Cardiologists host heart health screening at Morgan State

The Association of Black Cardiologists and BridgeBio will host a film screening and community discussion on Monday, October 26, at Morgan State University. The event, titled “Don’t Pass on Your Heart Health,” focuses on Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy, a condition that specialists say is often underdiagnosed in Black communities.

The program centers on three public figures who will share their experiences with the disease. Howard H. White, a former college basketball player and sports executive, founded the Howard “H” White Center for Cardiac Amyloidosis. He will join Doug E. Fresh, known as the “Human Beatbox,” who serves as the founding artist of Hip Hop Public Health. Sway Calloway, a media broadcaster and entrepreneur, will also participate in the conversation. Together, they will discuss how knowledge about heart health can be spread through popular culture.

Dr. Barbara Hutchinson, a cardiologist in Annapolis with more than 30 years of practice, will moderate the panel. She is the former president of the Association of Black Cardiologists and currently serves as the medical director at Flourish in Bowie. The discussion aims to connect the world of hip-hop with medical facts, providing attendees with a clear understanding of the symptoms and risks associated with the condition.

ATTR-CM occurs when a protein called transthyretin misfolds and builds up in the heart muscle. This buildup causes the heart walls to stiffen, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. The condition can lead to heart failure. Because symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and leg swelling resemble common heart problems, doctors often miss the diagnosis until the disease has progressed.

Black families face a specific risk regarding this inherited condition. A gene variant linked to one form of ATTR-CM is present in an estimated 3 to 4 percent of Black Americans. While not every carrier will develop the disease, knowing one’s family history can help identify the condition earlier. Early detection allows patients to access treatment options that have become available in recent years.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. in the Health & Human Services Center Building at 4101 Hillen Road, Suite 228. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions about symptoms, testing, and how to discuss heart health with their doctors. The evening is open to adults, caregivers, family members, and health professionals who serve the Black community in Baltimore. Registration is available online.

The Association of Black Cardiologists has worked for over 50 years to reduce gaps in heart care for Black Americans. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in this demographic. By holding the event at Morgan State University, the organizers aim to bring the conversation to a central location in Northeast Baltimore where many residents live and learn.