"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH HEART HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

AND WHY AWARENESS MAYBE LACKING ABOUT WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH IN PARTICULAR.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH TONIGHT IS Dr. SHANNON WINAKUR, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS IT THAT WOMEN NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEART HEALTH?

>> THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM AS WELL AS TO MEN.

I THINK THERE IS A TRADITIONAL THINKING THAT HEART DISEASE IS A MAN'S DISEASE AND MEN ARE AFFECTED MORE BY HEART DISEASE.

>> Jeff: IS IT A MEDIA THING?

I WONDER WHY WE BELIEVE THAT.

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK THE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VOCAL IN TERMS OF WOMEN GETTING THEIR BREAST HEALTH CHECKED AND MAMMOGRAMS AND IT'S BEEN VERY EMPHASIS OF EMPHASIZED TO WOMEN TO DO THAT.

PART OF THEIR OWN HEALTHCARE.

I THINK THAT THE SAME HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE FOR HEART HEALTH FOR WOMEN.

SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN KNOW THAT.

>> Jeff: DO WOMEN HAVE HEART ATTACKS OR HEART PROBLEMS AT A LATER AGE?

>> THEY DO, IN GENERAL, YES, THEY DO.

WOMEN'S HEART RISK TENDS TO GO UP WITH MENOPAUSE.

AND SO IT TENDS TO BE AT A LATER AGE THEN MEN.

>> >> Jeff: PEOPLE MIGHT THINK YOUNGER MEN WHO THEY KNOW TO HAVE HAD HEART ISSUES AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT EQUIVALENT IN THE SAME AGE RANGE.

MAYBE IT IS SKEWED TOWARDS MEN?

>> I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE.

ALONG WHAT I WAS SAYING A LOT OF WOMEN KNOW WOMEN HAVING BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSED AT A YOUNG AGE AND THAT STICKS IN THEIR MIND A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> Jeff: AMONG WOMEN WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF HEART DISEASE?

>> WHEN SOMEBODY TALKS ABOUT HEART DISEASE WE'RE TALKING CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND BLOCKED ARTERIES THAT USUALLY LEADS TO A HEART ATTACK.

OTHER TYPES OF HEART DISEASE THAT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION USES IN STATISTICS ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF WOMEN THAT HAVE HEART DISEASE INCLUDES CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND ARRHYTHMIAS, ABNORMAL HEART RHYTHMS AND CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.

>> Jeff: HOW OFTEN WITH ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE THINGS GOING ON AND THE PATIENT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT?

>> SO SYMPTOMS CAN BE SUBTLE.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GIVE YOU A GENERAL NUMBER FOR ASYMPTOMATIC HEART DISEASE.

BUT THERE DEFINITELY CAN BE QUITE A BIT OF BLOCKAGE BEFORE PEOPLE HAVE SYMPTOMS.

WE KNOW STORIES OF PEOPLE THAT WENT IN FOR A STRESS STRESS AND HAD BYPASS SURGERY.

THAT IS THE EXTREME VERSION.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN HAVE ARRHYTHMIAS AND BE ASYMPTOMATIC.

I'VE HA PATIENTS WITH.

HEART FAILURE IS NOT ASYMPTOMATIC.

YOU KNOW IT.

>> Jeff: THE SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK CAN DIFFER BUT DON'T ALWAYS DIFFER BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EMPHASIS FOR WOMEN KNOWING THEY CAN HAVE DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS THAN MEN BUT CHEST DISCOMFORT IN THE CENTER OF THE CHEST UNDER THE STERNUM THAT IS A CLASSIC SYMPTOM OF HEART DISEASE OF ANGNA OR HEART DISEASE FROM A BLOCKED ARTERY.

AND OTHER SYMPTOMS THAT CAN BE MORE COMMON IN WOMEN CAN BE SHORTNESS OF BREATH, FATIGUE, FLU LIKE SIM MANY TOES AT TIMES.

THAT SORT OF THING.

>> Jeff: HOW SIMILAR IS THAT CHEST SYMPTOM, THE PRESSURE TO SOMEBODY HAVING REFLUX, SOMEBODY GOING TO A SUPER BOWL PARTY AND HAVING TOO MANY BEERS AND CHIPS OR WHATEVER?

>> IT CAN BE VERY SIMILAR.

WE ALL HAVE STORIES ABOUT PATIENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER THEIR HEART ATTACK.

AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE HAVING INDIGESTION AND EATING TUMS AND THEY WERE HAVING AGENA, IT CAN BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DIFFERENTIATE AND I WOULD SUGGEST TO PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE THE SYMPTOMS GET CHECKED OUT.

>> Jeff: AND WHY DON'T PEOPLE DO IT?

PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO EMBARRASS THEMSELVES?

MAYBE INCUR UNNECESSARY EXPENSE.

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT WE WANT YOU TO OVERREACT TO THE SYMPTOMS A LITTLE BIT?

>> BECAUSE THEY COULD BE LETHAL.

YOU CAN DIE.

YOU CAN DIE SUDDENLY.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT.

I TELL PATIENTS DON'T EVER APOLOGIZE FOR IT OR GET WORRIED ABOUT BOTHERING SOMEBODY ABOUT YOUR HEART HEALTH, GETTING YOUR HEART CHECKED OUT YOU ARE NEVER WRONG TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT TO GO TO THE ER AND CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU ARE HAVING SYMPTOMS THAT YOU THINK MIGHT BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

>> Jeff: A QUESTION ABOUT HEART HEALTH AND CARDIOLOGY GIVE US A CALL WE WILL HAVE THE NUMBER ON THE JEAN OR SEND AN E-MAIL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT RISK FACTORS A LITTLE BIT.

IS IT DIFFERENT AMONG WOMEN?

AND WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE BE THINKING ABOUT?

>> THE COMMON RISK FACTORS THE MAJOR RISK FACTORS ARE SIMILAR THAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, A HIGH LDL, THE BAD CHOLESTEROL OR LOW HDL, THE GOOD CHOLESTEROL.

SMOKING.

SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE.

FAMILY HISTORY.

FAMILY HISTORY IN MALE RELATIVES UNDER THE AGE OF 55 AND FEMALE RELATIVES UNDER THE AGE OF 65.

SO THOSE ARE THE MAJOR RISK FACTORS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME MORE PREVALENT OR PARTICULAR TO WOMEN.

ONE WOULD BE YOUR REPRODUCTIVE HISTORY.

IF YOU HAVE EARLY MENSES, EARLY MENOPAUSE IF YOU HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE DURING YOUR PREGNANCY AND DIABETES DURING YOUR PREGNANCY.

I'VE HEARD CARDIOLOGISTS TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES BEING A FAILED STRESS TEST.

WOMEN NEED TO KNOW IF THEY HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR HIGH BLOOD SUGAR DURING THEIR PREGNANCY THEY NEED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Jeff: SO THE PREGNANCY IS THE STRESS TEST?

>> CORRECT.

>> NOT TO MENTION WHAT COMES AFTER THE STRESS TEST.

THERE'S STRESS INVOLVED AS WELL.

HOUSE SPEAKER OF YOUR PRACTICE IS SPENT HELPING PEOPLE MANAGE THEIR CHOLESTEROL?

AND WHAT IS THE STATE-OF-THE-ART FOR THAT?

>> LARGE PART OF MY PRACTICE IS HELPING PEOPLE MANAGE THEIR CHOLESTEROL.

SO YOU KNOW WE -- WE'LL CHECK A FASTING LIPID PROFILE.

ANYBODY OVER 20 SHOULD HAVE ONE ONCE A YEAR AND THAT CAN BE ASYMPTOMATIC.

YOU CAN HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND HAVE NO IDEA.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

AND ONE THING TO KNOW JUST KNOW YOUR NUMBERS YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND YOUR CHOLESTEROL.

I GET A GENERAL FASTING LIPID PROFILE THAT HAS THE TOTAL CHOLESTEROL.

AND THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS YOU CAN USE DIFFERENT WAYS TO AFFECT THOSE LIPID FACTORS.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL FROM ALLEGHENY COUNTY.

LISA, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL.

SENIOR CITIZENS NOW AT 60-65, HOW OFTEN SHOULD THEIR HEART BE MONITORED ON A YEARLY BASIS?

OR JUST TO GIVE A GENERAL GUIDANCE?

THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU.

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.

SPEAK WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR ABOUT YOUR CARDIAC RISK FACTORS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, SMOKING, FAMILY HISTORY.

AND THEN ALSO YOUR REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES YOU SHOULD KNOW THOSE THINGS GOING N AND THEN USUALLY YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR WILL REFER YOU TO A CORDOLOGIST.

SO I WILL SEE PATIENTS ONCE A YEAR FOR MANAGING RISK FACTORS I WILL SEE THEM MORE OFTEN MANAGING CARD ACT DIAGNOSIS LIKE CORONARY HEART DISEASE, HISTORY OF HEART FAILURE.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED CHECKING CHOLESTEROL AT A YOUNG AGE IS THAT A NEW IDEA?

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>> Jeff: I THINK OF IT YOU START THAT MIDDLE AGE.

>> NO, THE RECOMMENDATIONS I BELIEVE IS YOU SHOULD START WITH A FASTING LIPID PROFILE AT AGE 20.

AND MY DAUGHTER IS TURNING 20 TOMORROW AND THEY BOTH HAVE HAD FASTING LIPID PROFILES IN THE PEDIATRICIANS OFFICE.

>> Jeff: AND IF SOMEBODY HAS HIGH CHOLESTEROL AT THAT AGE, THE THING IS IT HEREDITARY IS IT DIET AND HOW AGGRESSIVELY DO YOU TREAT IT?

>> I AM NOT A PEDIATRICIAN I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT.

>> Jeff: SAY THEY ARE 22.

>> IT'S RARE TO START A 22-YEAR-OLD ON A STATIN BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A LONGTIME THEY WOULD BE ON THAT MEDICINE.

BUT YOU WANT TO SEE IF THEY HAVE FAMILIAL ONE OF THE PARENTS HAS HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE THAT IS A CLUE.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT DIET AND THAT WOULD BE LIMITING SATURATED FAT ANIMAL FATS, RED MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS.

MAKE SURE THEY ARE EXERCISING.

AND THE THINGS THEY CAN AFFECT.

AND IT'S RARE TO START PEOPLE ON MEDICINE THAT YOUNG AND ALSO YOU WOULDN'T SCREEN FOR HEART DISEASE THAT YOUNG UNLESS THEY ARE HAVING SYMPTOMS.

THERE ARE SOME RARE STORIES OF PEOPLE DEVELOPING SIGNIFICANT BLOCKAGES IN THE ARTERIES THE A YOUNG AGE BUT THAT IS USUALLY THE PEOPLE WITH FAMILY HISTORY.

>> Jeff: VIRGINIA THIS IS MARTHA, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> HI.

I'M 66 YEARS OLD AND RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH LEFT VENTRICLE HYPER TROPHY.

I'M WONDERING HOW SERIOUS THAT IS?

>> Jeff: THANKS FOR THE CALL AND BEST OF LUCK.

>> IT IS A THICKENING OF THE HEART MUSCLE THAT IS DIAGNOSED.

YOU CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF IT ON AN EKG AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM AND YOU CAN SAY THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE LVH.

IT'S MOST COMMONLY DIAGNOSED ON AN ECHO CARD GRAHAM THAT IS AN ULTRASOUND OF THE HEART.

IT DEPENDS ON THE DEGREE AND THE REASON WHY.

IT'S MOST COMMONLY IN OUR COUNTRY IT'S FROM HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

THE KEY TO BE TO CONTROL THE BLOOD PRESSURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THICKENING OF THE HEART MUSCLE DOESN'T GET WORSE.

IF IT'S LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPER TROPHY THAT IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE AND THAT IS A FORM OF A CARDIOMYOPATHY AND THAT IS A DISEASE OF THE HEART MUSCLE THAT IS LESS COMMON.

>> Jeff: VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TO TAKE A STATIN IF YOU HAVE TYPE ONE DIABETES AND IF SO WHY?

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION THERE?

>> I NEGLECTED AND THAT WAS THE ONE THING I LEFT OUT DIABETES IS ONE OF THE MAJOR RISK FACTORS THANK YOU LISTENER AND VIEWER THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

DIABETES ALONG WITH YOU BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL AND FAMILY HISTORY AND WHEN SOMEBODY HAS DIABETES WE TREAT THEM AS IF THEY HAVE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE.

THE GUIDELINES WHEN YOU HAVE SKAB WE TREAT YOUR CHOLESTEROL AS IF WE'RE DIAGNOSED YOU WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND ALL DIABETICS ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE ON STATIN DRUGS TO PREVENT A HEART ATTACK OR A STROKE.

>> Jeff: IN DOING READING BEFORE TALKING WITH YOU, I CAME UPON A STATEMENT THAT WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE AFTER A HEART ATTACK.

WHY WOULD THAT BE?

>> WOMEN TEND TO BE OLDER THAN MEN WHEN THEY ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A HEART ATTACK AND THEN A LOT OF TIMES HAVE MORE CO-MORBID CONDITIONS THEY ARE SICK FOR OTHER REASONS AND LESS LIKELY TO RECOVER WELL AFTER THE HEART ATTACK.

THEY HAVE SMALLER ARTERIES SO THEY CAN HAVE MECHANICAL COMPLICATIONS AFTER A CATHERRIZATION.

SOMETIMES THEY WAITED TOO LONG TO COME IN SO THE HEART ATTACK IS BIGGER AND SPREAD IN MORE HEART IS DAMAGED SO YOU CAN HAVE COMPLICATIONS FROM THAT.

THAT LEAD TO AND AEARLY DEATH.

>> Jeff: LET'S SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON THE IRREGULAR HEART BEATS IS THAT SOMETHING THAT INCREASES WITH AGE AS WELL?

AND THEREFORE WOMEN TEND TO LIVE LONGER AND WOULD HAVE MORE OF IT?

>> YES, I THINK THAT IS ONE THEORY DEFINITELY.

SO THE IRREGULAR HEART BEATS ARE A LARGE CATEGORY.

AND THE MAJOR ONE THAT HAPPENS WITH AGE IS A TREAL FIBRILLATION AND THAT GOES UP WITH AGE AND OLDER WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE IT.

>> Jeff: AND WE DISCUSSED IT IS SOMETIMES IT CAN BE ASYMPTOMATIC BUT SOMETIMES YOU KNOW IT.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

>> PALPITATIONS IS THE MAIN SYMPTOM.

PALPITATIONS ARE AN AWARENESS OF YOUR HEART BEAT.

AND THAT CAN BE FAST, IT CAN BE IRREGULAR, IT CAN BE BOTH.

NOT ALL PALPITATIONS ARE AN ARRHYTHMIA BUT THEY PRESENT WITH PALPITATIONS.

>> Jeff: I WAS LISTENING TO SPORTS RADIO I DON'T KNOW WHY THE FOOTBALL SEASON IS OVER, AND THERE WAS AN AD WITH Dr. JAY, GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER TALKING ABOUT HIS AFIB.

AND THE RISK OF A STROKE IN THAT SITUATION.

>> YES.

SO AFIB THE COMPLICATIONS OF A TREAL FIBRILLATION FROM FROM THE TOP PART OF THE HEART FROM YOUR HEART GOING TOO FAST AND NOT COMPENSATING OR A STROKE.

THOSE ARE THE MAJOR COMPLICATIONS THAT WE SEE WITH ATREAL FIBRILLATION.

THE REASON THERE IS A RISK OF STROKE THE TOP CHAMBER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HEART DOES NOT CONTRACT NORMALLY AND BLOOD CAN POOL AND FORM BLOOD CLOTS AND SENT TO THE BRAIN CAN CAUSE A STROKE SO PEOPLE ARE ON BLOOD THINNERS.

>> Jeff: Dr. SHANNON WINAKUR ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL STREET WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: LOTS TO DO FOR THE THOUSANDS COMING TO THIS YEAR'S CIAA COURAGE.

SUE COPPIN REPORTS.

>> BALLOT IS NOT -- BALTIMORE IS NOT JUST PUTTING UP WELCOME SIGNS ITS AHE COOKING UP TREATS AS WELL.

WITH THIS YEAR'S BLACK OWNED RESTAURATEUR KNOWN AS BORT.

>> THE IDEA CAME FROM REALLY LIKE A BAR HOP CONCEPT FOR RESTAURANTS.

>> HE IS IN MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS AND A MEMBER OF THE CIAA HOST COMMITTEE.

>> SO I THOUGHT ABOUT MARKETING CONCEPT THAT I CAME ACROSS CALLED THE MALL MARKETING EFFECT WHERE THERE'S ONE RETAILER THAT BENEFITS FROM ANOTHER RETAILER BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE SAME PROXIMITY.

SO WITH BORT IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BORT AREA THERE'S NO LITTLE ITALY OR LITTLE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

SO THERE'S NOT THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR AS FAR AS PROXIMITY.

NOW WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING EFFORTS YOU CAN CREATE THE MALL EFFECT THROUGH A CENTRAL MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS PLAN.

WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT BORT IS.

>> BORT HAS GONE FROM SIX RESTAURANTS THROUGH YEARS AGO TO NINE LAST YEAR AND 15 THIS YEAR HITTING AREAS LIKE SOUTHWEST BALTIMORE, INNER HARBOR EAST AND LITTLE ITALY.

HE WAS A BIT SURPRISED AT THE QUICK GROWTH.

>> DEFINITELY THE JUMP FROM NINE TO 15 CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD BUT THE RESTAURANTS ARE INTERESTED.

AND LIKE RIGHT HERE THIS IS A RESTAURANT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BUT REACHED OUT TO US, THE CRAZY CRAB BAG HERE IN FEDERAL HILL.

SO THEY ARE NOT ON THE BORT TOUR THIS YEAR, BUT THEY HAD AN INTEREST AND THE DESIRE AND I SAID WE'LL ADD YOU NEXT YEAR.

>> ERICA ASH IS THE OWNER OF THE CRAZY CRAB BAG.

>> BEING A PART OF THIS TO HELP OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A COMMUNITY OF LIKE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SOMETHING AND WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS THE COMMON GOAL TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY AND BRING GOOD FOOD, GOOD SOCIAL SO IT IS A WIN FOR EVERYONE.

>> AND WHEN IT COMES TO GOOD FOOD, BORT HAS IT IN ABUNDANCE.

>> YOU HAVE THIS RANGE OF FINE DINING LIKE PRIM AND PROPER, IMAGE LAINA AND THE IVY HOTEL.

YOU HAVE MORE CASUAL DINING LIKE REMAX IN LITTLITY AND TRENDY DESIGNING LIKE BLACK SWAN.

SO YOU HAVE THESE CAFES LIKE TEA AND SWELL.

YOU HAVE THIS BROAD RANGE OF TYPES OF CUISINE AND TYPES OF EXPERIENCES, TOO.

>> FOR ERICA ASH BORT IS A CHANCE TO CHANGE MINDS ABOUT BALTIMORE.

>> BALTIMORE IS GREAT.

I'VE BEEN BORN AND RAISED HERE.

THE FOOD IS ONE OF THE BEST.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO DISAPPOINT.

IT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME BACK TO BALTIMORE.

>> THIS WEEK LONG RESTAURATEUR KICKS OFF FEBRUARY 25.

IN BALTIMORE I'M SUE COPPIN FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

>> Jeff: THE BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR CONFERENCE STARTS THIS WEEK.

RETURNING TO BALTIMORE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE EVENT IS STEPHANIE HILL EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF ROTARY AND MISSION SYSTEMS FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

LET ME ASK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND FIRST.

I KNOW YOU ARE A BALTIMOREAN GRADUATE OF UMBC A PREVIOUS BLACK GRNER OF THE YEAR WINNER AND NOW VICE-PRESIDENT AT LOCKHEED.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ACCIDENTAL ENGINEER.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PATH?

>> SO JEFF THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

YES, I AM A PROUD BALTIMORE NATIVE.

I WENT TO WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND GO DOVES.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY I WAS SURE I WAS GOING TO BE AN ACCOUNTANT.

I IMAGED IN ECONOMICS I WAS GOOD IN MATH IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO BE.

AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ANY ENGINEERS.

I CALLED MYSELF AN ACCIDENTAL ENGINEER BECAUSE I STUMBLED INTO THIS AMAZING CAREER OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH BECAUSE I TOOK A COURSE THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT REMEMBER IT WAS IN CO-BOLT.

AND I TOOK THE COURSE IN CO-BOLT PROGRAMMING AND I FELL IN LOVE.

SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW ENGINEERS BOTH OF MY PARENTS WERE PROFESSIONALS MY FATHER WAS A JUDGE AND MY MOTHER HAD BEEN A SCHOOLTEACHER.

I KNEW PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ENGINEERS.

I SAID I'M LOVING THIS STUFF LET ME TAKE ANOTHER COURSE.

AND BY JUNIOR YEAR YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MAJOR IN?

SO I STILL DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITH A COMPUTER SCIENCE DEGREE BECAUSE THAT JUST WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I HAD KNOWLEDGE OF.

SO I DOUBLE MAJORED WITH ECONOMICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AND THEN THE WONDERFUL CAREER COUNSELING AT UNIVERSITY BALTIMORE COUNTY THEY GOT ME INTERNSHIPS THEY HELPED GUIDE MY PATH I STARTED WITH LOCKHEED MARTIN 37 YEARS AGO.

AND I JUST I'VE HAD WONDERFUL BLESSED CAREER, JEFF.

AND I WANT TO SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS ENGINEERING CAN BE A CAREER FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE ALL THE STUDENTS IN BALTIMORE CITY I AM A BALTIMORE CITY GIRL.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT I FOUND THIS AMAZING CAREER.

BECAUSE IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A WAY THAT AT THE TIME I CHOSE IT, I DIDN'T KNOW WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: WELL, LET'S STAY WITH THAT FOR A SECOND.

IF YOU ARE TALKING TO SOME STUDENTS AT WESTERN, SOME STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY MAYBE THEY ARE FRESHMEN OR SOPHOMORES THEY HAVE NOT CHOSEN HEY MAJOR THEY MAY LOOK AT STEM AS A LITTLE BIT INTIMIDATING FEEL THE CHANGES ALL THE TIME.

WHY SHOULD THEY CONSIDER IT EVEN IF THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT UNSURE ABOUT THEIR MATH ABILITIES OR THEY DON'T THINK OF THEMSELVES AS ENGINEERS?

>> YOU KNOW, AS I SAID I DIDN'T THINK OF MYSELF AS AN ENGINEER EITHER.

WHAT I FOUND AND A LOT OF MY INTERNSHIPS WHILE AT THE UNIVERSITY HELPED ME.

WHEN YOU CAN SEE HOW YOU WILL APPLY THE SKILLS YOU ARE LEARNING IN SCHOOL, THINGS GET EASIER WHEN YOU GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

I CAN REMEMBER MY FIRST INTERNSHIP.

AND IT HAPPENED TO BE COMPUTER SCIENCE STINT IN AN ACCOUNTING OFFICE.

IT IS PERFECT WITH MY BACKGROUND.

AND I CAN REMEMBER WRITING CODE FOR A DOCUMENTATION TRACKING SYSTEM.

AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL, COURSES THAT WERE HARDER BEFORE I HAD THE INTERNSHIP ACTUALLY BECAME EASIER BECAUSE OF A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE, I UNDERSTOOD BOY THE THINGS YOU ARE LEARNING IN SCHOOL YOU ARE GOING TO USE WHEN YOU GO OUT INTO THE WORK WORLD.

BUT MORE IMPORTANT, I UNDERSTOOD HOW TO APPLY THEM SO IT MADE IT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THEM.

I WOULD SAY TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE ALL ACROSS BALTIMORE CITY BALTIMORE COUNTY ALL IN MARYLAND THAT THIS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH CAREER YOU WORK IN TEAM.

YOU WORK TO PUSH TECHNOLOGY FORWARD AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF TODAY ARE SO TECH SAVVY.

YOU DON'T SEE A YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY OR SOME OF US OLDER FOLKS WITHOUT SOME KIND OF DEVICE.

THAT IS TECHNOLOGY.

YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THAT AND THAT IS APPLY TECHNOLOGY LEARN HOW TO MAKE THAT TECHNOLOGY A REALITY.

AND I SAY GO FOR IT.

YOU CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AND HOW IT HELPS YOU, HOW YOUR COMPANY HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND HOW IT HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE THEIR CAREERS FORWARD.

>> SO BEYA BECOMING EVERYTHING YOU ARE, BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR STARTED IN BALTIMORE 38 YEARS AGO.

THIS IS THE 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF IT.

I HAVE NOT GONE TO EVERY BEYA BUT I'VE GONE TO 35 AND IT IS A WONDER.

I CAN REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME THAT I WENT THERE.

I WAS A YOUNG ENGINEER, A YOUNG SOFTWARE ENGINEER AND I REMEMBER HEARING PEOPLE COME UP ON THE STAGE TO GET AWARDS.

PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME.

AND REMEMBER, JEFF, I SHARED WITH YOU I DIDN'T KNOW ENGINEERS AS A CHILD.

EVEN AS A YOUNG ADULT I DIDN'T KNOW ANY ENGINEERS.

WHEN I SAW THESE ENGINEERS GET AWARDS AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE KINDS OF CONTRIBUTIONS THEY WERE MAKING TO TECHNOLOGY IN ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF INDUSTRIES, AND THE PROMISE THAT THEY BROUGHT TO EVERYONE WHO HEARD THEM.

THEIR STORIES HOW SOME OF THEM COME FROM HARDSHIPS THEY HAD OVERCOME AND CONTRIBUTED TO SOCIETY INCREDIBLE WAY.

I LEFT COMPLETELY INSPIRED.

THAT'S THE REAL IMPORTANT PIECE.

IT HELPS COMPANIES TO SEE AND REALLY APPRECIATE SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THEIR WORKFORCE BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IT GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE IN THAT AUDIENCE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM DOING THINGS THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE EVER DREAMED OF.

THERE IS A SAYING IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT YOU CAN'T BE IT.

WHAT BEYA DOES FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IS IT OPENS OUR EYES TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT WE CAN BECOME WHAT WE WILL BECOME IF WE'RE WILLING TO WORK HARD AND TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL FOR IT TO BE IN BALTIMORE AGAIN.

BECAUSE THE BALTIMORE COMMUNITY CAN BENEFIT SO MUCH A CAREER IN STEM CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

BUT IT CAN ALSO CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY AND I REALLY THINK THE WORLD.

BEING IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY I THINK THE WORLD.

>> Jeff: LOCKHEED MARTIN EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT STEPHANIE HILL ACCOMPLISHED ENGINEER.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE INCOMING OWNER OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES?

YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT DAVID RUBENSTEIN THIS THURSDAY ON MPT.

AT 7:00 P.M. A CONVERSATION WITH Mr. RUBENSTEIN THAT WAS RECORDED IN MARYLAND'S HISTORIC STATE HOUSE AND THEN AT 7:30 THE PREMIER OF THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE PBS SERIES HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN.

THURSDAY EVENING STARTING AT 7:00 P.M. THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING THE AT 7:00 P.M. YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS THEY ARE ON-LINE AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT I'M JEFF SALKIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.