MINNEAPOLIS, MN – August 14, 2013 – The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Center of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, directed by Dr. Barry J. Maron, will host the fifth international summit on HCM: A Contemporary Treatable Disease on Sept. 27-29 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis, Minn. The conference, represented by noted HCM physicians and researchers from around the globe, is an accredited conference dedicated to the presentation of the latest and most innovative methods for diagnosis and treatment of HCM. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common identifiable cause of sudden death in young people and is the leading cause of death in competitive athletes.
Death in competitive athletes resulting from HCM is reported each year, with one notable local fatality occurring in April 2012 when University of Minnesota linebacker Gary Tinsley was a victim of HCM. Tinsley will be remembered in a conference session that evaluates the role of ECGs in strategies to detect HCM in trained competitive athletes, comparing American and Italian models for identifying the disease.
"Sudden deaths in young competitive athletes are highly visible and tragic events with a huge impact on the community," said Barry Maron, M.D., director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minn. "While we have made substantial progress in the diagnosis and treatment of HCM, misperceptions and challenges remain to be addressed."
The four previous HCM Summits were also held in Minneapolis in 1997, 2002, 2006 and 2009 (with the meeting scheduled for September 14, 2001 cancelled). The fifth HCM Summit will be highlighted by presentations from internationally recognized experts, including cardiologists from Canada, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, Iceland and Italy as well as from across the United States, presenting current research and the newest and most innovative methods for diagnosis and treatment of HCM.
The work of the Center and Dr. Maron has contributed to improved awareness and treatment options for HCM, first diagnosed over 50 years ago and now with treatment options that can enable patients, with early detection, the opportunity to live normal lives.
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About the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation is dedicated to improving people's lives through the highest quality cardiovascular research and education.
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About the Minneapolis Heart Institute®
The Minneapolis Heart Institute® is recognized internationally as one of the world's leading providers of heart and vascular care. This state-of-the-art facility combines the finest in personalized patient care with sophisticated technology in a unique, family-oriented environment. The Institute's programs, a number of which are conducted in conjunction with Abbott Northwestern Hospital, address the full range of heart and vascular health needs: prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.