Brigham and Women's Hospital

For generations, Jenn Capshaw’s family endured sudden loss from heart attacks with no answers. Then, genetic testing at Brigham and Women's Hospital revealed an inherited LMNA gene mutation causing cardiomyopathy and changed everything. Under the care of Neal Lakdawala, MD, director of the Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic at the Brigham, Jenn now thrives with a pacemaker and defibrillator, and her family has turned tragedy into action by funding groundbreaking research and future gene therapy trials at Mass General Brigham's Heart and Vascular Institute. Read their story here:

Now that some of the snow has cleared, we want to take a moment to say thank you. To all of our staff across the hospital who reported to work during the recent snowstorm—thank you for your dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to our patients and community. Whether you provided direct care, kept our facilities running, prepared meals, ensured safety, or supported operations behind the scenes, your efforts made all the difference. Thank you to our own Jim Rathmell, MD, for the images!

Brigham researchers found adding evolocumab — a drug designed to reduce LDL cholesterol — to standard treatment significantly reduced the risk of a first heart attack, stroke, or coronary heart disease death in high-risk patients by 25%. The results of the clinical trial demonstrate the potential of targeted therapies to reduce major cardiac events and improve outcomes for patients most at risk.

Brigham and Women's Hospital is thrilled to be ranked #6 in the United States and #18 in the world by Newsweek. Brigham and Women's Faulkner was also ranked on the Global Top 250 list for the first time. We take pride in our leadership in innovation and want to thank all our employees for providing compassionate care every day.

The Boston Globe's annual "Salute to Nurses" recognizes nurses across New England who’ve gone above and beyond to ensure the health of their patients and their families in times of need. Patients, families, and co-workers can share their experiences and express their gratitude through personalized messages. Submissions are due by February 27. To fill out the form, visit: http://spklr.io/6048DL83m

After identifying inequities in hospital admissions among patients presenting to the Emergency Department with heart failure, researchers at the Brigham developed and implemented a practical framework to help reduce disparities and support more equitable, appropriate care for every patient with heart failure. “In just over two years, utilization of the CDSS (the intervention, known as a Clinical Decision Support System) achieved quantitative redress of the documented 10 years of inequity in access by redirecting 125 Black or Latino patients to cardiology service,” said lead author Bram Wispelwey, MD, MS, MPH, of the Division of General and Internal Medicine. Learn more about this initiative here: http://spklr.io/6044Ds68o

This February, we celebrate Heart Month and stand proudly with Go Red for Women. Honoring the incredible Mass General Brigham women physicians in our hospital who lead, care, and advocate for better heart health every day. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women — together, through awareness and action, we can change that. Wear red. Raise awareness, Protect women's hearts.

This month, 100 tenth-grade students from the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers stepped inside Brigham and Women’s Hospital for immersive, hands-on learning experiences in Perioperative Services and Medical Laboratory Science. In Perioperative Services, students explored high-demand careers essential to safe surgical care, including Anesthesia Technician, Surgical Technician, Sterile Processing Technician, and Equipment Technician. They learned how surgical instruments are decontaminated and prepared for procedures, practiced putting on personal protective equipment, and toured the decontamination space to see the precision and safety standards required behind the scenes. Students also explored spinal surgery technology and gained insight into the advanced tools and teamwork that support complex operations. In Medical Laboratory Science, students stepped into the role of Lab Technicians and Lab Assistants. Through a mock clinical case, they diagnosed “Randall Boggs” with sickle cell anemia, learning how laboratory data drives patient care decisions. They also conducted blood typing experiments and explored whether their own blood types would be compatible for transfusion, connecting science, problem-solving, and patient impact in a powerful way. These experiences reflect the strength of our partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers and our shared commitment to meaningful, career-connected learning. When students engage directly in clinical environments, they begin to envision themselves as part of the future health care workforce. Thank you to the Perioperative Services and Medical Laboratory Science teams for your mentorship and collaboration in building pathways for the next generation of health care professionals.

Women who are going through menopause are especially at risk for osteoporosis. “Osteoporosis is a silent condition—it often doesn’t have symptoms until a fracture occurs. My goal for my patients with osteoporosis is to prevent fractures so they can remain active and independent for as long as possible,” says Sharon Chou, MD, a Mass General Brigham endocrinologist. Learn more about how the two conditions impact each other here:

While technology makes life easier in many ways, it also brings unique aches and pains. “Tech neck” is a term used to describe neck and upper back discomfort from phone and computer use. Here are some strategies that can help.