Living with Heart Failure: A Candid Conversation with Dr. Samuel Sears

Join us for an honest, practical, and hope-filled Q&A style webinar focused on the emotional and psychological journey of living with heart failure. Hosted by Sean Pinegar—an LMNA patient and heart transplant recipient—this session features internationally recognized cardiac psychologist Dr. Samuel F. Sears, a leading expert on mental health in heart patients.

Dr. Sears brings decades of experience helping patients cope with ICDs and the daily challenges of heart failure. His groundbreaking work focuses on improving quality of life, building emotional resilience, and supporting both patients and their families through all stages of cardiac care.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to manage anxiety, fear, and identity shifts with chronic heart conditions
• Psychological tools for adjusting heart failure and ICDs
• How to communicate about your diagnosis with family, friends, and children
• Research-based strategies to improve your emotional and mental well-being

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About Dr. Samuel Sears
Dr. Samuel F. Sears, Jr. is a Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Cardiovascular Sciences at East Carolina University, where he also serves as Director of Cardiac Psychology and Associate Program Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship. He is internationally recognized as a leading authority in cardiac psychology, particularly for his work with patients who have implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Dr. Sears has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and has been cited more than 13,000 times, reflecting his significant impact on both psychological and medical communities .

A recipient of the prestigious O. Max Gardner Award—the highest faculty honor in the University of North Carolina system—Dr. Sears is known for developing innovative psychological coping strategies for cardiac patients and their families . He also created the “ICD Coach” mobile app, the first of its kind to support psychological adjustment for ICD patients. His current research focuses on quality of life, remote monitoring, and behavioral interventions in cardiac care.

Dr. Sears earned his BS, MS, and PhD in Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Florida. He continues to practice and teach at the East Carolina Heart Institute, advancing the integration of psychological care into cardiology.