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BWH’s Samuel Z. Goldhaber, MD, director of the Venous Thromboembolism Research Group and senior staff cardiologist, and John Fanikos, RPh, MBA, assistant director of the Pharmacy, stood next to Gov. Deval Patrick earlier this month as he declared November 2007 Thrombosis Awareness Month in Massachusetts.
During the same ceremony, state Reps. Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., and Michael F. Rush presented Goldhaber with an official resolution adapted and passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives proclaiming November as Thrombosis Awareness Month. Thrombosis, the formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel, can cause heart attack, stroke, DVT or pulmonary embolism.
“Through public awareness, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts seeks to minimize the effects of thrombosis among all Massachusetts citizens,” Patrick said during a ceremony in Nurses Hall at the StateHouse. “The success of this does not depend on what goes on inside this building, it’s what you citizens are doing to advocate for this recognition.”
Goldhaber worked with Puppolo and Rush to pass the proclamation. The state lawmakers also are the authors and chief sponsors of a bill to declare November Thrombosis Awareness Month each year.
Puppolo praised Goldhaber, his team and Brigham and Women’s Hospital for their work. “It’s important to get together as a group to raise awareness,” Puppolo said. “The work you do everyday to raise awareness and combat disease is so important.”
Goldhaber noted the severity of thrombosis and called for more volunteers to spread the word about prevention. “Thrombosis is the most frequent illness in Massachusetts, in the United States and in North America. It’s becoming a major problem in countries emerging as powerhouses, such as India and China,” he said. “We live in an era where many conditions can be prevented. We have to educate the lay public and health care professionals.”
Fanikos agreed, calling the effects of thrombosis devastating. “Everyone has a story to tell about it,” he said. “Patients who survive are faced with life-long medication and drug therapy that is difficult to control and has serious side effects.”
Fanikos called for health care practitioners to be vigilant in identifying patients at risk and educating them.
View a PDF of the signed proclamation