The Pulse Pod

In medicine, nutrition is a science; but for people, it is a biography. What and when we eat can hold deep personal importance. Our life stories likely include shared experiences around food that could appear insignificant to the observer but often invoke feelings of family and love.

AACVPR President Stacey Greenway, MA, MPH, MAACVPR, ACSM-CEP outlines a bold, member-informed roadmap to strengthen the future of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. The plan focuses on three core goals—deepening awareness and engagement, driving innovation and program excellence, and advancing science and outcomes—while prioritizing member value, hybrid and virtual care models, advocacy, and evidence-based impact. Together, these strategies position AACVPR and its community to expand access, elevate quality, and demonstrate the vital role of CR/PR in evolving healthcare delivery.

The general public might associate wearable health technology more so with 'cardio' than the 'pulmonary,' but these devices are making strides in monitoring chronic lung disease. UVM Health internist Elie Donath, MD, MPH, offers his expert insight on how — under the watchful guidance and involvement of cardiopulmonary professionals — wearables can support behavior change and early detection of declining chronic respiratory disease in users. 

Kevin G. Tayon, MD, and Bryan J. Taylor, PhD, FAACVPR trace the origins of Takotsubo syndrome—from its first puzzling presentation in 1983 Hiroshima to its recognition as “broken-heart syndrome” after a surge of cases following the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake. Explore how intense emotional or physical stress can temporarily stun the heart, highlighting both the medical mystery and human stories behind this unique condition.

Staying active in winter can be tough for cardiopulmonary rehab patients, but understanding how cold air stresses the heart and lungs — and taking simple precautions — helps keep workouts safe and effective even when temperatures drop. Kim Loeffler, MS offers clear tips on layering, warming up, protecting your airways, and recognizing warning signs so patients can maintain their rehab goals all season long. 

By James D. Walter, PhDDiscover why adding small bursts of movement to your day—not just formal exercise—can transform your health and longevity.

The holiday season can magnify feelings of loneliness and social isolation for older adults with chronic heart and lung conditions. Learn to recognize the signs of loneliness in your patients and understand the role cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation plays in providing routine, consistency, and community. 

If you really want to make cardiopulmonary rehab professionals jump out of their skin this Halloween, send them a patient who’s actively using cannabis. Whether for medical or recreational purposes, Sherrie Khadanga, MD, explains that the potential effect of marijuana on heart health is exactly the same: gravely serious.

Malloree Rice, MS, ACSM-CEP, CCRP emphasizes the importance of inclusive and accessible care in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, particularly for patients who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have low vision. It offers practical strategies for improving communication and engagement, such as using in-person interpreters and adapting educational materials to meet diverse patient needs. Read the article.

Pulmonary rehabilitation, originally developed for COPD, is now being increasingly recognized as beneficial for lung cancer patients—especially those undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation—by improving lung function, exercise capacity, and recovery outcomes, prompting calls for tailored PR guidelines for this population.

News & Views editor Ruth Akers, RN, BSN, MS, MAACVPR encourages the CR and PR community to celebrate AACVPR's milestone anniversary at the 40th AACVPR Annual Meeting, emphasizing the value of learning, networking, and community.

Dr. Dennis Kerrigan shares powerful insights from the Henry Ford ExCITE program—a pioneering initiative that blends the principles of cardiac rehabilitation with the unique needs of cancer patients. This article explores how medically supervised exercise can mitigate treatment side effects, improve cardiopulmonary fitness, and enhance quality of life for individuals with cancer. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience, it offers a compelling case for integrating exercise oncology into mainstream cancer care and provides a roadmap for expanding these programs nationwide.

As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, guest author Dawn Siek, BSN, RN, CV-BC, describes the creation of the “ Grow Your Mental Health” booklet, a resource designed specifically with the cardiac rehab patient community in mind. Siek provides a brief history of the booklet — the subject of her award-winning poster presentation at the AACVPR 39th Annual Meeting — explaining how the material was developed, how it has helped participants at her facility, and how other programs can also make use of it. As a bonus, point your browser to the embedded QR code to access a dozen brief mindfulness sessions that also were created as part of this project.This article is read by Ruth Akers, RN, BSN, MS, FAACVPR.

When it comes to recovering from heart disease, knowledge truly is power. Imagine being diagnosed with a heart condition and feeling overwhelmed by medical jargon, new medications, and lifestyle changes. This is where patient education in cardiac rehabilitation steps in — equipping patients with the information and skills they need to take control of their health and lead fulfilling lives.Read by Ruth Akers, RN, BSN, MS, FAACVPR

Ruth Akers, RN, BSN, MS, FAACVPR reads an interesting overview of the use of PR for COPD by Karen Edwards, MS, RRT, RCEP, FAACVPR, and Jonathan David, MSN, RN, EBP-C, CCRP, NE-BC, FPCNA, FAACVPR, FACC.

Todd Brown MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA, MAACVPR reflects on the review and modernization of the Core Components of Cardiac Rehabilitation in this CR Week special narrated by Ruth Akers, RN, BSN, MS, FAACVPR.

Quantity and quality of sleep have serious implications for the heart, especially in vulnerable populations such as cardiac rehab participants. Guest author Misti J. Norton, PhD, DBSM, explains the difference between insomnia and insufficient sleep and offers tips for combating both. Hint: counting sheep isn’t the solution! 

To transition from being a "current" smoker to a "former" smoker, individuals must acknowledge the addictive nature of smoking and embrace a forward-moving mindset. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization have introduced frameworks emphasizing collaboration, health equity, and comprehensive support to improve smoking cessation efforts, especially in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation settings where community engagement can play a key role in promoting tobacco-free living. Learn more from "New Tobacco Cessation Frameworks: Implications for Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation," by Joel Hughes, PhD, FAACVPR.

AACVPR is now offering audio readings of select News & Views articles. Whether you’re commuting to work, exercising at the gym, or relaxing on your couch at home, you can now enjoy these articles in a lively, sonic form! Dive into “Heartfelt Smiles,” written by Andrew Schlosser, MS, CEP, CPT, now.

We caught up with three AACVPR affiliate leaders at the Affiliate Leadership Forum earlier this year to get their thoughts on the benefits of being part of a local cardiopulmonary rehabilitation group, how their affiliate has helped with career growth, takeaways from the forum and more.

Hear from 39th AACVPR Annual Meeting Chair Daniel Forman, MD, FAHA, FACC, and Vice Chair Anne M. Gavic-Ott, MPA, RCEP, MAACVPR on what's in store for this year's event.

A first for The Pulse Pod, host Tom Draper sits down with JJ Rivera, a now cardiac rehabilitation program graduate who heart failure in 2023. Hear JJ's story and advice on how cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation professionals can help make the patient experience the best it can be.

Having implemented program change at their respective facilities, AACVPR members Jonathan David and Mike Thompson share insights into how they first approached change within their cardiac rehabilitation programs, the resources they turned to and tips for listeners looking to implement change at their own facilities.

An annual event, Day on the Hill (DOTH) is a two-day experience that brings AACVPR members together in Washington, D.C., to meet with elected officials and legislative staffs as constituents, voters and as healthcare professionals advocating for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. We caught up with attendees live on Capitol Hill to capture their thoughts on the event, hear how meetings with legislators went and more!

If You Build It… They will come! Listen in on the conversation between Tom and AACVPR Past President Kate Traynor as they talk CR/PR program management. Touching on common pitfalls, frustrations and best practices within program management and staffing, the experts share how to build and maintain a successful cardiopulmonary rehab practice! 

AACVPR Program Planning Committee Chair, Dr. Emily Gathright, joins The Pulse Pod to talk all things Annual Meeting! From session selection to poster presentation, tune in to get the A-Z breakdown of what to expect in Milwaukee this fall.

Welcome back! Join in where we left off last week with our panel of Day on the Hill advocates as they walk us through their experiences in Washington, D.C.Featuring:Debbie Baker, RN BSN, CCRPAnne Gavic-Ott, MPA, RCEP, MAACVPRKaren Lui, BSN, MS, MAACVPRBeau Proctor, RNLearn more about AACVPR’s Day on the Hill here: https://www.aacvpr.org/Day-on-the-Hill

This week, Tom hosts a panel of AACVPR members who attended Day on the Hill earlier this year. They talk about how advocating for PR/CR can be a springboard for the industry as a whole, but also for your personal career. Featuring:Debbie Baker, RN BSN, CCRPAnne Gavic-Ott, MPA, RCEP, MAACVPRKaren Lui, BSN, MS, MAACVPRBeau Proctor, RNLearn more about AACVPR’s Day on the Hill here: https://www.aacvpr.org/Day-on-the-Hill 

Dr. Hughes joins the Pulse Pod for a discussion on Psychosocial Management. From what it is to, how to implement it and how it can affect your program and your patients, tune in to learn more with a leader in the field!

Tom sits down with AACVPR Past President Dean Diersing to share about his career progression, leadership philosophies and everything in between!

Pick back up on this discussion with our AACVPR soothsayers for a can’t-miss finale to the first season of The Pulse Pod.

What’s next for the future of cardiopulmonary rehab and how can you drive your program to success for years to come? Some of AACVPR’s wisest clairvoyants sit down to make predictions and share best practices and advice.

Chair of the AACVPR Quality of Care Committee, Dr. Quinn Pack, sits down with Tom to discuss why programs should measure success and the importance of consistency performance metrics.

AACVPR President Amy Knight, PhD, ABPP, covers her goals for the association, including a focus on health equity.

Dr. Serber has more than 15 years of experience integrating lifestyle changes and wellbeing into cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and she joins the podcast to share the importance of treating the psychosocial needs of our patients.

Tom sits down with Dr. Sperling to learn about the mission to prevent one million cardiovascular events in the next five years and what AACVPR members can do to support it.

AACVPR has a podcast! For six weeks, we’ll be bringing conversations with expert minds in cardiopulmonary rehab right to your favorite podcast streaming platform. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode.