Michigan Medicine

The Frankel Cardiovascular Center is proud to partner with Kenyatta National Hospital. (KNH) to develop a Cardiac Center of Excellence aimed at expanding and strengthening cardiac specialty care in Kenya. As the largest public hospital in East Africa, KNH serves a critical role in the region's health care system. Through this collaboration, the Frankel CVC will support the hospital's efforts to expand access to state-of-the-art cardiovascular care for children and adults across Kenya and East Africa, where the burden of cardiovascular disease continues to rise. “As we support KNH in its efforts to become a Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, we also have the opportunity to learn from colleagues who care for a large population with cardiovascular disease that we don’t see as often in the United States,” said Stefanie Peters, managing director of the Frankel CVC. “It is our honor to share our knowledge with our colleagues at KNH and help them advance their efforts to build a strong foundation of clinical programming that will serve the patients across East Africa.”

Growing up, Melba Vélez Ortiz noticed she had trouble with her vision but didn’t realize how serious it was. She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa during her undergraduate years and has since been searching for answers about her condition. After undergoing genetic testing at Kellogg, she is more aware of what clinical trials are available to her. Working with Kellogg's low vision clinic, using her AI glasses and relying on her service dog, Chad, has given Ortiz something she never thought she would find--understanding and hope. Learn more about her journey at https://michmed.org/4NNJ2.

Attention: nurses, physicians, physicians in training, medical students, nurse practitioners, and other Healthcare professionals, Michigan Medicine's annual Updates in Breast Cancer Symposium is coming up. Join us in Ann Arbor Sept. 19, 2026 at the Vanguard Hotel. Info and registration: https://michmed.org/PPnX9

BREATHE-3 STUDY OFFERS LIFELINE TO MICHIGAN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE EMPHYSEMA: In a major clinical milestone, Jose De Cardenas, MD, along with the local investigative team have successfully treated the first COPD patient in Michigan with a novel airway implant to treat emphysema. The BREATHE-3 study evaluates the novel Apreo BREATHE Airway Scaffold. It is designed to reshape and support diseased airways. This investigational technology aims to reduce trapped air for patients with COPD to help them breathe better, offering new hope for restored breath and quality of life in patients who may not qualify for other therapies. Severe emphysema, a progressive form of COPD, destroys lung tissue and leads to severe air trapping (hyperinflation). Patients often struggle with debilitating shortness of breath, leaving them unable to perform basic daily tasks. Current minimally invasive treatment options, such as endobronchial valves, require complete fissure integrity to prevent collateral ventilation—leaving a significant portion of severe emphysema patients without a viable interventional solution. "For many individuals living with severe emphysema, existing options simply aren't viable due to their unique lung anatomy," said section head, MeiLan Han, MD, MS, who is PI on the study. "Enrolling our first patient in the BREATHE-3 study is an exciting step forward as we evaluate new technologies that could potentially expand interventional treatment to a much wider group of patients who desperately need relief." The BREATHE-3 study is just one of many clinical trials being conducted at the University of Michigan to provide new hope to patients with advanced lung disease. The division of Pulmonary & Critical Care at Michigan Medicine remains dedicated to bringing advanced therapies to patients in the state of Michigan. For more information on the BREATHE-3 study visit: https://michmed.org/Nyyz9

Congratulations to Daniel Wahl, PhD, Achtenberg Family Professor of Radiation Oncology, for his award from the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center. The focus of this funded research is on measuring metabolic activity and assessing treatment responses in DIPG/DMG.

SPECIALIZED CARE FOR RARE LIPOSARCOMA DIAGNOSIS: Virginia Fallis, age 64, never expected a routine checkup to change her life. During a regularly scheduled visit with her primary care physician in 2024, an EKG revealed an unexpected abnormality around her left ventricle. Additional imaging revealed a cancerous tumor. Within days, Fallis learned that she had well-differentiated liposarcoma. Following her diagnosis, her care team quickly developed a surgical plan. The tumor, which weighed nearly four pounds, was wrapped around organs inside her chest, making the operation especially complex. Today, Fallis' care involves a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists and other specialists who coordinate her treatment, answer questions and help navigate everything from medications to insurance approvals. Learn more about her story: https://michmed.org/jjjb5

✅ GOING GREEN: As construction at the Troy Medical Campus continues, environmental health is top of mind. Significant sustainability efforts, including installing solar panels, employing energy preservation best practices, decreasing light pollution and reducing transportation emissions are being woven into the site’s infrastructure. The Troy Medical Campus is also pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Green Building Certification. The LEED green building rating system is operated by the U.S. Green Building Council, an organization advocating for sustainable, green building practices. “We’re excited to pursue LEED Silver through our sustainability efforts,” said Ron Henry, Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Operations and Operations Lead for the Troy Medical Campus. “Focusing on design elements that meet LEED requirements has helped us excel in finding ways to reduce our environmental impact and improve the health of the communities we serve.” Learn more about the Troy Medical Campus here: https://michmed.org/722Gy

Treatment options for advanced heart failure can be limited. For many patients who are waiting for or ineligible for a heart transplant, mechanical heart pumps (VADs) provide critical support. Michigan Medicine is leading the national INNOVATE clinical trial to evaluate the investigational BrioVAD System, and our Frankel Cardiovascular Center team was among the first in the country to implant the device. Nearly 50 health systems are currently enrolling patients in the study. Click this link to learn more: https://michmed.org/Z7qnA

This week, three synthetic opioids became illegal at the federal level, and a proposal to do the same for a fourth, called 7-OH, entered a new phase. States and cities have also taken their own actions on these substances and on natural kratom products too, as the toll of addiction to unregulated products sold in vape shops and convenience stores continues to mount. The need for more addiction care, to help those who turned to these substances that they could buy over the counter, is urgent, say U-M experts. They are offering that care, and also helping healthcare professionals anywhere learn to provide it in their own clinics. Get up to speed on the latest developments, and find links to treatment resources, and clinician resources, here: https://michmed.org/MkkYq