16 | MUSChealth.org/heart MUSC HEALTH HEART & VASCULAR CENTER Dr. Adrian Van Bakel’s patients call him the “Chuck Norris of the cardiac world” because he has taken on some of the most complex cases and saved so many lives. With more than 30 years as a cardiology specialist at MUSC Health, he enjoys the advantage of caring for patients for the long haul when needed. Perhaps the best example of the long-haul-Chuck-Norris advantage that Dr. Van Bakel brings to MUSC Health is his history with 47-year-old patient Jonathan Wigfall, who has been in Dr. Van Bakel’s care since 2008, after several successful heart surgeries by other MUSC Health experts. As a teen, Wigfall got rheumatic fever, which damaged his heart valves. Before he met Dr. Van Bakel, he had survived several valve replacements and, later, an aortic root replacement, but his heart continued to fail. In June 2023, with trust in Dr. Van Bakel’s advice and surgical expertise, Wigfall knew it was time for a heart transplant. “That whole Chuck Norris thing – it’s true,” said Wigfall days after the transplant and his release from the hospital. “He is both firm and fair. I was a tough cookie when we first met. I didn’t always listen to his advice, especially about exercise and nutrition. I was a real big guy, over 360 pounds.” “He really listened to me though,” Wigfall added. “And I eventually realized what he wanted me to understand and things got a lot better.” Wigfall started exercising and eating better; the weight fell off and Wigfall said he could feel Dr. Van Bakel’s pride in his progress. “I got to the point where I looked forward to going to him,” Wigfall said. “And, if I messed up, it hurt me more to hurt him. He has been so passionate about making me feel better.” “Jonathan is always trying to do better,” said Dr. Van Bakel. “He has been through a lot, and we developed quite a bond over the years.” The two have known each other for so long, they don’t just say hello or high five when they meet – they hug. As Wigfall leaves his appointments and after he woke up after his heart transplant, he greeted Dr. Van Bakel by saying, “I’m just happy to be here.” This humanity in medicine is what fuels Dr. Van Bakel the most. He appreciates knowing that he has made a positive impact on patients’ lives and that they share mutual gratitude for the positive steps they make toward better health together. “Trust me, I’ll do anything for him right now,” said Wigfall. “I have a new heart. I’m Peter Pan and I’m so happy to be here.” COMPLEX CASES Dr. Adrian Van Bakel has been on the faculty at MUSC Health since 1991, and he served as the medical director of the Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Program from 1991 to 2017. “When I started, I was the only faculty member specifically trained to work with heart failure and transplant patients,” said Dr. Van Bakel. “Now we have over 12 experts in this area. There is such a need for all of us because heart failure cases continue to rise.” Prior to his tenure at MUSC Health, Dr. Van Bakel graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1981, then completed his Ph.D. in pharmacology from that institution in 1983. Dr. Van Bakel has been the principal investigator of many multicenter clinical trials in congestive heart failure and cardiac transplantation. His research interests include congestive heart failure management, novel immunosuppression strategies and the pharmacogenomics of drug absorption and metabolism. Long-Term Relationships Matter “He really listened to me though,” Wigfall added. “And I eventually realized what he wanted me to understand and things got a lot better.”
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