Robert C. Block, M.D., M.P.H.

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Research: The primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease through public health measures and medical practice redesign as well as the investigation of pathophysiologic mechanisms by which disease develops. His sub-focus is the role of fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. Given his years of clinical practice, Dr. Block's research interests are quite broad. His research, however, focuses on the investigation of how nutrition affects the risk of cardiovascular disease. This interest is most intense regarding the role of fatty acids and their metabolites on heart disease risk, particularly in those with coronary artery disease. He has completed a recent study of the relationship of blood levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and the risk of recurrent coronary artery events. He is interested in understanding the role of biomarkers, such as fatty acids, for clinical use as well as in helping to understand heart disease pathophysiology. He has published regarding the clinical use of measuring lipoprotein(a) in predicting risk of cardiovascular disease in different populations and regarding the need for an integrated approach to cardiovascular disease modification. He has an interest in the specific integrated approach termed the "Chronic Care Model" for clinical practice reform and how its proactive approach may be superior to current practice patterns.

Current Appointments

• Assistant Professor - Department of Community and Preventive Medicine (SMD)
• Assistant Professor - Department of Medicine (SMD)

Education
BA Arts & Sciences	Cook College, Rutgers University	1985
MD Medicine	University of Medicine and Dentistry at New Jersey	1991
Masters of Public Health	University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (First half completed at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)	2006
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute T32 Post-Doctoral Fellowship Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Biostatistics	University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry	2006
Certificate in Clinical Research	University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry	2006

Post-Doctoral Training & Residency
Residency: Internal Medicine, Mayo Graduate School. Rochester, MN	1995
Transitional Internship: Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Michigan State University, Kalamazoo, Michigan	1992

Recent Journal Articles
Showing the 5 most recent journal articles. (16 available)
McClintic, B.R.; McClintic, J.I.; Bisognano, J.D.; Block, R.C. "The Relationship between Retinal Microvascular Abnormalities and Coronary Heart Disease: A Review". The American Journal of Medicine (In Press) (2010).
Mallah HS; Brown MR; Rossi TM; Block RC. "Omegaven®-Associated Burr Cell Anemia". Journal of Pediatrics (In Press) (2009).
Block RC; Tran BC; McIntosh S. "Integrating the Chronic Care Model into a Novel Medical Student Course". Health Education Journal (In Press) (2009).
Block, R.C.; Corsetti, J.; Goldenberg, I.; Vorobiof, G.; McNitt, S.; Ryan, D.; Zareba, W.; Moss, A.J. "The Common Apolipoprotein A-1 Polymorphism -75A>G is Associated with Ethnic Differences in Recurrent Coronary Events After Recovery from an Acute Myocardial Infarction". Heart International volume 4 (2009).
Block RC; Harris WS; Pottala JV. "Determinants of blood cell omega-3 fatty acid content". The Open Biomarkers Journal 1 (2008): 1-6.