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Blog

HMR program renews Randy Christian's outlook as retirement approaches

After more than 40 years in the asphalt business, Randy Christian looks forward to his pending retirement at the end of 2022.

A grandfather of two with an interest in classic cars, Christian, whose health history includes a pair of strokes, wants to approach his next stage of life with renewed vigor as well. That’s why he turned to the Health Management Resources® (HMR) program at The Weight Loss & Wellness Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute (OHI).

“I wanted somebody to crack the whip on me,” said Christian, whose blood pressure was 218/178 after his second stroke and... Read More »

Former marathoner regains confidence to live healthy life after weight loss

When you train your body to be in great shape, you not only look better, you feel better.

Ted J. remembered how great he felt years ago when he was a marathon runner. But now, with a BMI of 31, Ted needed to lose weight and keep it off.

Thanks to a fraternity brother, Ted found a good way to lose weight and live a healthy life again.

“I was at a college reunion at my fraternity and introduced myself to someone there,” said Ted. “Turns out that I knew him, I just didn’t recognize him because he had lost more than 50 pounds. Since I needed to lose weight, I asked, ‘How... Read More »

OHI celebrates 10-year anniversary of first TAVR

On May 2, the Valve and Structural Heart Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute (OHI) celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in Tulsa.

TAVR is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with narrowing of the aortic valve. When untreated, aortic stenosis results in disabling heart failure symptoms and shortened lifespan. Compared to open heart surgery, multiple studies have shown TAVR is more effective and safer, with lower risk of death, stroke and bleeding, as well as shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to normal... Read More »

Longtime dieter finds results with HMR’s structured program

Eric J. struggled with his weight for decades, starting in his 20s when he shifted from “school life” to “business life.” No longer able to eat anything he wanted, his more sedentary lifestyle meant he had to work harder at losing weight.

“I was constantly on the diet cycle,” Eric said. “I’d start dieting, lose weight, stop dieting, gain weight and start all over again. With each cycle, I gained more weight than I lost, and eventually reached 285 pounds.”

His doctor sent him for a treadmill test, which Eric said he “failed horribly.” Within a week, he was admitted to the... Read More »

OHI program helps woman achieve weight goal while caring for others

For Stacey Prince, the term “sandwich generation” was something she learned very quickly during her struggle to lose weight.

A mom who cares for her elderly parents as well as her son and granddaughter, Prince works full-time as a data analyst at Oklahoma Heart Institute and also helps with the family businesses. She has tried to balance many schedules and health needs, yet still find the time to eat healthy, lose weight and focus on her own health.

But thanks to the Health Management Recourses (HMR) Clinic’s Healthy Solutions® program, Prince lost 22 pounds and is now on the... Read More »

Doctors' Day profile: Douglas Davies, M.D., shares about his career as retirement nears

(March 30 is National Doctors’ Day. Oklahoma Heart Institute would like to thank our physicians for the dedication and passion they show for their patients. In honor of National Doctors’ Day, we would like to spotlight cardiologist, Douglas Davies, M.D.)

Douglas Davies, M.D., was born to be in the medical field.

His father practiced general surgery for 50 years and mother was a nurse. Both parents were in active military service during World War II. His mom worked with former U.S. Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The popular military leader also served as the eventual namesake... Read More »

Muskogee patient thankful for OHI’s mobile ECMO team

Seriously ill COVID-19 patients in northeast Oklahoma are finding new hope for recovery thanks to technology being used at Oklahoma Heart Institute (OHI).

The technology is called an ECMO machine, which stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. One of only three machines in the state, the ECMO at OHI acts as an artificial heart, an artificial lung or both, depending on the patient’s needs.

The ECMO machine can also be placed in an ambulance, so health care providers can travel to a patient and connect them to the machine sooner, thereby saving hours of time, and often... Read More »

With Medical Matters of the Heart, even Identical Twins can be Different

For Dr. Jan Summers (left) and her identical twin sister, Dr. Scout Lee, there have been many similarities in their lives during the past 77 years.

“I always had a best friend,” Summers said. “I can’t imagine life without her.”

In high school, they were both competitive swimmers.

“She set a state record that she held nationally for nine years, so she was better at it then I was,” Summers said.

They both graduated from Toccoa Falls College, Georgia, and earned their masters’ degrees from the University of Georgia. Later, both obtained doctorate degrees and... Read More »

Grove Patient Grateful for the Ongoing COVID Care

For Stephanie Thomas, the flu-like symptoms were very familiar as she recuperated at home. However, as the symptoms persisted and her breathing became more difficult, she was admitted to a local hospital and placed on a respirator.

Diagnosed with COVID-19, her breathing steadily declined over the next two weeks. Describing her situation, Thomas said, “I was down to my last resort.”

That’s when Ajit Tharakan, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon at Oklahoma Heart Institute, and the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team picked up Thomas in Grove, transported her to Tulsa and... Read More »

Speaking Up May Save Your Life

On Oct. 3, 2021, Wes Dunn, a machine operator at a local manufacturing plant, was working his usual shift when he began experiencing mild aching in his chest. He described it as a sort of burning sensation. Dunn immediately turned to the folks in the emergency response team at the plant.

“I called one of my buddies on the emergency response team and asked him to meet me in the nurse's area to check me out,” Dunn said. “I told him I was having chest pain and that something's going on. He ended up calling an ambulance for me. And they took me up to Hillcrest Medical Center and... Read More »