Breathing Easier

In summer 2024, Rich Meissner’s relaxing family vacation took a harrowing turn after he was involved in a serious car accident. While Meissner and his family were uninjured, the event left a devastating secondary impact: A few nights later, he experienced a major atrial fibrillation episode. Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a heart rhythm issue affecting more than 2 million American adults. “I knew the intense stress from the accident brought this on,” Meissner says.

Meissner’s health journey has been a long one. In addition to having a family history of heart problems, the 56-year-old long struggled with high blood pressure and weight challenges. He also had a heart murmur detected by his primary care physician, Dr. Adam Cheriff, an internist and chief operating officer for the Weill Cornell Physician Organization, during his first office visit in 2008. Three years later, the murmur got worse. “The character had changed, becoming harsher,” says Dr. Cheriff, associate professor of clinical medicine and an internist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

He referred Meissner to Dr. Robert Kim, associate professor of clinical medicine and a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, for an ultrasound. Meissner was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common genetic cardiac disease. Characterized by an abnormal thickening of the heart walls, the condition can impede blood flow and increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. Its symptoms include dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath, especially with physical activity.

The condition motivated Meissner to become healthier to better manage his HCM. In 2014, he underwent gastric bypass surgery and achieved a healthier weight. He also made lifestyle adjustments around nutrition and stress management, which was often challenging in his high-pressure career as a Manhattan-based chef. The upside of working long restaurant hours, however, was staying active. “I started walking a lot,” Meissner says, “and I realized that over the course of the day, I could get in 12,000 steps or more.”

But the aftermath of Meissner’s cardiac health following his car accident concerned his doctors, including Dr. Diala Steitieh (M.D. ’17), assistant professor of clinical medicine and director of Weill Cornell Medicine’s HCM program. “There are many effective treatments available for HCM, including new medications and procedures,” says Dr. Steitieh, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. “Everyone deserves to have a good quality of life and to be able to breathe comfortably, which was our top goal for [Meissner].”  

After thoughtful discussion with Dr. Steitieh and his family, Meissner felt a septal myectomy, which removes part of the heart wall, or septum, to improve blood flow, was his best choice to maximize his quality of life. Dr. Leonard Girardi, chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and cardiothoracic surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, performed Meissner’s surgery this past February. He was home less than a week after surgery and returned to work two months later.

A commitment to a healthier lifestyle

Dr. Cheriff says that Meissner was a good candidate for the surgery “because he was in better health and committed to staying that way. Despite some daunting health challenges, he’s always maintained an incredibly positive outlook.”

Says Meissner, “My only regret is not getting [the surgery] done even sooner than I did. It’s major surgery, and I was a bit nervous.”

For the last few years, Meissner has served as executive chef of the community kitchen at Eva’s Village, a nonprofit in Paterson, N.J., offering comprehensive support for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, homelessness, mental health issues and food insecurity. The move was a conscious one. Meissner feels grateful to have been able to make the change after decades working in Manhattan’s intense restaurant world.

Meissner also credits the exceptional care provided by his team of specialists at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian for empowering his health journey. He urges patients with similar challenges, especially around family history, to keep up with their care, noting, “It can be so easy to let things slide, but it’s so important.”

A previous version of this story appeared in the Weill Cornell Medicine patient blog.