Episode 43: Carcinoid Heart Syndrome

What is Carcinoid Heart Disease (CHD)? Which NET patients develop CHD?  Retired cardiologist and carcinoid heart disease specialist Dr. Jerome Zacks provides an overview of CHD and describes the appropriate screening, diagnosis, and treatment. 

MEET DR. JEROME ZACKS

Dr. Jerome Zacks is a Cardiologist/Carcinoid Heart Disease Specialist; retired since December of 2021; but remain active as Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Icahn Medical School at Mount Sinai in New York City and founding member of the Center for Carcinoid and Neuroendocrine Tumors at the Icahn Medical School at Mount Sinai; founder of the Carcinoid Heart Center; formerly on the Medical Advisory Board of the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation;  currently head the Electrocardiography course for the 4th Year Medical Student elective at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center which has resulted in an international reputation among students seeking Cardiology training in the United States. 

 He has expertise in matters of health care Insurance Carriers' theft of funds from the Medicare program, has studied patterns of abuse in the Medicaid program and has extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical company abusive practices. 

Dr. Zacks continues to devote time to the care of patients with Carcinoid Heart Disease. He has served as a member of the Guidelines Committees of the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) and of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS).   He developed a new approach to compression stockings for patients with leg edema; he was granted a patent for this innovation.  He has authored two national petitions urging Congress to mandate that any health care professional who uses one’s license, in making decisions which influence a patient’s care, be held to the SAME STANDARD OF CARE as the patient’s treating professional. (These two petitions were blocked by Senator Cory Booker.)  In his role as patients’ physician, he has attempted to remove barriers of communication.  His business card includes his personal mobile phone number as well as his email address and website information; He encourages patients to phone for immediate answers to urgent matters.  Along with his wife, Yelena - an RN- they have devoted their professional lives to patients with heart disease from rare Neuroendocrine tumors. They have mentored 5 children, and are now learning from them and their 6 grandchildren have provided the real fuel and excitement for their lives.

For more information, visit https://www.ncf.net/podcast/43

For more information, visit LACNETS.org.