Cardiology

Guest: Craig Smith, MD On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh and Dr. Craig Smith, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia discuss the highlights of Dr. Smith’s 40+ year career as a cardiac surgeon and how the culture of Columbia has been a catalyst for innovation in cardiac care. Dr. Smith describes the excitement of helping to pioneer the institution’s heart transplant program in the 1980s, when it was just one of only three hospitals in the country practicing heart transplantation. Dr. Smith also explains how a unique collaboration with Columbia’s cardiology team led to the first of several groundbreaking trials, called PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic TraNscatheteR Valve), which paved the way for a monumental treatment for aortic stenosis — the most common heart valve disease that is lethal if left untreated. During the trial, Dr. Smith worked closely with Dr. Martin B. Leon, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Chief Innovation Officer and the Director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Center for the Division of Cardiology. Their findings elevated TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, to eventually become the gold-standard for aortic stenosis patients at all levels of illness severity …

Guest: Susheel Kodali, MD Susheel Kodali, MD, director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, shares more about an innovative transcatheter therapy for tricuspid regurgitation (TR), which is providing a new treatment option that vastly improves quality of life. Results from the TRISCEND II trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a tricuspid valve replacement system, which was fast-tracked for FDA approval due to its clear benefit for the vulnerable TR patient population. © 2025 NewYork-Presbyterian

Host: Saurabh Malhotra, MD, MPH Guest: Kevin Alexander, MD Guest: Tawfiq Al-lahham, MD Guest: Sarah Cuddy, MD Guest: Angela Dispenzieri, MD Guest: Anita D’Souza, MD Guest: Foluso Fakorede, MD Guest: Mazen Hanna, MD Guest: Isabelle Lousada Guest: Ahmad Masri, MD, MS Guest: Mathew S. Maurer, MD Guest: Matthew Parker, MD Guest: Frederick Ruberg, MD Guest: Andrew Staron, MD Guest: Prem Soman, MD, PhD Guest: Jonathan Wall, PhD Guest: Ashutosh Wechalekar, MBBS, MD Guest: Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD The Masterclass in Cardiac Amyloidosis: Disease Spectrum, Diagnosis and Management will consist of four virtual live sessions on March 7-9, 2025. The case-based sessions will provide an in-depth discussion of cardiac amyloidosis and its pathogenesis, diagnostic techniques and pitfalls, management strategies, mechanisms to facilitate early diagnosis, treatment and management, and challenging case studies presented by leading internationally recognized experts in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

Host: Mikhail Kosiborod, MD Guest: Stephen J. Greene, MD, FACC, FHFSA Patients with CKD or heart failure face the risk of developing hyperkalemia, and healthcare providers often experience clinical inertia in their treatment. Join the experts as they explore chronic hyperkalemia management, and the role of potassium binders.

Guest: Orly Vardeny, MD Guest: Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH Discover the transformative potential of nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (ns-MRAs) in optimizing care for patients with the Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic syndrome. Emerging data presented at EASD, HFSA, ASN and AHA, highlight their ability to improve cardiorenal outcomes in the spectrum of the Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic syndrome. By integrating ns-MRAs into individualized treatment plans, healthcare professionals can offer their patients advanced care backed by cutting-edge research.

Guest: Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH Guest: Orly Vardeny, MD Discover the transformative potential of nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (ns-MRAs) in optimizing care for patients with the Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic syndrome. Emerging data presented at EASD, HFSA, ASN and AHA, highlight their ability to improve cardiorenal outcomes in the spectrum of the Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic syndrome. By integrating ns-MRAs into individualized treatment plans, healthcare professionals can offer their patients advanced care backed by cutting-edge research.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Emily Reidenbach, PharmD, MBA Grace Health in Michigan recently implemented the AMA MAP™ Hypertension Quality Improvement Program, and now, pharmacists play a much bigger role in helping both providers and patients. In fact, pharmacists have been able to improve adherence and outcomes through education, patient-centered care, and the use of single-pill combinations. Here with Dr. Charles Turck to share her experience with the AMA MAP™ Hypertension program is Dr. Emily Reidenbach, a pharmacist at Grace Health in Michigan.

Host: Harry Yoon, MD This online CME activity focuses on the first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with the addition of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) to chemotherapy. Participants will learn about anti-PD-1 agents for ESCC that are either approved or are actively being investigated, along with their differentiating features; practice-changing data; and current guideline recommendations to inform first-line treatment selection decisions for patients with metastatic ESCC. Strategies to monitor and mitigate adverse effects associated with the use of combination ICI and chemotherapy regimens to optimize treatment adherence and patient outcomes will also be explored. Please stay tuned for additional content to this program available for credit. The maximum amount of credit available for the entire activity 0.75.

Host: Jaffer Ajani, MD This online CME activity focuses on the first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with the addition of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) to chemotherapy. Participants will learn about anti-PD-1 agents for ESCC that are either approved or are actively being investigated, along with their differentiating features; practice-changing data; and current guideline recommendations to inform first-line treatment selection decisions for patients with metastatic ESCC. Strategies to monitor and mitigate adverse effects associated with the use of combination ICI and chemotherapy regimens to optimize treatment adherence and patient outcomes will also be explored. Please stay tuned for additional content to this program available for credit. The maximum amount of credit available for the entire activity 0.75.

Host: Harry Yoon, MD Guest: Jaffer Ajani, MD This online CME activity focuses on the first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with the addition of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) to chemotherapy. Participants will learn about anti-PD-1 agents for ESCC that are either approved or are actively being investigated, along with their differentiating features; practice-changing data; and current guideline recommendations to inform first-line treatment selection decisions for patients with metastatic ESCC. Strategies to monitor and mitigate adverse effects associated with the use of combination ICI and chemotherapy regimens to optimize treatment adherence and patient outcomes will also be explored. Please stay tuned for additional content to this program available for credit. The maximum amount of credit available for the entire activity 0.75.

Guest: Vallerie V. McLaughlin, MD Guest: Thomas Cascino, MD Guest: Bradley A. Maron, MD Providers face challenges when it comes to pulmonary hypertension (PH), especially when distinguishing between PAH with comorbidities and group 2 PH. In addition, PH resulting from left heart disease may further complicate diagnosis and treatment. Hear what the experts have to say about identifying and treating these patient populations.

Guest: Robert P. Frantz, MD, FACC Guest: Vallerie V. McLaughlin, MD Guest: Sonja Bartolomei, MD Hear about the latest updates in risk assessment and find out how you can accurately use risk stratification to categorize patients in a timely manner to improve both their care and quality of life. You’ll also discover changing practice trends and the latest evidence that may impact your practice.

Guest: Vallerie V. McLaughlin, MD Guest: Victor Moles, MD Guest: Ioana Preston, MD The landscape of medication management for patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) has significantly changed with the introduction of combination therapy and recent trial data. This activity presents the latest evidence and breaks down new approaches to the management of PH. Join our experts to find out how your daily practice will be affected.

Host: Keith C. Ferdinand, MD, FACC, FAHA , FASPC, FNLA, FPCNA A concerning number of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) reached suboptimal LDL-C levels between 2021 and 2022. Even with new strategies that can help lower LDL-C, an analysis of over 3 million ASCVD patients in the Family Heart Database shows that these treatments are not being properly utilized. Join Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand as he delves into an analysis of management trends among these patients, which he presented at the 2024 Family Heart Foundation Global Summit. Dr. Ferdinand is a Professor of Medicine and the Gerald S. Berenson Endowed Chair in Preventative Cardiology at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Host: John Russell, MD Guest: Noel Dasgupta, MD, FACC Guest: Sami Khella, MD Amyloidosis, often unrecognized, misdiagnosed, and either inappropriately treated or undertreated, is a collection of diseases caused by the misfolding of proteins that aggregate into insoluble amyloid fibrils and deposit in tissues. There are two prominent forms of amyloidosis misfolding of light chain proteins (AL amyloidosis) and transthyretin protein misfolding (ATTR amyloidosis). In this program, two experts in amyloidosis, cardiologist Dr. Noel Dasgupta and neurologist Dr. Sami Khella, will explain the pathophysiology of amyloidosis, describe the prognosis for patients, discuss timely patient screening and diagnostic testing, and provide updated treatment options.

Host: Pablo Garcia-Pavia, MD, PhD Guest: Francesco Cappelli, MD Achieving optimal outcomes in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) remains a challenge as diagnosis is often delayed. Patients have a reduced life expectancy and experience debilitating pain and poor quality of life. Hear from the experts as they review the latest information on new and emerging treatment options for transthyretin amyloidosis and how this condition affects patients with cardiomyopathy.

Guest: Ira J. Goldberg, MD Guest: Kausik Ray, MBChB, MD, MPhil Guest: Christie Ballantyne, MD Patients with familial chylomicronemia (FCS) and severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) suffer from multiple complications, the most severe being acute pancreatitis. Current therapeutic agents, which include fibrates, omega-3 fatty acids, statins, and niacin, are generally ineffective. There are new developments with investigational siRNA therapeutics that silence APOC3, a key regulator of triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Recent presentations have highlighted outcomes of trials evaluating APOC3 siRNA therapeutics in patients with FCS or SHTG. Drs. Ray, Goldberg, and Ballantyne discuss the findings of these trials, including the PALISADE trial and SHASTA-2 trial with plosaziran, and the potential implications for patients with FCS and SHTG.

Host: Gates B. Colbert, MD Guest: Michael Cui, MD, MBA, MS Rush University Medical Center officially launched the AMA MAP™ Hypertension quality improvement program in March of 2022, and since then, blood pressure control has increased by up to 4 percent, impacting hundreds of patients. Joining Dr. Gates Colbert to talk about the implementation and impacts of the AMA MAP™ hypertension program at Rush University Medical Center is Dr. Michael Cui, Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine and the Associate Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Host: Raymond Townsend, MD Guest: Melissa Magwire, RN, MSN Guest: Michael Weber, MD The outcomes of large clinical trials such as EMPA-REG have demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors are effective, but they do more than lower blood sugar and improve A1c. Similar to statins a long time ago, SGLT2 inhibitors offer many advantages for patients with potential atherosclerotic endpoints. Learn from our expert multidisciplinary panel as they explore the various approaches to treatment that can improve outcomes and quality of life in your patients with cardiorenal comorbidities.

Host: Carolyn S. P. Lam, MBBS, PhD, MRCP, MS, FACC, FAMS, FESC Guest: Scott Solomon, MD Guest: Mikhail Kosiborod, MD There are limited therapeutic options for patients with heart failure with mid-range or preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF). Recently, new data were released on the efficacy and safety of nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF. What are the outcomes of the FINEARTS-HF trial with finerenone in this patient population, and what do these findings mean for clinical practice? Three cardiologists discuss the topic of novel therapies, with a focus on nonsteroidal MRAs, to improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF.