The Heart of Innovation with Kym McNicholas

🎶 What happens when a vascular surgeon decides to walk away from practice… to pursue music? This week on The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I sit down with a surgeon whose passion for rhythm has always been intertwined with healing — and now he's daring to follow that rhythm into a whole new career. Our guest is not just a gifted clinician. He's a songwriter, producer, and vascular surgeon at Oregon Health & Science University, currently earning his Master's in Songwriting at Berklee College of Music. And yes — he's officially taking the leap into music full-time. Why now? What did he discover in the OR, at the bedside, and in his own creative process that made this moment the right one? He shares: 🎵 How music unexpectedly deepened his relationships with patients 🎵 Why rhythm matters more in vascular care than you might think 🎵 The parallels between restoring blood flow… and writing a song that moves people 🎵 What he's learned about courage, identity, and choosing a path that truly aligns with your purpose This episode is heartfelt, surprising, and full of wisdom for anyone standing at a crossroads — in medicine, in creativity, or in life. 👉 Don't miss this one. It's a rare look at what it really means to heal… and be human. Listen on KDOW, our podcast platforms, or watch the full episode on YouTube. Leg Saver Hotline: 1-877-FIX-LEGZ Learn more: PADHelp.org | TheWayToMyHeart.org #TheHeartOfInnovation #VascularSurgery #PeripheralArteryDisease #PADAwareness #MusicHeals #Songwriting #BerkleeCollegeOfMusic #CareerJourney #PhysicianStories #HealingThroughMusic #InnovationInMedicine #LegSaverHotline #KymMcNicholas #DrJohnPhillips

This week on The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips sit down for a powerful, patient-driven holiday special—one that reveals what people living with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) truly wish for this season. PAD is more common than prostate, breast, and colon cancer combined, yet still misunderstood. Our in-studio audience opened up about the physical and emotional toll of this disease—leg pain, cramps, burning, neuropathy, and wounds that won't heal—and the everyday battles most people never see. Their holiday wish list was honest, raw, and deeply human: More doctors trained in advanced limb-saving tools and techniques Fewer preventable amputations related to PAD and diabetes A world where fewer people smoke or vape, as nicotine and cannabis use fuel earlier, more aggressive PAD And a collective wish for patients themselves to enter the new year committed to realistic goals, healthier habits, and becoming active partners in their own care This conversation is heartfelt, unfiltered, and filled with the courage of people who refuse to give up hope. If you or someone you love is living with PAD, you won't want to miss this episode. To learn more about PAD and advanced limb saving treatment options, call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS. #PeripheralArteryDisease #PADAwareness #TheHeartOfInnovation #LimbSalvage #AmputationPrevention #VascularHealth #PatientStories #ChronicPainCommunity #HolidayHealth #CirculationMatters #PADWarriors #DiabeticFoot #NeuropathySupport #StopSmokingSaveLimbs #HealthEquity  

Every leg saved has a story behind it — and this week on The Heart of Innovation, you'll meet the nurse practitioners who live those stories every day. Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips chat with four remarkable OhioHealth NPs — Chelsea Jones, Elizabeth Murray, Brittany Byce, and Rebecca Lawler — to share what it's really like to help patients fight peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia inside a large hospital system. They open up about: The split-second decisions that can mean the difference between amputation and recovery The emotional moments that stay with them long after a shift ends The gaps in care they're constantly trying to close for PAD patients And yes… the hilarious "Nonsense Board" where they log the wild moments that keep them sane It's raw. It's real. It's the life of a limb-saving NP — equal parts heart, grit, urgency, and humor. If you or someone you love is living with PAD, struggling to navigate the system, or wondering what limb-saving care actually looks like behind the scenes, this episode will give you clarity, encouragement, and a whole new appreciation for the clinicians fighting for patients every single day. #TheHeartOfInnovation #PAD #LimbSavingCare #PeripheralArteryDisease #NursePractitioner #OhioHealth #VascularHealth #AmputationPrevention #LifeAndLimb #KymMcNicholas #DrJohnPhillips #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicDiseaseCare #FrontlineMedicine #HealthcareHeroes  

This week on The Heart of Innovation, we bring you a true story of grit, muscle, and unwavering determination. Meet Deputy John Dent—20 years on the road in West Virginia law enforcement, a body built for durability, and a diagnosis that threatened it all: peripheral artery disease (PAD). He was the guy who'd outrun everyone in the academy at 275 lbs. He was the guy strides ahead of his peers. Then one day his leg seized up in the cruiser. What seemed like a cramp became a blood-clot. A fasciotomy followed. Then the vascular surgeon told him they might have to amputate. "I said, my leg don't need to be cut off," John says. Instead, he dug in. He changed his life. He stayed active. For over a decade, no further surgery. Just gym work, collateral circulation, and refusal to back down. And here's a twist you'll love: during our conversation, John mentions his work intersecting with a West Virginia documentary spotlighting Appalachian realities. (Think Netflix-style rural exposure.) It's a moment where his law-enforcement role met a culture-industry moment—and you'll hear how he processed it. Host Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips walk John through his story—how PAD could've ended his career, his identity, his leg. Instead, it became a mission. Tune in. It's not just a "Save My Piggies" special—it's a "Save My Career, Save My Life" special.

This week, we're featuring someone whose impact on veterans' health spans nearly two decades — John Wordin, a visionary who has transformed how our nation supports wounded warriors, trauma survivors, and veterans living with diabetes, PTSD, and mobility challenges. Wordin's work has been nothing short of groundbreaking. He created Ride 2 Recovery (now Project Hero), helped build more than 300 custom adaptive bikes for injured servicemembers, designed the DoD's Warrior Games, and has personally supported tens of thousands of veterans in their journeys toward physical and emotional recovery. His programs have consistently shown something too often overlooked in traditional care: movement, community, and purpose can change the trajectory of chronic disease, including diabetes — with many veterans reducing or even coming off insulin through structured support and lifestyle change. Recently recognized with the American Exceptionalism Award, Wordin brings a rare combination of innovation, grit, and humanity that has shaped national conversation around veteran wellness. Hosted by Emmy Award–winning journalist and Global PAD Association CEO Kym McNicholas and interventional cardiologist Dr. John Phillips, this episode dives into the real stories behind Wordin's work — from the creation of the Warrior Games to the mental-health breakthroughs emerging from his long-running programs. If you care about veterans, chronic disease reversal, or the power of community-driven health transformation, this is an episode you won't want to miss. #peripheralarterydisease #padsupport #padgroup #VeteransHealth #JohnWordin #Ride2Recovery #ProjectHero #NoVetAlone #DiabetesReversal #InsulinReduction #PTSDRecovery #WarriorGames #AdaptiveCycling #VeteranResilience #ChronicDiseaseReversal #LifestyleMedicine #VeteranMentalHealth