2007 - 2008: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness and Prevention

The Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment’s 2008 Health Project focused on educating the community on the dangers of deep vein thrombosis. Over 300 area residents attended a November 8, luncheon and lecture - " What You Don’t Know About DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Could Kill You," featuring Melanie Bloom, as keynote speaker and National Spokesperson for the Coalition to Prevent DVT (blood clot.) Bloom is the widow of NBC New Correspondent, who died of complications from a blood clot while covering the war in Iraq in 2003.

Following Ms. Bloom’s talk, a physician panel discussed the medical aspects, cause, diagnosis, and treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli. The panel, consisted of area physicians:

• Sandy Benjamin, MD - Medical Director of Laboratories, Carolinas Healthcare System
• Charles Edwards, MD - Hawthorne Cardiothoracic Surgery;
• Scott Furney, MD - Interim Chair and Clinical Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Carolinas Healthcare System;
• John Gardella, MD -VP for Clinical Improvement, Presbyterian Hospital; with Ruth Fischer, RN, MSN - Chest Pain Co-ordinator, Presbyterian Hospital.
  

To further spread the message about the signs and symptoms of DVT, the Alliance used funds raised at the event to underwrite a one-hour program on the dangers of DVT that aired on public television's (WTVI) Healthwatch series. Melanie Bloom was interviewed for this program, which aired five times in 2007- 2008. A clip from this program is featured on this page, but you may also click here to watch the full Healthwise program (53 minutes).

Local media

NBC’s Sonja Gantt featured an hour long conversation with Ms. Bloom on the dangers of DVT; NPR Commentator Mike Collins of “Charlotte Talks” featured an hour long conversation on the dangers of DVT with Ms. Bloom; and local health reporter Pam Kelley of the Charlotte Observer wrote a comprehensive feature about DVT, interviewing several local individuals, who suffered DVT’s. Mayor Pat McCrory, who was diagnosed with a DVT a number of years ago, proclaim November 8, "DVT Awareness Day."