Cardiology Research

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation are burgeoning areas of clinical care and research. Summa Health has a vibrant rehab program with a significant component of research that has validated its innovative clinical care practices.

Research also includes related areas of cardiovascular health such as heart failure, patients treated with an implantable cardiac defibrillator, psychosocial and cognitive factors in heart disease, and hypertension. 

Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation is of enormous clinical benefit to members of the Akron community and supports the overall mission and clinical services of both the Center for Cardiopulmonary Research and Summa Health.

Specific areas of research focus include:

• Resource utilization and clinical outcomes in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
• Psychosocial adaptation to cardiopulmonary illness, physiologic changes and exercise capacity during the rehabilitation process
• Baseline psychological function in rehabilitation participants
• Evaluation of quality of life survey instruments
• Innovative exercise prescription and progression through the use of graphic electronic clinical interfaces (which has recently resulted in the submission of a patent application for Summa)
• Adult health literacy and educational curriculum design, neuro-cognitive function and weight loss among obese cardiac rehabilitation participants

Collaborations exist with Kent State University Departments of Psychology & Exercise Physiology and University of Akron Departments of Sports Science & Wellness Education, Curricular & Instructional Design and College of Nursing, Case Western Reserve Francis Bolton College of Nursing, Youngstown State University Department of Human Performance and Exercise Science.

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