Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute patient receives needed care thanks to clinical trials

[Allina Health Newsroom, April 29, 2025] When Gloria Cullen needed medical treatment for her leaky heart valve and congestive heart failure, she turned to the Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute and Paul Sorajja, MD, an interventional cardiologist and director of the Center for Valve and Structural Heart Disease.

She wasn't a viable candidate for traditional open heart surgery so Dr. Sorajja wanted to pursue transcatheter options, where they deliver the valve through a blood vessel, typically in the leg.

"The only way that Gloria would be able to be treated with a transcatheter technology for her leaky valve is to participate in a clinical trial," said Dr. Sorajja.

Gloria received that valve replacement, and then has since received a second one through another clinical trial.

"If it weren't for the research programs and Dr. Sorajja who worked so diligently to get me in the two programs, I wouldn't be here," said Gloria.

Watch the video to see how these procedures have been life-changing for Gloria.

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