Judith L. Meadows
- With Northwestern since December 2009
- Assistant professor in Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Center for Vascular Disease.
Dr. Meadows grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and completed her training medical school training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, internal medicine residency at Yale Medical School, and cardiology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Meadows’ husband, Marc Krichavsky, is an interventional cardiologist who specializes in coronary disease, peripheral artery disease, and structural heart disease. They decided to join the Northwestern faculty because of its excellent cardiology division and wonderful career opportunities. Dr. Meadows has three children; her daughter is a preschooler and her twin sons are one year old.
What is the focus of your clinical practice and research?
I specialize in vascular disease, including peripheral arterial disease, aortic disease, carotid disease, vasculitis, and vasospastic disorders. My clinical interests are in the screening for vascular disease, medical and lifestyle management of vascular disease, and cardiovascular prevention. As such, I work closely with preventive cardiology, interventional cardiology, and vascular surgery. My clinical practice also includes patients with a familial/genetic predisposition to vascular disease, such as bicuspid aortic valve with its associated thoracic aortopathy, familial aortic aneurysms and dissections, and Marfan’s disease.
What projects are you currently working on?
(1) Development of primary screening and surveillance programs for vascular disease (PAD, aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease) and cardiovascular risk reduction.
(2) Investigation of thoracic aorta abnormalities in patient with bicuspid aortic valve and their first degree family members using MRI/MRA.
I am also active in cardiac magnetic resonance trials to (1) remodeling and scar evolution following myocardial infarction and (2) scar size and systolic function as predictors of arrhythmia.
Where do you see your career heading?
My vision is to improve the quality of care that we provide to our vascular patients. I hope to design a model of integrated care at the Center for Vascular Disease and to develop appropriate and effective screening and surveillance needed in the management of vascular and cardiac disease requires. With early identification of disease, we can provide medical and lifestyle management to prevent more invasive, costly, and morbid outcomes for our patients. Patients with peripheral arterial disease have a six-fold increased risk of death due to coronary artery disease . Effective cardiovascular risk reduction is imperative.
Where can we find you after work?
My children are the center of my life. So, when I am outside of work, I am an active mom and wife. My children are young, so our afternoons are spent at the playground and reading books. My husband and I enjoy skiing and playing tennis.
Professional awards:
o Research in Residency Award, Yale Medical School, internal medicine program
o Women in Cardiology Award, American Heart Association
o Laennec award, American Heart Association
