Pauley Society Impact Report

FY 2023-2024

Dear friends,

I extend my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support as Pauley Society donors. At Virginia’s top heart hospital, your contributions advance groundbreaking cardiovascular research, support innovative patient care, and train the next generation of cardiovascular clinicians and researchers across all levels of education. Each day, thanks to your giving, our world-renowned faculty and physicians care for the most medically complex patients, and work to improve cardiovascular care across the Commonwealth. In short, your generosity helps make possible healthier futures and longer lives for all Virginians. Thank you for being a part of Pauley’s story and continued success.

With gratitude,

Richard H. Burton

Chair, Pauley Advisory Board

 

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For Seventh Year, Pauley's Donor-Funded Pilot Grants Ignite Innovation

The Pauley Heart Center's Pilot Grants Program, established by Pauley Society members Anne and Roger Boevé, supports early stage heart health research. Unrestricted gifts from Pauley Society members continue to fund the program each year. Approximately $100,000 is raised annually, enabling two to four investigators to explore novel ideas and compile the data needed to attract large-scale, external funding for research from organizations like the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health. This year’s Pauley Pilot Grant recipients are Moriah Bellissimo, Ph.D., and Ajay Pillai, M.D.

A postdoctoral researcher, Bellissimo is blending nutrition with the emerging field of cardio-oncology to better understand the hearts of women who are undergoing chemotherapy. Bellissimo will use lipidomics to analyze fatty acids in the blood of women enrolled in Pauley’s UPBEAT trial — a national study of cardiovascular decline after breast cancer treatment —and investigate the biomechanics of changes to heart tissue that occur during cancer treatment. Ultimately, Bellissimo wants to understand if it would be possible to design a heart-protective diet or activity regimen that could be followed during cancer treatment. Bellissimo was awarded a $649,000 grant from the Komen Foundation to expand on the above pilot research.

Pillai, who specializes in disorders of the heart’s rhythm, aims to improve outcomes for patients who require pacemakers. While traditional pacemakers stimulate either the right ventricle or both ventricles of the heart, Pillai will investigate a method known as left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) This technique delivers stimuli between the ventricles, closer to the heart’s natural conduction system, and can result in more synchronized, efficient contractions that mimic the heart’s natural rhythm. The study will also deepen our understanding of the impact of LBBAP on heart function during exercise, and it is one of the first studies to simultaneously integrate pacing, cardiac MRI, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

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On Campus: Undergraduate Researchers Across Virginia Flock to Pauley

Now in its fifth year, the Pauley Heart Center’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) recently hosted 28 student investigators from eight colleges and universities across Virginia. Partially funded by unrestricted donations, the 10-week residential program introduces students to cardiovascular medicine by immersing them in cutting-edge research and clinical rotations under the guidance of a Pauley faculty mentor. “I love being in a lab and seeing the research done directly,” says Grant Yoon, a rising sophomore at the College of William & Mary who is studying biochemistry. “After we read a paper, we get to see the science behind it, as well as clear cause-and-effect.”

Of SURF alumni who have earned their bachelor’s degrees, 100% are either employed in, or are pursuing a graduate degree in a health, medicine or STEM-related field. Historically, over one-third of fellows are from backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine.

 

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Giving Back to Virginia's Leading Heart Center

After cycling nearly 50 miles along Virginia’s Capital Trail, Ken Powell was feeling great. However, just two days later, a shocking diagnosis revealed his heart was on the brink of failure due to a malfunctioning aortic valve. Faced with life-threatening danger, Powell entrusted his care to the Pauley Heart Center. Today, as a dedicated member of Pauley’s Advisory Board, he passionately advocates for greater awareness and support for the center’s innovative cardiac research and education programs. Powell’s journey highlights the critical role of advanced cardiac care and the transformative power of philanthropy in saving lives. “Pauley has a tremendous impact on the community,” Powell says. “There’s a genuine commitment to serve and the depth of care, the depth of research— it’s astonishing what we’re able to accomplish.”

Watch Ken's story here.

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Pauley Society by the Numbers

During fiscal year 2024 (July 2023 - June 2024):

• 149 Pauley Society members supported the Pauley Heart Center
• Pauley Society donors committed $1,071,584 new gifts to Pauley
• 38 new members joined the Pauley Society
• 100% of Pauley Advisory Board members made a gift to Pauley 
• Pauley was ranked 42nd in the nation for cardiology, heart surgery, and vascular surgery by US News & World Report's annual Best Hospitals survey

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Click here to join the Pauley Society today! 

Thank you for helping us fight heart disease. To learn more about these programs, or to renew your commitment to the Pauley Society, contact Sarah Neely at 804-628-8908 or neelysb@vcu.edu.