Joseph Cava, MD, PhD

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Specialty(ies)

• Cardiology
• Cardiology, Pediatric
• Pediatrics

Board Certification(s)

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Pediatrics

Education

• MD: Loyola-Stritch University (Maywood, Ill.), 1990 - 1994.
• Internship: Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Pediatrics, 1994 - 1995.
• Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Pediatrics, 1995 - 1997.
• Fellowship: Christ Hospital & Medical Centers (Oak Lawn, Ill.), Pediatric Cardiology, 1997 - 2000.

Faculty research

• Principal investigator: Analysis of atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, and endothelin-1 in pediatric patients undergoing total cavopulmonary repair. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
• Principal investigator: A Dose Response Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Amiodarone Hydrochloride in Pediatric Patients Thirty Days of Age to Sixteen Years of Age with Critical Arrhythmias. Protocol 0585K1-100275-US. Wyeth-Ayerst Global Pharmaceuticals.
• Co-Investigator: A study of the safety, tolerance and efficacy of Palivizumab (MEDI-493, Synagis) for prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus in children with congenital heart disease. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
• Co-Investigator: A multi-center, placebo-controlled 8-month study of the effect of twice daily carvedilol in children with congestive heart failure due to systemic ventricular systolic dysfunction.
• Co-investigator: Use of droperidol during cardiac anesthesia and its effects on the QT interval Ð a retrospective chart review. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin/Medical College of Wisconsin.
• Co-investigator: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, parallel group study of intervenous sildenafil in the treatment of children, aged 0-17 with pulmonary hypertension after cardiac surgery. Study 1481134.
• Co-investigator: A randomized, double-blind study of regional vs. intravenous analgesia to promote early endotracheal extubation in children undergoing single ventricle palliation. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin/Medical College of Wisconsin.

Fellowship research

• Molecular biology of cardiac gene expression. Specifically, design of an in vivo model using rats to investigate regulatory sequences affecting alpha-myosin heavy chain gene expression.
• Co-investigator of multi-institutional study: A Phase IV Study of the Safety of Palivizumab (Synagis) for Prophylaxis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children with Congenital Heart Disease.

Medical school research

• The molecular biology of endotoxin induced septic shock in a neonatal rat model was investigated. Using cDNA probes, the mRNA isolated from pancreatic islets encoding glucose transporter proteins was identified and quantified.

Postdoctoral research

• Experiments were designed to study the molecular biology of the E. coli chemotaxis system. Protein purification techniques were employed to isolate chemotaxis signaling protein for crystallization. Additional experience was gained in expression vector systems, a minicell expression system for protein identification, and gel retardation assays to examine specific DNA-protein interactions. Experience with DNA footprinting techniques was also obtained.

Graduate research

• Molecular genetics and biochemistry of rhizobial lipopolysaccharide were investigated. Research techniques included recombinant DNA technology, bacterial genetics, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting, gas/liquid chromatography for sugar analysis, and light and electron microscopy to analyze nodule structure.

Invited lectures/Workshops/Presentations/Site visits

• Cava JR., P.M. Pachori, D.A. Turowski and K.D. Noel. Rhizobial lipopolysaccharide mutants: Genetic and symbiotic characterization. 7^th International Conference on Nitrogen Fixation. Cologne, West Germany. 1988

• Cava J.R., K.D. Noel and K.A. VandenBosch. Rhizobium phaseoli mutants defective in polysaccharide and infection thread induction. 10^th North American Rhizobium Conference. Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. 1985

• Cava, J.R., M. Goto, G. Leybovich, M. Sweet and W.P. Zeller. Glucose transporter isoform mRNA abundance changes in pancreatic islets of neonatal rats with endotoxic shock. St. Luke's Day Student Research Forum. Loyola University, Maywood, IL, USA. 1991
• Cava, J.R. Causes, risk factors, and therapies for hypercholesterolemia. Caring for Children with Heart Disease in the Community. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI. 2001
• Cava, J.R. Cardiac Manifestations of Rheumatic Fever. Grand Rounds, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 2001.
• Cava, J.R. Cardiac medications. Parent Education Day. Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 2002.
• Cava, J.R. Cardiac medications. Parent Education Day, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 2003.

• Noel, K.D., R.J. Diebold, J.R. Cava and B.A. Brink. Rhizobial purine and pyrimidine auxotrophs: Nutrient supplementation, genetic analysis, and the symbiotic requirement for de novo purine biosynthesis. Arch. Microbiol. 149:499-506. 1988
• Cava, J.R., P.M. Elias, D.A. Turowski and K.D. Noel. Rhizobium leguminosarum CFN42 genetic regions encoding lipopolysaccharide structures essential for complete nodule development of bean. J. Bacteriol. 171:8-15. 1989
• Cava, J.R., H. Tao and K.D. Noel. Mapping of complementation groups within a Rhizobium leguminosarum CFN42 chromosomal region required for lipopolysaccharide synthesis. Mol. Gen. Genet. 221:125-128. 1990
• Zeller, W.P., M. Goto, J. Parker, J.R. Cava, M.E. Gottschalk, J.P. Filkins and C. Hofmann. 1994. Glucose transporters (GLUT1,2,&4) in fat, muscle and liver in a rat model of endotoxic shock. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 198:923-927. 1994
• Ghanayem NS, Hoffman GM, Mussatto KA, Cava JR, Frommelt PC et al. Home surveillance program prevents interstage mortality following the Norwood procedure. J of Thorac and Cardiovasc Surg. 126(5): 1367-77. 2003
• Jaquiss RDB, Ghanayem NS, Hoffman GM, Fedderly RT, Cava JR, Mussatto KA and Tweddell JS. Early cavopulmonary anastomosis in very young infants after the Norwood procedure: impact on oxygenation, resource utilization, and mortality. J. Thorac. and Cardiovasc. Surg. In press.
• Stuth EAE, Stuche AG, Cava JR, Hoffman GM and Berens RJ. Droperidol for perioperative sedation causes a transient prolongation of the QTc time in children during cardiac surgery. Paediatric Anaesthesia. In press.
• Cava JR, Bevandic SM, Steltzer MM, and Tweddell JS. A medical strategy to reduce persistent chest tube drainage after the Fontan operation. Submitted.

• Cava JR, Danduran MJ, Fedderly RT and Sayger PL. Exercise recommendations and risk factors for sudden cardiac death. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 51(5), 1401-1420. 2004.
• Ghanayem NS, Cava JR, Jaquiss RDB and Tweddell JS. Home monitoring of infants after stage one palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Seminars in Thorac. and Cardiovasc. Surg. 7, 32-38. 2004.
• Cava JR, and Sayger PL. Chest pain in children and adolescents. Pediatric Clinics of North America. In press.