Geisinger researchers invited to Familial Hypercholesterolemia Global Summit
FORTY FORT, PA -- Two Geisinger Health System researchers have been invited to participate in the prestigious 2015 FH (familial hypercholesterolemia) Foundation Global Summit, Sept. 24-25, in Pasadena, Calif. The annual invitation-only event is dedicated to the science and treatment of FH.
Michael Murray (left), M.D., director of clinical genomics in Geisinger’s Genomic Medicine Institute, and Caroline Graham (right), CRNP, advanced practice provider in the Richard & Marion Pearsall Heart Hospital at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, have been invited. Dr. Murray will participate in an experts’ debate on how to find and manage FH patients at a healthcare system level.
Familial hypercholesterolemia is a largely underdiagnosed, life threatening and treatable genetic disorder that can cause heart attack and stroke at an early age.
The annual invitation-only summit is a global gathering of medical experts, patient advocacy organizations, health care providers and individuals with FH. The two-day event features presentations that provide a platform to share insights and practices for improved awareness, diagnosis and treatment of FH.
This year’s theme, “FH at the Crossroads: New Data on Prevalence & Novel Strategies for Prevention,” will cover a wide variety of topics and solutions, including insights into the prevalence and characteristics of the FH population, optimizing patient care and engagement, and strategies for early diagnosis and prevention.
“The FH Global Summit is a phenomenal opportunity for the Geisinger Health System and the Pearsall Heart Hospital,” Graham said. “Ultimately, this will benefit my patients and the patients I will soon meet.”
Geisinger’s GenomeFIRST program is expected to deliver results back to several hundred patients with FH over the next two years and will help build new models for diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening disease. Dr. Murray and NP Graham were among the faculty that highlighted this plan in Geisinger’s inaugural GenomeFIRST symposium, “Changing the Lives of Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia,” which was held in May.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.