Golf Classic Charity Partner Spotlight: University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center

Sep. 2, 2016

As a part of this year’s coverage for the upcoming annual Breakthru Beverage Charity Golf Classic­–teeing off September 29 and 30–Breakthru Arizona is proud to spotlight its charity partners, all of which have been instrumental in making this charity golf tournament a yearly success.

This week’s spotlight: The University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center

The University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center holds a very special place in the hearts of the Breakthru Arizona family.

"We've come a long way since Jim Shocklee, a Breakthru Arizona employee, received a heart transplant many years ago,” remembers Nancy K. Sweitzer, MD, PhD,

 director of the UA Sarver Heart Center and Chief of Cardiology.

The UA Sarver Heart Center has made great progress over the years and now has a deep bench of treatment options available to improve quality of life for patientslike Jim. For some historical perspective on that progress–in the 1960s, 40 percent of Americans died of cardiovascular disease, but now that figure has dropped to 34 percent and death from the disease occurs at an older age.

“Now, patients’ symptoms can often be controlled with new medications and careful lifestyle management,” said Sweitzer. “If this fails, we have an array of implantable devices, including special pacemakers, defibrillators and mechanical circulatory support pumps, such as left ventricular assist devices, that help people when medications alone do not control heart failure symptoms.”

In addition to being equipped with the latest technology, Sweitzer has recruited a world-class faculty and researchers to help discover advances in cardiovascular health. The Sarver Heart Center has recently focused on examining gender differences in the manifestation and treatment of heart disease. It’s also one of the only institutions in the world with an endowed chair dedicated to the study of heart disease in women.

The journey to cardiovascular health begins with the understanding of heart disease, and that is made possible by the research the Sarver Center’s incredible staff pursues on a daily basis. Charity partnerships–such as the one with Breakthru Arizona–helps fund that life-saving research.

“The fundraising from the Breakthru Beverage Golf Classic has aided in developing new treatments for heart disease that has saved lives,” said Sweitzer.

We’re proud to partner with the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center and support their mission to prevent heart disease.

More on the UA Sarver Heart Center

More on the Breakthru Beverage Charity Golf Classic