Pumping Life: ECMO in Modern Medicine with Heidi Dalton

In this fascinating episode, Tim Fergestad sits down with Dr. Heidi Dalton, President of ECLS Virtual Advisors and Professor of Surgery at Creighton University. With decades of experience in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), Dr. Dalton explains this life-saving technology in clear and compelling terms—why it matters, how it works, and how it’s evolving.

She takes us through ECMO’s journey from a niche pediatric tool to a critical intervention for adults with cardiac and respiratory failure, especially during crises like H1N1 and COVID-19. Heidi shares insights into the changing technology, expanding patient criteria, and how ECMO has gone from a last-ditch effort to a proactive life support option.

We also explore Heidi’s entrepreneurial journey—why she launched ECLS Virtual Advisors, how it’s helping hospitals worldwide, and the challenges of balancing medicine and business. If you’ve ever wondered about high-stakes critical care, medical innovation, or what it’s like to lead global change in healthcare, this episode delivers.

 

 

------------------------------------------------ Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!