[HTML1] Dr. Gracer and his interviewees, Debbie Allen and Dr. Lee Friedman, representing Join the Pacemakers, discuss the use of pacemakers and the latest information on dangers of MRIs for those with pacemakers. Specifically, they want people to know that there is a new pacemaker available that is compatible with MRIs.
Pacemakers are vitally important for many people whose own heart can no longer provide the signal needed to start each beat. Without this signal, the heart still beats but at a very slow rate. A pacemaker provides the electrical stimulation that is needed to keep the cardiac rate normal.
Previously those with pacemakers were not been able to undergo MRIs. Unfortunately many physicians and technicians are not yet aware that the MRI-compatible pacemaker is an option.
More about Debbie Allen
Debbie Allen is the spokesperson for Join the Pace Makers, a national campaign designed to educate people about the risks of interaction between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pacemakers and about their treatment options, including a device option that allows for MRI access. Join the Pace Makers is co-sponsored by medical device maker Medtronic and the National Council on Aging.
Ms. Allen has a very long list of accomplishments and awards for her work as an actress, dancer, choreographer, and more; and is regarded as one of the most relevant and sought after directors in Hollywood and Theater. She has been Artist in Residence at the Kennedy Center for over 15 years. Representing America as Cultural Ambassador for Dance, Ms. Allen has fulfilled missions in China, India, and the Middle East. She has choreographed the Academy Awards a record 10 times.
In addition she has worked tirelessly to engage, enlighten, inspire and touch young people around the world through the Art of Dance and Theater Arts. She has used her talents to narrow the gulf between cultures. Recently and most outstanding is Ms. Allen’s original production of Oman…O Man!, a Kennedy Center commission which used the Art of Music and Dance to bridge the gap between Muslim and Christian cultures. After seeing the inaugural performance of this production that dispelled the myths of Middle Eastern culture, First Lady Michelle Obama declared, “Every child in America needs to see this production.”
More about Dr. Friedman
Dr. Lee Friedman is a board-certified radiologist and practices in St. Petersburg, Florida. As a radiologist, Dr. Friedman performs MRI scans every day and knows the risks if a patient with a traditional pacemaker were to undergo an MRI.
Recently when his doctor told him that he needed a pacemaker, Dr. Friedman was very concerned because it would impact his ability to perform his job and because he wanted to be able to have an MRI in the future if he ever needed it. When he learned the FDA had approved a new pacemaker that was indicated for use in an MRI-setting, he said his decision was “a no brainer and to give him the option that allows for MRI access.”
Dr. Friedman is participating in the Join the Pace Makers campaign to help spread the word to patients about how important it is to have an open and informed conversation with their physicians and radiologists about their treatment options. Many radiologists do not know there are options in pacemakers.
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