situation, it is worth speaking with your pediatrician and health provider to learn more about what is the right course of action for you and your child.

Dr. Posada: Besides talking to your pediatrician, there are other sources of information that are well trusted, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics. It has very good information about childhood vaccines. At the end of the day, as doctors, we want your children to be healthy too.

 

Why Flu Cases Are High Right Now, and What You Should Do

Jan 2, 2026 | Featured, Your Health

Every fall and winter, health care professionals remind people to get the flu shot and take basic precautions. But this season it’s even more important, as flu rates are unusually high.

For example, in late December, the New York State Department of Health reported the highest number of flu cases in a single week since these records were kept, beginning in 2004. The flu season typically peaks in December, January, and February.

In this Q&A, Jennifer Duchon, MD, MPH, DrPH, explains why flu rates are high now, and what you should do about it, especially to protect those most vulnerable, including children under age 5, pregnant persons, adults over age 65, and those with chronic illnesses or weak immune systems. Dr. Duchon is Hospital Epidemiologist and Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Jennifer Duchon, MD, MPH, DrPH

What symptoms should I look out for?

Common flu symptoms include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough and sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headache and body aches
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Vomiting or diarrhea

Symptoms tend to come on more suddenly than other viruses like the common cold, and can linger, especially the cough. Symptoms to worry about are trouble breathing or very fast breathing, persistent chest pain, inability to drink or keep down liquids, confusion, or if a fever or symptoms improve and then suddenly worsen.

Why are more people getting sick with the flu right now?

Flu cases are more widespread this season for a couple of important reasons. Each year, the influenza vaccine is developed in advance of the season, using surveillance data and modeling to predict how influenza strains will change and which strains will circulate. This year, after the vaccine was produced, one of the influenza strains developed changes in some of the viral proteins. These changes in the virus’s proteins mean that one strain of flu that is circulating this year is not as well matched to the vaccine as we would like, making the vaccine less effective in preventing the flu.

What are other factors?

Overall, skepticism about vaccines has increased, resulting in fewer people being vaccinated against the flu. When fewer people are immunized, influenza spreads more easily within communities. Together, these factors contribute not only to a higher number of flu cases, but also to a greater risk of more severe illness, particularly in young children, older adults, and those with underlying medical conditions.

Why is it important to get the flu shot?

Even though the flu vaccine is not a perfect match to the most common strain circulating this year, vaccination is still strongly recommended. This year’s flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of the most serious complications of influenza, including hospitalization, pneumonia, and death—especially in vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant persons, older adults, and people with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma or heart disease. Children cannot be vaccinated against the flu until they are six months old, so it’s important that the whole household (and caregivers) get vaccinated to protect the most vulnerable members of the family.

What should you do if your family gets the flu?

If someone in your family develops flu symptoms, focus on the basics:

  • Rest and good hydration are essential.
  • Fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®) can help with aches and fever when used as directed.
  • Antiviral medications such as Tamiflu® and Xofluza® can be prescribed by a health care provider. When started early, these medicines can shorten the duration of illness and reduce the risk of severe complications.

It is also important to limit the spread of the virus. Anyone who is sick should wear a mask. They should stay home from school, work, and activities, at least until symptoms are improving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications for more than one day. Within the household, practicing good cough etiquette, frequent handwashing, and cleaning commonly touched surfaces can help protect other family members. Most people can recuperate from the flu on their own. If symptoms are severe, worsening, or if the person is at higher risk for complications, you should contact your doctor.

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Mount Sinai Cardio-Oncology Program Receives Highest Designation for Excellence

Updated on Jan 8, 2026 | Cancer, Cardiology, Featured, Heart Health

Gagan Sahni, MD, right, Director of Mount Sinai’s Cardio-Oncology Program, with Chime Lhamu, NP

The Cardio-Oncology Program at The Mount Sinai Hospital, under the directorship of Gagan Sahni, MD, has once again been awarded Gold Center of Excellence status. This renewed designation extends through 2028, marking another three years of internationally recognized excellence.

This is the highest designation of certification from the International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS), the largest international platform for physicians and nurse practitioners dedicated to cardiovascular care of cancer patients.

In 2022, Mount Sinai became the first institution in New York State to be awarded Gold status as a Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence by IC-OS. Some 53 cardio-oncology programs nationwide and 27 worldwide have been awarded this recognition acknowledging exceptional cardiovascular care of oncology patients. This international honor by IC-OS is awarded at three levels—bronze, silver, and gold. To receive a Gold certification, the institution must fulfill stringent requirements across six scoring categories, including patient volume, research and publications, interdisciplinary care, education, committee involvement, and program building. It is valid for three years and signifies the program has demonstrated outstanding professional contributions to Cardio-Oncology.

“Many cancer treatments—which includes chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy—can adversely affect the heart, and it is imperative that the appropriate patients are referred to a specialist in the field of Cardio-Oncology in a timely way,” explains Dr. Sahni, Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

“My specialty focuses on early prevention, detection, treatment, and management of the potential cardiac effects of cancer treatments, so that the patients are able to safely continue their therapies. These cardiac adverse effects may include a myriad of conditions such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, arrhythmias, blood clots, angina, and pericardial effusion—a buildup of fluid around the heart. All of these conditions should be addressed promptly by a specialist who is familiar with the effects of cancer therapies and coordinates tailor-made cardiology care with the patient’s oncologist.”

The Cardio-Oncology clinic at Mount Sinai was established in 2013 by Dr. Sahni, who is a Fellow of the International Cardio-Oncology Society, one of fewer than 20 physicians in the world awarded this distinction for her contributions to the field. The program provides personalized cardio-oncology consultations to more than 2,500 cancer patients annually from The Tisch Cancer Center and across the Mount Sinai network with inpatient, outpatient, and telemedicine consultations. This includes nearly a decade of close multidisciplinary collaborations with oncologists, radiation oncologists, onco-surgeons, onco-generalists, onco-nephrologists, onco-neurologists, onco-endocrinologists, and nurse practitioners.

“This designation of Gold Center of Excellence recognizes the dedication of the Cardio-Oncology team at The Mount Sinai Hospital in advancing specialized heart care for our cancer patients at a nation-leading level, and we are proud to be able to provide state-of-the-art specialty care to them,” says Dr. Sahni.

Physicians can make Cardio-Oncology appointments for their patients by calling 212-241-4977.

Learn more about the Cardio-Oncology Program at The Mount Sinai Hospital

Mount Sinai Nurses: Inspiring the Next Generation Through Unique Learning Opportunities

Updated on Dec 18, 2025 | Featured, Nursing, School

2025 Student Nurse Intern graduates

With a laser focus on cultivating the next generation of nurses, the Mount Sinai Health System leads the way with two unique and popular programs for students. Both provide an invaluable, hands-on, hospital-based experience to those on a path to becoming a nurse. The Summer Student Nurse Internship is available to nursing students who have completed at least one year of nursing school, and the Nursing Pathway Program is open to high school students who may be interested in a nursing career.

Summer Student Nurse Internship

This year, Mount Sinai received 800 applications for its Summer Student Nurse Internship Program. Nearly 150 college students were accepted into the program, representing 40 nursing schools from throughout the United States. Each intern was paired with a registered nurse mentor who they shadowed throughout the 10-week summer program, working nearly full-time hours and on a paid basis.

“Because of the length of the internship, student nurses are able to gain a deeper understanding of how the nurses work, how the unit functions, and what their role will be like as a nurse on the units that goes far beyond what they get from a textbook or clinical rotation,” says Kathleen Schulz, MA, RN, Nurse Education Manager, Nursing Education and Professional Development.

From left: Sophia Cimino, student; David Reich, MD, Chief Clinical Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System; Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN; and Maria Vezina, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. Sophia was honored for outstanding performance.

In the summer of 2023, Rhoda Rae Bonglo, RN, BSN, interned at The Mount Sinai Hospital on a postpartum mother-baby unit as a rising senior at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She described her internship experience as a bit of a shock in the beginning.

“Nursing school is much more theory-based, and while we have clinicals, that’s a once-a-week experience, usually following a different RN each time,” she says. “By contrast, the Mount Sinai internship helps you transition as a new grad by bringing the textbook and the classroom to life. I was able to work with the same clinical nurse for three months, three times a week. This gave me some continuity and an invaluable way to learn tips, insights, and how to organize my day as a full-time nurse.”

All aspects of the student nurse internship program are aimed at supporting these future nurses at a critical time in their career path. For example, a series of weekly Enrichment “Lunch and Learn” Sessions provided insights into interviewing, creating resumes, transitioning to practice, exploring advanced practice nursing, and other critical topics. There are also structured reflection opportunities for the interns to meet, hear about one another’s experiences, and build relationships. Mount Sinai continues to expand the practice settings available to the interns, this year adding positions in the OR, hospital-at-home program, behavioral health and ambulatory settings.

Following graduation, Ms. Bonglo applied for a position with the Health System and now works in the Heart Failure Unit at The Mount Sinai Hospital. “I knew without a doubt that’s where I wanted to work,” she says. “I knew the culture, I knew the systems, and I had a few connections with the staff. My internship made for a much smoother start to my nursing career.”

Nursing Pathway Program

Now in its third year, the Nursing Pathway Program is managed by Mount Sinai Nursing in partnership with the Mount Sinai Office for Health Data, Outcomes and Engagement Strategy (HDOES). Developed for local New York City high school students, this six-week summer internship program introduces sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school to the field of nursing through immersive, hands-on experiences.

“At Mount Sinai, we recognize that the future of nursing begins long before a student enters nursing school,” says Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Chief Nurse Executive, Senior Vice President, Cardiac Services, Mount Sinai Health System. “The Nursing Pathway Program allows us to reach talented, compassionate high school students early—helping them see the incredible opportunities within our profession. By nurturing their curiosity and confidence, we are building a stronger, more diverse nursing workforce to serve our communities for generations to come.”

Graduates from the 2025 High School Pathways Program

This year more than 100 high school students participated in the program, primarily identified through a long-standing collaboration with Grant Associates and NYC Public Schools. Among them were children of Mount Sinai 1199SEIU members, whose placements were made possible through support from Human Resources Labor Relations and an established partnership with the 1199SEIU Child Care Funds & Child Care Corporation—demonstrating a continued commitment to grow from within. Participants were selected based on their grade point average and an application essay. They were then paired with nurse managers and gained exposure by shadowing nurses and patient care associates, observing team meetings and safety huddles, engaging in select non-clinical patient care activities, and more.

“Some of the most gratifying feedback we get comes from parents who share that the experience totally changed their child’s perspective,” says Mackenzy Scott, MBA, RN, CPHQ, Associate Program Director, ​Quality and Safety, Cardiac Services. “They emerge really gung-ho about a career in nursing.”

Popular components of the program include a visit to the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, where the high school students gain a feel for a critical step in the pursuit of a nursing career. During weekly “Summer Wednesday” presentations, interns from throughout the Health System gather to learn directly from nurses about the various roles and specialties within the profession.

“The Summer Wednesday series was intentionally designed to expand the interns’ understanding of health equity and care delivery by exposing them to presenters from across the Health System, including nursing, medical illustration, data analytics, environmental health, communications, and more,” says Tiffany Keith, MSW, Assistant Director, Mount Sinai Office for Health Data, Outcomes and Engagement Strategy. The sessions typically included morning presentations facilitated by subject matter experts, followed by afternoon panel discussions and interactive intellectual exercises.

“Many of the students mentioned how reassuring it was to hear about the nurses’ varying career journeys,” says Olivia Boos, Pathways Coordinator and Administrative Assistant, Nursing Operations and Cardiac Services.

All involved agree the interns also bring a welcome burst of energy and enthusiasm to their assigned care settings. “It’s important to recognize that it’s not only them learning from us, but we are learning from them,” Mr. Scott says.

To promote this two-way learning, interns are asked to create a summer project—a proposed initiative or idea based on their summer experience—that they present at the program graduation. This year, interns shared their perspectives on artificial intelligence; supply tracking systems; mental health awareness; the importance of preventive care; advancing health equity; and extending mobile health to New York City neighborhoods.

The Mount Sinai Health System administrators of the High School Pathways Program

“It was incredibly fulfilling to watch students discover the many career paths in nursing,” Ms. Keith says. “Not only are they learning about their passions, but they are also drawing parallels between health equity and their own lives and thinking critically about ways to close health care gaps. It was an honor to experience this program through the eyes of the participants.”

“Mount Sinai nurses are leaders,” says Maria L. Vezina, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Vice President and Chief of Nursing Practice, Education, Advanced Practice Nursing Credentialing, and Labor Relations Partnerships for the Mount Sinai Health System. “They serve as exemplars of what it means to be a strong, skilled, and compassionate nurse. And it’s even more gratifying to see how they inspire young minds to shine.”

A Young Mother Is Celebrating the Holidays After a Health Scare Led to Lifesaving Care at Mount Sinai

Updated on Dec 13, 2025 | Featured

Lindsay MacOdrum visited Times Square shortly before she and her family, including her son Tommy, 9, took a bike ride in Central Park, where she went into cardiac arrest and collapsed. She was able to recover and return to her life in Canada thanks to her stepson Maddox, 17, who began CPR, and to the quick actions of emergency responders and doctors at Mount Sinai Morningside.

Lindsay MacOdrum and her family have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season—a new chance at life after an unexpected health scare almost turned deadly during a family trip to New York City.

And it could have happened to virtually anyone.

The 41-year-old mother and elementary school teacher was visiting from Canada last June with her family. During a bike ride in New York’s Central Park, she went into cardiac arrest and collapsed in front of her kids. Her teenage stepson immediately began CPR (he just learned it a week before for a job as a camp counselor). She was rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside. Emergency responders thought her chances of survival were slim. Her parents would later fly in to say their goodbyes.

But thanks to the quick actions of paramedics and doctors in the Emergency Department, and then a medical procedure that discovered an undetected heart condition, she is now back home and her heart is functioning normally.

“The reason she was able to walk out of the hospital and why she is now living her life is because she had early CPR,” says Dan Pugliese, MD, a cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital at Mount Sinai Morningside, who cared for Ms. MacOdrum. “You don’t need to be a doctor or a nurse to be able to do CPR and save a loved one or a stranger.”

“It’s very rare for someone like her who is young, active, and in great physical shape to experience this,” says Dan Pugliese, MD, a cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital at Mount Sinai Morningside who cared for Ms. MacOdrum, told the Toronto Sun. About one in 1,000 people in the United States experience such a sudden cardiac incident, according to Dr. Pugliese, a specialist in heart rhythm disorders.

For Ms. MacOdrum, the episode was a powerful reminder not to ignore unusual medical symptoms, as well as the importance of learning CPR. “It’s a miracle that I am alive,” she told the newspaper.

“The reason she was able to walk out of the hospital and why she is now living her life is because she had early CPR,” adds Dr. Pugliese. “You don’t need to be a doctor or a nurse to be able to do CPR and save a loved one or a stranger.” Another reason she was able to recover fairly quickly was that she was in good physical condition.

Ms. MacOdrum had always lived an active lifestyle. A former soccer player, she has been an avid runner and works as a physical education teacher. She thought she was the epitome of health. She and her family lived in a picturesque small town about 50 miles from Toronto.

She was shocked to learn later that she had been living with a heart condition.

Looking back on her situation, she recognizes she had symptoms that she didn’t realize were associated with a heart problem.

Weeks earlier, she had to pause during her daily runs because she was out of breath. She felt tired when she was teaching.

In June, the family traveled to the New York area so that her nine-year-old son Tommy could play in a hockey tournament in New Jersey.  Days before the incident, she felt shoulder pain while watching her son’s tournament. She figured she was just exhausted and sore.

On Sunday, June 15, the family decided to take an afternoon bike ride in Central Park. Suddenly, she didn’t feel well. She got off the bike, and laid down. Her face turned blue/grey and her husband thought she was having a seizure. She lost consciousness and her stepson Maddox, 17, began chest compressions while a bystander called 911. A doctor and a nurse continued performing CPR for another six minutes before an ambulance arrived, according to the newspaper account.

She would subsequently go into sudden cardiac arrest and had no pulse for 30 minutes. Paramedics shocked her heart five times in the ambulance on the way to the emergency room. Her situation was dire. She regained her pulse at Mount Sinai Morningside, but she was in a coma, on a ventilator in the ICU.

Five days later, she started to improve. A cardiac MRI detected an undiagnosed cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle) which led to the arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) that caused the cardiac arrest. After the team of cardiologists in the ICU helped her recover, Dr. Pugliese performed a procedure to place a defibrillator in her heart to shock it back into a normal rhythm if it detects another dangerous arrhythmia to prevent another life-threatening event.

After 12 days in the hospital, she was able to fly home, with a nurse sitting next to her on the plane, according to the newspaper account. Now, months later her heart is functioning normally at over 50 percent compared to 30 percent when the incident took place, when measuring the efficiency of how the heart pumps blood.

She is walking about five miles a day, doing some light weight training, and riding on her exercise bike. She hopes to start running again soon and return to work in January. And she wants others to learn from her experience. If something suddenly feels out of the ordinary, she’s urging women to take this seriously and see a doctor. Her doctor agrees.

“If there’s a pattern of you feeling different, that something is not quite right, that’s a clue to go and get it checked out,” says Dr. Pugliese. “As cardiologists, we’re happy to see a patient to make sure we are not missing something. And if we do find something, we know what to do.”

It’s especially important because doctors now understand that heart issues can affect a diverse group of people.

“There is this pervasive myth that young women don’t develop heart disease, that it’s only old men who smoke cigarettes and have high cholesterol,” he adds. “But that’s not the case. There are many different types of heart disease that can develop, and not all heart disease starts with chest pain.”

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