Issue 156 - Cardiology

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Special Section
With articles on Cardiology, Cardiac Imagery, Sports Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Electrophysiology

Welcome to The Cardiology Issue of MD-Update

We have a big issue of MD-Update for you, the cardiology issue. We tried to cover multiple subspecialties: interventional cardiology, cardiac imaging, electrophysiology, heart surgery, sports cardiology, and general, non-interventional cardiology in rural Kentucky. I hope you enjoy reading what some of your colleagues are up to.

I want to thank Dr. Ravi Sharma for his time and participation in our cover story and for helping us photograph the UofL Health structural heart team in action. The cover story begins on page 10. Thanks also to Drs. James Shoptaw, Kevin Parrott, Cristina Cabral-Pauig, Arpit Agrawal, and Marc Paranzino, the cardiologists, surgeon, and electrophysiologist who made this issue of MD-Update possible.

Cybersecurity in Small & Rural Medical Practices

“As technology continues to develop rapidly, so do cybersecurity threats…. Small and rural providers are targets for cyberattacks because they have limited resources,” writes Jamie Wilhite Dittert, Esq. on page 8. She explains the challenges and details the requirements of keeping cybersecurity protections in place for small and rural medical practices in upcoming HHS rule changes.

I invite you to read her column and consider your practice’s cybersecurity measures.

Love & Politics

Can differences in politics crush a personal relationship? Absolutely, but not necessarily, says Dr. Jan Anderson in her mental wellness column on page 28. Dr. Jan uses her personal experience to explain how to navigate the choppy waters of love, marriage, and politics. In a phrase, “it ain’t easy,” she says

If political differences abound in your personal relationships — and who doesn’t have that situation — Dr. Jan offers some insight and coping strategies inside this issue. It might save your relationship, and it’s free… what a bargain!

MD-Update in Top 10 Kentucky Magazines in 2025

FeedSpot listed MD-Update among the top ten, at #8, in the Best Kentucky Magazines from thousands of magazines on the web ranked by relevancy, authority, social media followers & freshness.

“MD-Update is the place for Kentucky and Southern Indiana doctors and providers to connect—across specialties, across town, and the state. It’s a place for doctors to keep up with the latest trends and advancements in medicine in both their specialty and other specialties within their area,” said the review.

It’s nice to be noticed by outside sources, but I’d rather hear from you, our readers, the doctors of Kentuckiana. Drop me an email, or call if you have an idea for a story or an opinion that you want to share with your colleagues.

The 2025 MD-Update editorial calendar is on the preceeding page. When you see your specialty, contact me. If your specialty isn’t included, and you have a story to tell, that’s another reason to reach out to me. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Until December, all the best,

Gil Dunn
Editor/Publisher MD-Update

Heartfelt Interventions

Ravi Sharma, MD, uses new cardiac technology at UofL Health to improve patient outcomes LOUISVILLE Helping cardiac patients who have come to the end of

Rural Cardiologist Focuses on Prevention

From the South Pacific, cardiologist makes London, Kentucky, her family’s home LONDON Despite medicine being her family’s occupation, Cristina Cabral-Pauig, MD, says her focus is

The Puzzle Master

Arpit Agrawal, MD, cardiologist at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, puts the pieces together LOUISVILLE A good puzzle will have clues, some ambiguous, some easy

Heart of a Champion

Dr. Marc Paranzino brings sports cardiology to Kentucky LEXINGTON Athletics and heart are synonymous. Just listen to any coach’s pep talk and you’ll hear phrases

The Heart of Appalachia

ARH cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon James Shoptaw, MD, feels the pulse of his community HAZARD Like the population he has served for years, James Shoptaw,

EP and Pacemakers Are Having a Moment

Pacemakers are exciting again, says Kevin Parrott, MD, Baptist Health EP Specialist LOUSIVILLE A history of the development of the modern pacemaker was written by