Travel should be memorable for the right reasons — not stressful health surprises.

In this upcoming episode of The Heart of Innovation, cohosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips dive into why planning ahead is critical when you're traveling with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), cardiovascular disease, mobility challenges, or strict dietary needs.

📍 Broadcasting live from a Princess Cruise ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Kym shares firsthand how Princess Cruises goes above and beyond to accommodate her and her father's gluten-free, dairy-free, low-salt, low-sugar diet, while still making it possible to stay active and keep daily steps moving — even at sea.

Dr. Phillips breaks down essential medical travel prep, including:

• How to organize and pack medications properly

• Why you should identify pharmacies and urgent care locations before you arrive

• The importance of carrying physician documentation and imaging CDs

• What to have ready in case of a medical emergency away from home

Whether you love cruising, traveling internationally, or just planning a weekend getaway, this episode offers practical, real-world guidance to help you travel smarter, safer, and with confidence.

📞 Need help right now? PAD Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS

🌐 Trusted resources:

• https://padhelp.org

• https://padsupportgroup.org (Facebook Support Group)

Plan ahead. Protect your legs. And don't let PAD stop you from seeing the world.

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🎶 What happens when a vascular surgeon decides to walk away from practice… to pursue music? This week on The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I sit down with a surgeon whose passion for rhythm has always been intertwined with healing — and now he's daring to follow that rhythm into a whole new career.

Our guest is not just a gifted clinician. He's a songwriter, producer, and vascular surgeon at Oregon Health & Science University, currently earning his Master's in Songwriting at Berklee College of Music. And yes — he's officially taking the leap into music full-time.

Why now? What did he discover in the OR, at the bedside, and in his own creative process that made this moment the right one?

He shares: 🎵 How music unexpectedly deepened his relationships with patients 🎵 Why rhythm matters more in vascular care than you might think 🎵 The parallels between restoring blood flow… and writing a song that moves people 🎵 What he's learned about courage, identity, and choosing a path that truly aligns with your purpose

This episode is heartfelt, surprising, and full of wisdom for anyone standing at a crossroads — in medicine, in creativity, or in life.

👉 Don't miss this one. It's a rare look at what it really means to heal… and be human.

Listen on KDOW, our podcast platforms, or watch the full episode on YouTube. Leg Saver Hotline: 1-877-FIX-LEGZ Learn more: PADHelp.org | TheWayToMyHeart.org

#TheHeartOfInnovation #VascularSurgery #PeripheralArteryDisease #PADAwareness #MusicHeals #Songwriting #BerkleeCollegeOfMusic #CareerJourney #PhysicianStories #HealingThroughMusic #InnovationInMedicine #LegSaverHotline #KymMcNicholas #DrJohnPhillips

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This week on The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips sit down for a powerful, patient-driven holiday special—one that reveals what people living with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) truly wish for this season.

PAD is more common than prostate, breast, and colon cancer combined, yet still misunderstood. Our in-studio audience opened up about the physical and emotional toll of this disease—leg pain, cramps, burning, neuropathy, and wounds that won't heal—and the everyday battles most people never see.

Their holiday wish list was honest, raw, and deeply human:

• More doctors trained in advanced limb-saving tools and techniques

• Fewer preventable amputations related to PAD and diabetes

• A world where fewer people smoke or vape, as nicotine and cannabis use fuel earlier, more aggressive PAD

• And a collective wish for patients themselves to enter the new year committed to realistic goals, healthier habits, and becoming active partners in their own care

This conversation is heartfelt, unfiltered, and filled with the courage of people who refuse to give up hope. If you or someone you love is living with PAD, you won't want to miss this episode. To learn more about PAD and advanced limb saving treatment options, call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS.

#PeripheralArteryDisease #PADAwareness #TheHeartOfInnovation #LimbSalvage #AmputationPrevention #VascularHealth #PatientStories #ChronicPainCommunity #HolidayHealth #CirculationMatters #PADWarriors #DiabeticFoot #NeuropathySupport #StopSmokingSaveLimbs #HealthEquity

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