Dr. Vyvyane Loh returns to STEM-Talk for her second appearance to talk about atherosclerotic heart disease. Also known as ASCVD, the disease has been reported to affect 26 million people in the U.S., and annually leads two million hospitalizations and more than 400,000 deaths.

Vyvyane is a board-certified physician in obesity and internal medicine. In episode 142 of STEM-Talk, we talked to Vyvyane about her Boston-based preventative-care practice that specializes in weight management and the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia.

In today’s podcast, Vyvyane and host Dr. Ken Ford talk about ASCVD as well as recent research that has shown substantial individual variability in the response to statin therapy as a way to lower cardiovascular risk. Vyvyane and Ken also discuss how the current knowledge base informing clinical practice in medicine today is far behind advances in the biological sciences, especially in the field of ASCVD.

Show notes:

[00:03:15] Ken welcomes Vyvyane back to STEM-Talk and encourages listeners to check out Vyvyane’s first interview, episode 142. Ken goes on to mention that atherosclerotic heart disease has been reported to affect 26 million people in the U.S. and that despite the wide use of statins as a primary prevention of atherosclerotic heart disease, the effects of this treatment have been variable with regards to major adverse cardiac events. Ken asks Vyvyane for her thoughts.

[00:05:32] Ken asks Vyvyane about recent developments in atherosclerotic heart disease research, specifically in regard to the anatomical aspects of the disease-model itself.

[00:08:43] Ken follows up asking Vyvyane how the knowledge we have of glycocalyces, and the endothelial lining of the blood vessels, could affect clinical practice.

[00:12:19] Ken asks if there are any other recent updates to the anatomical model of atherosclerotic disease that people should be aware of.

[00:13:09] Ken asks Vyvyane how she would characterize the significance of the tunica intima of the coronary artery.

[00:15:25] Ken asks about the third recent anatomical highlight to blood vessels relevant to the discussion.

[00:19:19] Ken follows up, asking if this is how the vasa vasorum contributes to our understanding of the development of atherosclerosis.

[00:21:05] Ken asks Vyvyane to explain what endothelial dysfunction is and what are its downstream effects.

[00:26:09] Ken asks Vyvyane to expound on the link between atherosclerotic disease and auto-immunity.

[00:31:01] Ken asks, given the link to inflammation, if there have been any therapeutic developments made in the treatment of atherosclerotic disease.

[00:34:54] Ken asks about the vaccine that is being developed for atherosclerosis.

[00:37:53] Ken mentions that another recent development in the field is the growing appreciation for clonal hematopoiesis in atherosclerosis. Ken asks Vyvyane to explain what clonal hematopoiesis is.

[00:39:55] Ken asks Vyvyane what some actionable takeaways are from our discussion on atherosclerosis that listeners can take home with them.

[00:43:17] Ken asks Vyvyane about her passion for dance, and how much time she invests in that area of her life.

[00:48:11] Ken follows up asking Vyvyane what drives her to pursue dance so passionately.

[00:53:34] In closing the interview, Ken encourages listeners to check out Vyvyane’s podcast as well as her website.

Links:

Vyvyane Loh website

Vlmdrounds.com

Learn more about IHMC

STEM-Talk homepage

Ken Ford bio

Ken Ford Wikipedia page

STINCHFIELD TONIGHT NOVEMBER 6TH, 2025