Cleveland Clinic to Host Chat on Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) on 4/30

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an uncommon disorder characterized by abnormal cellular growth in the walls of medium and large arteries. FMD is often found in women between ages 30 and 50, but may also occur in children and the elderly in some cases. Often the disease is hard to diagnose since many FMD patients do not exhibit any symptoms or findings on a physical examination. Treatment for FMD varies and can be tailored to treat different severities. While there isn’t a cure, it can be treated effectively.

In 2014, the American Heart Association released new guidelines on FMD. The multi-disciplinary statement is helping to pave the way for new research and will help doctors and researchers better understand this condition.

Don’t miss this opportunity to chat with an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of FMD and to ask questions about how the new guidelines are shaping the treatment for this condition. Please join Heather Gornik, MD, a vascular medicine specialist and leader of The Fibromuscular Dysplasia Clinic at Cleveland Clinic and Pamela Mace, RN, President of the Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America (FMDSA) and an FMD patient.

Heather Gornik, MD, is a staff physician in the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sections of Clinical Cardiology and Vascular Medicine and Medical Director of the Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory. She is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and has been certified in vascular disease by the American Board of Vascular Medicine. She is also fully trained in vascular ultrasound and is a registered vascular technologist. Dr. Gornik’s clinical specialty interests include general cardiology, atherosclerotic vascular disease, peripheral artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, unusual vascular disorders, and vascular ultrasound. A graduate of the University of Chicago/Pritzker School of Medicine, she completed her residency as well as fellowship in cardiology and vascular medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Gornik leads The Fibromuscular Dysplasia Clinic, which is a biweekly clinic designed to diagnose and treat patients with FMD. At the Clinic Vascular Medicine experts consult with colleagues in interventional cardiology, vascular surgery, nephrology, genetics and neurology as needed. This team works together with patients to best develop a treatment plan tailored to their needs and severity of disease.

Dr. Gornik will be joined by Pamela Mace, RN, the Executive Director of FMDSA. Pam is an FMD patient and stroke survivor.