Many Americans take pills every day to manage disease and improve their health. However, when it comes to the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation or AFib, commonly-prescribed blood thinners that help prevent stroke-causing blood clots can add an even greater burden. This daily medication requires patients to be more cautious about simple cuts or scrapes as even these minor injuries can send them to the emergency room due to excessive bleeding. And for patients who are avid travelers or adventure seekers, the risk of being hours away from medical attention could be a matter of life or death.

But medical advancements are now providing ways for patients to protect themselves while maintaining their active lives, freeing them from worrying about managing side effects on the road.

For Academy Award-nominated documentary film director and AFib patient Jim Burroughs, being on the move is part of his job requirement. His career has taken him to Afghanistan, Cuba, Bangladesh, and countless other spots across the globe, as he documents the human experience in a tumultuous world. Jim has to be able to travel with limited daily restrictions while navigating these extreme locations. So, after being diagnosed with AFib and prescribed a blood thinner, Jim worried that his career was over.

On Wednesday, December 7th, Jim and his cardiologist, Dr. Shephal K. Doshi, Director of Cardio-Electrophysiology at Providence Saint John’s Health, will be available to discuss the breakthrough device that has helped prevent the formation of blood clots in Jim’s heart, eliminating his need to take a daily medicine and allowing him to continue to pursue his passion and explore the globe.

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