Heart Disease Prevention

Dr. Michael Miedema is Director of the Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health at Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and Director of Cardiovascular Prevention at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute. Dr. Miedema obtained his medical degree and completed a cardiovascular fellowship at the University of Minnesota Medical School and also has a master’s degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health. He is a leading national expert in cardiovascular prevention. He serves as an Associate Editor for the digital content for the Prevention Section of the American College of Cardiology. He served on the executive review committee for the 2018 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guidelines, and was a member of the 2019 ACC/AHA Guidelines Committee for the Primary Prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Gretchen Benson oversees the center’s operational strategy including investigator-initiated research studies, professional and community education. As a dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist, she has research interests in nutrition, behaviors and population health. She currently serves on the American Diabetes Association’s professional practice committee tasked with updating the Standards of Care in Diabetes, as well as the MN Department of Health Statewide Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Committee.

Dr. Thomas Knickelbine is director of lipid research at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute, where he has actively practiced cardiology since 1996. He is co-director of HeartScan Minnesota®, which he founded in 1999 and helped pioneer the initial calcium scoring program in the state of Minnesota. He has published multiple abstracts, presentations and papers surrounding the need for early detection and optimal treatment of coronary artery plaque. Dr. Knickelbine is board certified in cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular CT and has Level III training in cardiac and peripheral CT. His special interests include preventive cardiology and lipid management, coronary calcium scoring, echocardiography, diagnostic imaging, and coronary angiography.

Joy just completed her internal medicine residency at HCMC.  Dr. Mallick has a BS degree in Clinical Psychology from University of California Davis and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Pacific Northwest University of Osteopathic Medicine, Yakima, WA.

Dr. Otto Sanchez joined the prevention team as a Senior Scientist, having earned his medical degree in Venezuela and PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. He brings extensive experience in MRI methods, biostatistics, epidemiology, and clinical trial methods to test different approaches to prevent and treat cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Dr. Sanchez's professional interests include identifying early markers of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and developing strategies that will help individuals implement a healthy lifestyle. He is also interested in the beneficial effects of exercise on overall health and how to promote physical activity among the population. In addition, Dr. Sanchez is assessing the potential clinical applications of natriuretic peptides as they may be an important factor in salt-sensitive hypertension, obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, peripheral artery disease, and individuals with low cardiorespiratory fitness.

Jessica Shamdas, MPH has been selected to serve as our second women’s health equity fellow in The Penny Anderson Women’s Cardiovascular Center.

Jessica brings extensive research experience to the program, with some of her most recent roles consulting on federally funded initiatives, including CDC Screen for Life Colorectal Cancer Campaign, Veterans Affairs (VA) Behavioral Health Study, CDC Comprehensive Family-Centered (CHANCE) Study, California Tobacco Prevention Program (CTPP), among others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Spanish and earned her MPH from the University of Minnesota with a focus on Epidemiology and a Minor in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration.

In her fellowship role at MHIF, Jessica will support both MHIF research and community education efforts. Her first research project will focus on an international valve disease in women registry under Dr. Nadira Hamid’s direction, as the U.S. site Principal Investigator.

Susan White is a registered dietitian nutritionist and serves as the administrative and program lead for prevention and women’s heart health at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute. She is adept at simplifying complex nutrition messages found in the news or research into practical tips for improving heart health and frequently gives community presentations.