Mary McDermott | |
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Academic background | |
Education | BA, 1985, Yale University MD, 1989, Michigan State University |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Feinberg School of Medicine,JAMA |
Mary McGrae McDermott is the Jeremiah Stamler Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics and of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Her studies focus on interventions for peripheral artery disease. She is a deputy editor at the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA),specializing in clinical reviews and education. [1]
McDermott earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1985 and her medical degree from Michigan State University. She subsequently completed her medical residency at Northwestern's McGaw Medical Center in 1992. [2]
McDermott joined the faculty at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in 1994 and began investigating how to improve the health in people with peripheral extremity artery disease (PAD). [3] She was the first principal investigator to demonstrate that "asymptomatic leg ischemia is associated with greater lower extremity impairment and increased rates of functional decline," compared to those without PAD. She has also identified clinical characteristics associated with faster rates of functional decline in persons with PAD. [4] In recognition of her achievements,she was elected a Member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 2007. [4]
As an associate professor of medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine,McDermott found that walking three times a week could significantly improve walking ability and slow progression of those with PAD. [5] She followed up this study in 2010 by testing if exercise could prevent or delay the declining ability to walk in aging adults. [6] The published findings found evidence that clinical guidelines for patients with PAD should be modified to include home-based exercises. [7] In 2011,McDermott was appointed Chair of the Peripheral Vascular Disease Council by the American Heart Association. [8] She also received the designation Master from the Society for Vascular Medicine,the highest award bestowed by the organization,for her "outstanding contributions to the field." [9]
In February 2020,McDermott moved her research team to begin working at the newly opened Clinical Research Hub. [10] Prior to the move,she led a pilot study of 44 patients with PAD to study the effectiveness flavanol-rich cocoa three times a day had on improving walking distance in individuals with peripheral artery disease. [11] During the COVID-19 pandemic in North America,McDermott continued to run tests to measure the efficacy of drug or exercise interventions on Northwestern's downtown campus. [12] [13]
In 2021,McDermott completed a multi-centered randomized clinical trial which showed that,in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD),home-based walking exercise that induced ischemic leg symptoms significantly improved walking performance,while home-based walking exercise conducted without ischemic leg symptoms had no effect on walking performance. It was the first randomized trial to demonstrate this finding. The biological changes that lead to walking improvement have yet to be identified. [14]
McDermott became the first holder of the Jeremiah Stamler Professor of Medicine professorship on October 30,2014. [15] While serving in this role,she was elected a Fellow of the Association of American Physicians for "defining the nature of functional impairment and decline in patients with PAD and leading randomized controlled clinical trials to identify optimal exercise programs that decrease impairments associated with the disease." [3] She also continued to research peripheral extremity artery disease and found that stem cell therapy did not improve walking ability in people in those patients. [16] Following this studies publication,McDermott was named a Distinguished Scientist by the American Heart Association. [17]
In 2021,McDermott received a John M. Eisenberg award for lifetime achievement in research from the Society of General Internal Medicine,along with Diane B. Wayne. The award "recognizes a senior member whose innovative research has changed the way we care for patients,conduct research,or educate students." [18] [19]
Coronary artery disease (CAD),also called coronary heart disease (CHD),ischemic heart disease (IHD),myocardial ischemia,or simply heart disease,involves the reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle due to build-up of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries of the heart. It is the most common of the cardiovascular diseases. Types include stable angina,unstable angina,myocardial infarction,and sudden cardiac death. A common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder,arm,back,neck,or jaw. Occasionally it may feel like heartburn. Usually symptoms occur with exercise or emotional stress,last less than a few minutes,and improve with rest. Shortness of breath may also occur and sometimes no symptoms are present. In many cases,the first sign is a heart attack. Other complications include heart failure or an abnormal heartbeat.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an abnormal narrowing of arteries other than those that supply the heart or brain. When narrowing occurs in the heart,it is called coronary artery disease,and in the brain,it is called cerebrovascular disease. Peripheral artery disease most commonly affects the legs,but other arteries may also be involved –such as those of the arms,neck,or kidneys. The classic symptom is leg pain when walking which resolves with rest,known as intermittent claudication. Other symptoms include skin ulcers,bluish skin,cold skin,or abnormal nail and hair growth in the affected leg. Complications may include an infection or tissue death which may require amputation;coronary artery disease,or stroke. Up to 50% of people with PAD do not have symptoms.
Thromboangiitis obliterans,also known as Buerger disease,is a recurring progressive inflammation and thrombosis (clotting) of small and medium arteries and veins of the hands and feet. It is strongly associated with use of tobacco products,primarily from smoking,but is also associated with smokeless tobacco.
Intermittent claudication,also known as vascular claudication,is a symptom that describes muscle pain on mild exertion,classically in the calf muscle,which occurs during exercise,such as walking,and is relieved by a short period of rest. It is classically associated with early-stage peripheral artery disease,and can progress to critical limb ischemia unless treated or risk factors are modified and maintained.
Claudication is a medical term usually referring to impairment in walking,or pain,discomfort,numbness,or tiredness in the legs that occurs during walking or standing and is relieved by rest. The perceived level of pain from claudication can be mild to extremely severe. Claudication is most common in the calves but it can also affect the feet,thighs,hips,buttocks,or arms. The word claudication comes from the Latin claudicare meaning 'to limp'.
The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) or ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the ratio of the blood pressure at the ankle to the blood pressure in the upper arm (brachium). Compared to the arm,lower blood pressure in the leg suggests blocked arteries due to peripheral artery disease (PAD). The ABPI is calculated by dividing the systolic blood pressure at the ankle by the systolic blood pressure in the arm.
A vascular bypass is a surgical procedure performed to redirect blood flow from one area to another by reconnecting blood vessels. Often,this is done to bypass around a diseased artery,from an area of normal blood flow to another relatively normal area. It is commonly performed due to inadequate blood flow (ischemia) caused by atherosclerosis,as a part of organ transplantation,or for vascular access in hemodialysis. In general,someone's own vein (autograft) is the preferred graft material for a vascular bypass,but other types of grafts such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon),polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron),or a different person's vein (allograft) are also commonly used. Arteries can also serve as vascular grafts. A surgeon sews the graft to the source and target vessels by hand using surgical suture,creating a surgical anastomosis.
The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab,formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC),is a not-for-profit nationally ranked physical medicine and rehabilitation research hospital based in Chicago,Illinois. Founded in 1954,the AbilityLab is designed for patient care,education,and research in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). The AbilityLab specializes in rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe,complex conditions ranging from traumatic brain and spinal cord injury to stroke,amputation and cancer-related impairment. Affiliated with Northwestern University,the hospital is located on Northwestern’s Chicago campus and partners on research and medical efforts.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is the medical school of Northwestern University and is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago,Illinois. Founded in 1859,Feinberg offers a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program,multiple joint degree programs,graduate medical education,and continuing medical education.
Vascular disease is a class of diseases of the blood vessels –the arteries and veins of the circulatory system of the body. Vascular disease is a subgroup of cardiovascular disease. Disorders in this vast network of blood vessels can cause a range of health problems that can sometimes become severe.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) is a nationally ranked academic medical center located on Northwestern University’s Chicago campus in Streeterville,Chicago,Illinois. It is the flagship campus for Northwestern Medicine and the primary teaching hospital for the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Affiliated institutions also located on campus include the Ann &Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital with Level I pediatric trauma care and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab,a leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Life Line Screening is a privately run prevention and wellness company founded in 1993,with corporate headquarters in Austin,Texas and operational offices in the Cleveland,Ohio,area. The company operates community-based health screening services for adults aged 50 and up across the United States. Life Line Screening is partnered with numerous insurance companies,hospitals and organizations including Women in Technology International,Heritage Valley Health System,Carolina Vascular,Mission Hospital,and Lake Norman Regional Medical Center.
A diabetic foot is any pathology that results directly from peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and/or sensory neuropathy affecting the feet in diabetes mellitus;it is a long-term complication of diabetes mellitus. Presence of several characteristic diabetic foot pathologies such as infection,diabetic foot ulcer and neuropathic osteoarthropathy is called diabetic foot syndrome.
Jeremiah Stamler was an American scientist specializing in preventive cardiology and the study of the influence of various risk factors on coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases,and the role of salt and other nutrients in the etiology of hypertension and coronary heart disease. Stamler is credited with introducing the term "risk factors" into the field of cardiology. In 1988,he was awarded the Donald Reid Medal given by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for his contributions to epidemiology. He was professor emeritus of preventive medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago,Illinois. After his retirement from active teaching,he continued his research with his wife Rose until her death in 1998;in his later years he divided his time between Manhattan,Long Island,Chicago,and Pioppi in Southern Italy.
Clyde Warren Yancy is an American cardiologist and the Magerstadt Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He has previously served as the Past President of the American Heart Association. His research considers heart failure,heart transplantation and ways to prevent heart failure. He is Vice Dean of Diversity and Inclusion.
Teresa K. Woodruff is an American medical researcher in human reproduction and oncology,with a focus on ovarian biology,endocrinology,and women's health. She is the Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professor and Vice Chair for Research and Chief of the Division of Reproductive Science in Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago,Illinois. Woodruff was Dean of the Graduate School and Professor in the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston,Illinois until August 1,2020,when she accepted the position of provost at Michigan State University. She is credited with coining the term oncofertility and founded the Oncofertility Consortium at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She is also founder and chief of the Division of Fertility Preservation and founder and director of the Women's Health Research Institute at Northwestern University.
Popliteal bypass surgery,more commonly known as femoropopliteal bypass or more generally as lower extremity bypass surgery,is a surgical procedure used to treat diseased leg arteries above or below the knee. It is used as a medical intervention to salvage limbs that are at risk of amputation and to improve walking ability in people with severe intermittent claudication and ischemic rest pain.
Melissa Andrea Simon is an American clinical obstetrician/gynecologist and scientist whose research,teaching,clinical care and advocacy focus on health equity across the lifespan. Simon is founder and director of the Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago,Illinois,and founder of the Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative,a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer partnership led by the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University,Northeastern Illinois University,and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Simon holds the positions of the George H. Gardner,MD professor of clinical gynecology.,the vice-chair of clinical research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,professor of preventive medicine and medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,and is a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Melina R. Kibbe is an American clinician and researcher in the field of vascular surgery. She currently serves as Dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She previously held the Colin G. Thomas Jr. Distinguished Professorship and Chair of the Department of Surgery at UNC School of Medicine.
Diabetic foot infection is any infection of the foot in a diabetic person. The most frequent cause of hospitalization for diabetic patients is due to foot infections. Symptoms may include pus from a wound,redness,swelling,pain,warmth,tachycardia,or tachypnea. Complications can include infection of the bone,tissue death,amputation,or sepsis. They are common and occur equally frequently in males and females. Older people are more commonly affected.