Cardiologist Brings College-level Case Study to AHA Students

Dr. Alan Shah, a cardiologist and clinical assistant professor from New York University’s Langone Medical Center, recently challenged Academy of the Holy Angels students to diagnose and remedy cardiac issues. Dr. Shah worked with AHA Science Department Chair Patricia Prucnel’s honors anatomy and physiology class, and later spoke with a group of high school Angels from multiple grades.

The students in the honors course recently completed an introduction to the cardiovascular system, and did well answering Shah’s questions. Ms. Prucnel’s anatomy and physiology students include Kara Battaglia, Arianna Bauer, Cara Chang, Siena Collins, Emily Danahy, Celeste Fernandez, Deanna Frassa, Catherine Geraghty, Chryssoula Hartofilis, Jenelle Henry, Chloe Cozzi (Ibrahim), Elizabeth Kim, Janella Osbourne, Kacy Pupo, Gabriella Rigoli, Nina Sango, and Samantha Shah (Dr. Shah’s daughter).

 Students identified the heart as a pump, which Shah said uses a wringing motion to circulate blood throughout the body.
 
“The same way you wring a sock to remove liquid, the top of the heart turns one way and the bottom another,” the doctor explained.
 
He provided images of the various parts of the heart as he discussed the tricuspid, pulmonic, and aortic valves; the chambers; ventricles; septum; and pericardium. The doctor also discussed cardiac imaging options before launching into a real-life case study.
 
When asked what could cause chest pain, the Angels shared several possibilities, including fluid in the lungs, a pulmonary embolism, anemia, heart failure, coronary disease, and high blood pressure. In this case, the patient was suffering complications from radiation treatments. Radiation, Shah explained, can lead to the calcification of the pericardium. He shared that current radiation treatments are much improved, as the beams are more focused, so fewer issues result.
 
When the same patient later returned with symptoms, Shah needed to decide on a method to determine the cause. Options include using a stress test, a CT angiogram, and cardiac catheterization. Shah called the last of these three the “gold standard” for diagnosing issues. The method involves using contrast and viewing the patient’s heart by using a catheter to enter either the femoral artery (groin) or the wrist. At that time, he determined that the patient had a coronary blockage that could be reopened with a stent. Three years later, the patient was experiencing shortness of breath, which led to a diagnosis of aortic vein stenosis that was also treated successfully.
 
Shah discussed the differences between open heart bypass surgery and the use of stents. He showed the students a catheter that is used in various procedures, and commented on recovery times and costs of different surgeries.
 
Ms. Prucnel’s class was highly engaged in the doctor’s presentation, and asked and answered numerous questions. One of those questions was the fate of the patient whose case study was being examined.
 
Shah reported that the patient is now exercising, sailing, and enjoying life.
 
Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious school serves young women from a broad spectrum of cultural and religious backgrounds. Over time, thousands of women have passed through AHA’s portals. Many go on to study at some of the nation’s best universities, earning high-ranking positions in medicine, government, law, education, public service, business, arts, and athletics. The Academy’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.