Oahu, Hawaii October 8-11, 2025
24th Annual Hawaii Cardiovascular Symposium - The Ritz Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay
Experience cutting-edge advancements in cardiovascular medicine at the 24th Annual Hawaii Cardiovascular Symposium. Engage with leading experts and stay abreast of the latest research and techniques in the field. Elevate your practice and network with peers at this premier event.
Program Directors
Program Director: Richard Wright, MD
Program Director: John Gordon, MD (retired)
Program Director: John Gordon, MD (retired)
Richard Wright earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and completed his medical residency and cardiology fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Wright served as Director of the Heart Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and on clinical faculty at UCLA. Dr. Wright is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist and board chair of Pacific Heart Institute, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, recently received the Master of the ACC Award.
He is currently:
- Co-Director of the California Medicare Contractor Advisory Committee
- Chair, American College of Cardiology National Carrier Advisory Committee
- Cardiology Advisor, Medicare’s Relative Value Update Committee.
He has served as President of the American College of Cardiology, California Chapter, and on the Medical Advisory Board at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he served as the cardiologist for the Great Apes.
Dr. Wright is a renowned lecturer and was a co-author of the U.S. guideline on management of patients with heart failure. A recipient of the Specialist of the Year Award from the American College of Cardiology, California, he continues to be listed in peer surveys as one of the top cardiologists in the state.
Program Director: John Gordon, MD (retired)
Program Director: John Gordon, MD (retired)
Program Director: John Gordon, MD (retired)
John Gordon, MD FACC was an interventional cardiologist in clinical practice at the San Diego Cardiac Center and Sharp Memorial Hospital until 2024 when he retired. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill. He trained in internal medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Gordon completed his cardiovascular and interventional fellowships at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston.
For the past 20 years, he has been the director or co-director of the Maui Cardiovascular Symposium. Dr. Gordon has served as ACC governor for Southern California and president of the California ACC. Dr Gordon was the clinical director of the San Diego Adult Kawasaki Disease Collaborative Study based at the San Diego Cardiac Center and UCSD. He continues to speak internationally on the management of adults who had Kawaski Disease.
EP Director: Shephal Doshi, MD
Program Director: John Gordon, MD (retired)
EP Director: Shephal Doshi, MD
Shephal Doshi is a nationally recognized expert in Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP), specializing in the management of arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia through advanced interventional therapies.
He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Riverside, followed by advanced training in Cardiac EP at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he also served as a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School.
Since joining the Pacific Heart Institute in 2004, Dr. Doshi has held key leadership roles, including Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing at Providence Saint John’s Health Center. He now serves as Executive Director of the Minerd Heart and Vascular Institute.
Dr. Doshi is a pioneer in ablation therapy and has led research on emerging energy technologies including pulse field ablation (PFA), cryoablation, and laser. He is a principal investigator (PI) in multiple national and international clinical trials, including studies focused on atrial fibrillation and left atrial appendage occlusion.
He is regarded as one of the world’s most experienced implanters of the Watchman device and serves as co-National PI for the PINNACLE FLX, CHAMPION AF, and Conform IDE trials, advancing non-pharmacologic stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation.
In addition to publishing extensively in peer-reviewed journals, Dr. Doshi lectures globally and remains active in research and procedures across Europe, South America, and Asia.
Day 1 FAculty- Clinical Cardiology
Dipti Itchhaporia, MD
Dipti Itchhaporia, MD
Dipti Itchhaporia, MD
"Inflammation as a Target in Cardio-Metabolic Renal Disease"
Dr. Dipti Itchhaporia is an Interventional Cardiologist and the Eric & Sheila Samson Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Health. She serves as Director of Disease Management at the Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute and is a Clinical Professor at UC Irvine.
Dr. Itchhaporia served as
"Inflammation as a Target in Cardio-Metabolic Renal Disease"
Dr. Dipti Itchhaporia is an Interventional Cardiologist and the Eric & Sheila Samson Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Health. She serves as Director of Disease Management at the Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute and is a Clinical Professor at UC Irvine.
Dr. Itchhaporia served as the 70th President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), becoming the first South Asian American to hold this role. She is actively engaged in clinical research focused on digital health and its potential to improve care delivery and promote health equity.
She has contributed to several national and state initiatives, including the ACC’s Health Equity Task Force, the PCORI Advisory Panel, and California’s Cardiovascular Disease Master Plan. Her work in innovation includes roles with the ACC Innovation Committee and the World Heart Federation, where she serves on the board. She is also an associate editor for JACC: Advances.
Dr. Itchhaporia’s influence extends globally through her teaching, speaking engagements, and involvement in health technology. She recently hosted the Health Tech Horizons: AI and Innovation Summit in Laguna Beach, CA, and was featured in the January 2025 issue of the Orange County Business Journal.
She is a Fellow of multiple professional societies and has been honored with several awards, including Master of the ACC and Cardiologist of the Year by the California ACC in 2021.
Rigved Tadwalkar, MD
Dipti Itchhaporia, MD
Dipti Itchhaporia, MD
"Cortisol and Aldosterone: Evil Twins"
Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar is a Consultative Cardiologist and Partner at the Pacific Heart Institute, where he holds multiple Directorship roles and leads strategic initiatives. He is Board-Certified in Cardiovascular Disease and several subspecialties, and a Fellow of both the American College of Cardiolo
"Cortisol and Aldosterone: Evil Twins"
Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar is a Consultative Cardiologist and Partner at the Pacific Heart Institute, where he holds multiple Directorship roles and leads strategic initiatives. He is Board-Certified in Cardiovascular Disease and several subspecialties, and a Fellow of both the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians.
As a Clinical Investigator, Dr. Tadwalkar actively contributes to major research trials. His professional interests cover the full cardiovascular spectrum, including multimodality and procedural imaging, diagnostic catheterization, digital health, as well as cardiometabolic health and prevention. He is an influential voice in the media, featured in leading outlets such as ABC, U.S. News & World Report, and the L.A. Times. Dr. Tadwalkar serves on the Forbes Health Advisory Board and the Medical Review Board of Prevention Magazine.
Recognized as a Top Doctor by Los Angeles Magazine and a Super Doctors “Rising Star,” Dr. Tadwalkar's contributions extend to practice management, medical education, and industry consulting. His academic background includes an M.D. from The George Washington University, residency in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and a faculty position as a Clinical Instructor at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. He completed his fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at Harbor-UCLA, where he served as Chief Cardiology Fellow.
Richard Wright, MD
Dipti Itchhaporia, MD
C. Noel Bairey Mertz, MD, MACC, FAHA, FESC
" Toxic Waste:
In Your Genes or in Your Jeans?"
Dr. Richard Wright earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and completed his medical residency and cardiology fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Wright served as Director of the Heart Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and on clinical faculty
" Toxic Waste:
In Your Genes or in Your Jeans?"
Dr. Richard Wright earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and completed his medical residency and cardiology fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Wright served as Director of the Heart Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and on clinical faculty at UCLA. Dr. Wright is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist and board chair of Pacific Heart Institute, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, recently received the Master of the ACC Award.
He is currently:
- Co-Director of the California Medicare Contractor Advisory Committee
- Chair, American College of Cardiology National Carrier Advisory Committee
- Cardiology Advisor, Medicare’s Relative Value Update Committee.
He has served as President of the American College of Cardiology, California Chapter, and on the Medical Advisory Board at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he served as the cardiologist for the Great Apes.
Dr. Wright is a renowned lecturer and was a co-author of the U.S. guideline on management of patients with heart failure. A recipient of the Specialist of the Year Award from the American College of Cardiology, California, he continues to be listed in peer surveys as one of the top cardiologists in the state.
C. Noel Bairey Mertz, MD, MACC, FAHA, FESC
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
C. Noel Bairey Mertz, MD, MACC, FAHA, FESC
"Cardiovascular Protection: Bariatric Surgery or GLP- 1RA?"
C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, is Director of multiple women's heart health programs at Cedars-Sinai’s Smidt Heart Institute and serves as Professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her research focuses on ischemic heart disease, women’s cardiovascular health, mental stress,
"Cardiovascular Protection: Bariatric Surgery or GLP- 1RA?"
C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, is Director of multiple women's heart health programs at Cedars-Sinai’s Smidt Heart Institute and serves as Professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her research focuses on ischemic heart disease, women’s cardiovascular health, mental stress, nutrition, Takotsubo Syndrome, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and precision medicine, leading the NHLBI-sponsored WISE initiative.
She has secured significant investigational funding and maintains memberships and leadership roles in prestigious organizations such as the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. A prolific researcher with over 450 publications and numerous awards, including the ACC Distinguished Scientist Award and the Bernadine Healy Leadership in Women’s CV Disease Award.
Matthew Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
"GLP-1RA: Saving the Heart"
Matthew Jay Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA, is a professor of medicine at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Endowed Chair of Preventive Cardiology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Budoff is a graduate of University of California at Riverside (BS) and graduated a member of Alpha Omega Alpha from George W
"GLP-1RA: Saving the Heart"
Matthew Jay Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA, is a professor of medicine at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Endowed Chair of Preventive Cardiology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Budoff is a graduate of University of California at Riverside (BS) and graduated a member of Alpha Omega Alpha from George Washington University School of Medicine (MD).
Dr. Budoff has authored or coauthored more than 50 books and book chapters and more than 1000 articles. He has received numerous research grants from the National Institutes of Health. In addition to his 2015 appointment as the Endowed Chair of Preventive Cardiology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, he has been recognized for his work by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, from which he received the Gold Medal Award and recently designated as Master of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (MSCCT). He was recently named Cardiologist of the Year by the American College of Cardiology California chapter
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
"Contemporary Approach to the Management of CKD"
Yehuda Handelsman, MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE an endocrinologist in private practice & Medical Director & Principal Investigator of the Metabolic Institute of America. He is Chair, Scientific Advisory Board, Diabetes Cardiorenal & Metabolism Institute – DCMi, a Think Tank. He is a n
"Contemporary Approach to the Management of CKD"
Yehuda Handelsman, MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE an endocrinologist in private practice & Medical Director & Principal Investigator of the Metabolic Institute of America. He is Chair, Scientific Advisory Board, Diabetes Cardiorenal & Metabolism Institute – DCMi, a Think Tank. He is a nationally and internationally recognized authority on Diabetes, Lipids, Obesity, and its complications A Master of American College of Endocrinology, Fellow American Heart Association, American Society of Preventive Cardiology, National lipid Association & American College of Physicians. Chair World Congress on IR, DM and CVD & Heart in Diabetes. Past president ACE, AACE & PLA. Chaired AACE/ACE Guidelines, Algorithms & Consensuses on Diabetes & technology, Lipids, Obesity, lipodystrophy, Insulin Resistance and Cardiometabolic syndrome. Chair consensus- DCRM/&DCRM 2.0- Multispecialty Recommendations for management of DM, cardiorenal, and metabolic diseases. Published >160 peer reviewed papers, Books chapters & a Book “Clinical Management of Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes and Obesity”. He is Associate & guest editor of medical journals and is listed in “The Leading Physicians of the world” & “Best Doctors of America” among others.
A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA Handelsman earned his MD from Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine in Israel, residency in internal medicine at New York Infirmary Beekman Downtown Hospital- NYU & fellowship in diabetes and endocrinology University of Southern California Los Angeles
Day 2 Faculty- Interventional Cardiology
Ralph Brindis, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
"Real World Evidence from the Transcather Valve Therapy (TVT) Registry; What Have We Learned?"
Dr. Ralph Brindis is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Phillip Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF, following a distinguished 30-year career at Northern California Kaiser Permanente, where he retired as Senior Advisor for Cardi
"Real World Evidence from the Transcather Valve Therapy (TVT) Registry; What Have We Learned?"
Dr. Ralph Brindis is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Phillip Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF, following a distinguished 30-year career at Northern California Kaiser Permanente, where he retired as Senior Advisor for Cardiovascular Disease. A past President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in 2011, Dr. Brindis has dedicated his career to promoting cardiovascular quality and outcomes. He played a key leadership role in the growth of the ACC’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR), serving as its former Chair and current Chief Medical Officer. Under his guidance, the NCDR expanded to include eight registries now utilized by over 2,500 U.S. hospitals, housing more than 90 million patient records. Recognized by the FDA as a vital national resource, the NCDR supports quality assessment, post-market device surveillance, comparative effectiveness research, and post-approval studies.
Dr. Brindis was also the founding Chair of the ACC’s Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force and has contributed extensively to national clinical guidelines through service on the ACC/AHA Clinical Guidelines Task Force and various writing groups. He currently serves on the FDA Cardiovascular Device Panel and chairs both the California Technology Assessment Forum and the California HCAI Cardiac Advisory Panel for public reporting. In addition, he is President of AC Wellness, which provides primary care services for Apple employees.
Robert Adamson, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
"Robotic Cardiac Surgery; Today and to Come"
Jason Lee, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
Brian Jaski, MD
"Acute Aortic Pathologies: Focusing on Dissection in the Ascending Arch/ Descending Aorta"
Dr. Jason Lee, Chief of Vascular Surgery at Stanford Medicine, graduated with honors from the California Institute of Technology, earned his MD from UC San Diego, and completed his General Surgery Residency at Harbor-UCLA, where he was influenced by
"Acute Aortic Pathologies: Focusing on Dissection in the Ascending Arch/ Descending Aorta"
Dr. Jason Lee, Chief of Vascular Surgery at Stanford Medicine, graduated with honors from the California Institute of Technology, earned his MD from UC San Diego, and completed his General Surgery Residency at Harbor-UCLA, where he was influenced by pioneers in aortic endografting. After completing his vascular fellowship at Stanford, he remained on faculty, serving as Program Director, Director of Endovascular Surgery, and becoming Division Chief in 2021.
A passionate educator and mentor, Dr. Lee has received numerous teaching awards and holds leadership positions in national vascular organizations. He has delivered over 500 presentations, published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, and focuses his research on innovations in aortic therapies and athletic vascular disorders.
Brian Jaski, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
Brian Jaski, MD
"Phenotypes and Mechanical Support Strategies in Cardiogenic Shock"
"Phenotypes and Mechanical Support Strategies in Cardiogenic Shock"
Dr. Jaski is a member of the San Diego Cardiac Center and Cardiology Medical Director of the Advanced Heart Failure program at Sharp Memorial Hospital. His undergraduate degrees were in electrical engineering and biology from MIT and MD degree from Harvard Medical School.
He subsequently completed his cardiology fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has published in the areas of heart failure pathophysiology, pharmacology, circulatory support devices, and cardiac transplant. He is board certified in the subspecialty of Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant.
Raj Makkar, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
"Debate: Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis: TAVR v Surgery"
Dr. Makkar is a world-renowned interventional cardiologist who specializes in minimally-invasive therapies for heart valve disease. Dr. Makkar is an innovator in the field of transcatheter heart valve therapy.
During his career, Dr. Makkar and his team has performed over 6,000 transc
"Debate: Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis: TAVR v Surgery"
Dr. Makkar is a world-renowned interventional cardiologist who specializes in minimally-invasive therapies for heart valve disease. Dr. Makkar is an innovator in the field of transcatheter heart valve therapy.
During his career, Dr. Makkar and his team has performed over 6,000 transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVRs) and more than 2,000 transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) procedures. In addition, Dr. Makkar has participated in the development of many transcatheter devices that repair or replace defective heart valves without an incision to the patient’s chest or ribs.
Robert Adamson, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
Robert Adamson, MD
"Debate: Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis: TAVR v Surgery"
Brian Kolski, MD
John Gordon, MD, FACC
Brian Kolski, MD
"Debate: DEBs Will Supplant Stents v Stents are Here to Stay"
Dr. Brian Kolski, Director of the Orange County Heart Institute’s noninvasive vascular lab, is board certified in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular diseases. He leads the structural heart disease program at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, performing over 200 str
"Debate: DEBs Will Supplant Stents v Stents are Here to Stay"
Dr. Brian Kolski, Director of the Orange County Heart Institute’s noninvasive vascular lab, is board certified in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular diseases. He leads the structural heart disease program at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, performing over 200 structural heart interventions annually and educating physicians nationwide on vascular techniques and CHIP cases. A fellow of the American College of Cardiology and faculty member of SCAI, Dr. Kolski is also the team cardiologist for the Anaheim Ducks. He earned his MD from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and completed his training at UC San Diego, maintaining certifications in cardiology and interventional cardiology.
Mitul Patel, MD
John Gordon, MD, FACC
Brian Kolski, MD
"Debate: DEBs Will Supplant Stents v Stents are Here to Stay"
Dr. Patel recently joined Intermountain Health and brings a wealth of experience in the percutaneous treatment of complex and high-risk coronary anatomy including chronic total occlusions, unprotected left main coronary disease and all forms of coronary calcium modification. Dr
"Debate: DEBs Will Supplant Stents v Stents are Here to Stay"
Dr. Patel recently joined Intermountain Health and brings a wealth of experience in the percutaneous treatment of complex and high-risk coronary anatomy including chronic total occlusions, unprotected left main coronary disease and all forms of coronary calcium modification. Dr. Patel’s work in this space has contributed to hundreds of publications in peer-reviewed journals and he is frequently asked to provide his insights and share this expertise at both national and international cardiovascular meetings. He also recently co-chaired the development of a consensus statement for the management and treatment of coronary calcification for the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI).
John Gordon, MD, FACC
John Gordon, MD, FACC
John Gordon, MD, FACC
"Adult Kawasaki Disease Management"
*Film*
John Gordon, MD FACC was an interventional cardiologist in clinical practice at the San Diego Cardiac Center and Sharp Memorial Hospital until 2024 when he retired. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill. He trained in internal medicine at the University o
"Adult Kawasaki Disease Management"
*Film*
John Gordon, MD FACC was an interventional cardiologist in clinical practice at the San Diego Cardiac Center and Sharp Memorial Hospital until 2024 when he retired. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill. He trained in internal medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Gordon completed his cardiovascular and interventional fellowships at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston.
For the past 20 years, he has been the director or co-director of the Maui Cardiovascular Symposium. Dr. Gordon has served as ACC governor for Southern California and president of the California ACC. Dr Gordon was the clinical director of the San Diego Adult Kawasaki Disease Collaborative Study based at the San Diego Cardiac Center and UCSD. He continues to speak internationally on the management of adults who had Kawaski Disease.
Day 3 Faculty- Electrophysiology
James Freeman, MD
Chris Granger, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
James Freeman, MD
"Real World Evidence from LAAC Registry: What Have We Learned?"
Shephal Doshi, MD
Chris Granger, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
James Freeman, MD
"Management of AFib- Status of Ablation Now and the near Future"
Chris Granger, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
Chris Granger, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
Chris Granger, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
"The Current and Future of Anticoagulation"
Dr. Christopher Granger is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Duke University and the former Director of the Cardiac Care Unit at Duke University Medical Center. A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and European Society of Cardiology,
"The Current and Future of Anticoagulation"
Dr. Christopher Granger is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Duke University and the former Director of the Cardiac Care Unit at Duke University Medical Center. A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and European Society of Cardiology, he is widely recognized for his contributions to cardiovascular research and care. Dr. Granger serves as Associate Editor of the European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy and sits on the editorial boards of several major journals, including JACC and the European Heart Journal. He has co-authored over 800 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is a leading expert in the design and execution of large randomized clinical trials in cardiovascular disease.
He has held leadership roles in key guideline and quality improvement initiatives, including the AHA’s Mission: Lifeline and multiple ACC/AHA guideline committees. He has also served on FDA advisory panels and the NHLBI Board of External Experts. Dr. Granger currently leads or co-leads several high-impact trials, including COORDINATE-Diabetes, RENAL AF, QUANTUM AF, and IMPACT-AFib, all focused on improving cardiovascular outcomes. He also co-directs the RACE programs, statewide efforts in North Carolina to improve care for heart attack and cardiac arrest, and serves as PI of the NHLBI-funded RACE-CARS trial to enhance survival from cardiac arrest.
Rahul Doshi, MD
Charles Athill, MD
Chris Granger, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
"Status of Leadless Pacing"
Martin Burke, MD
Charles Athill, MD
Charles Athill, MD
"Extravascular Defibrillation (The New Standard of Care?)"
Charles Athill, MD
Charles Athill, MD
Charles Athill, MD
"Debate: AFib Ablation Patients Should Get Concomitant LAA Closure"
Dr. Charles Athill is the current Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. He is the President and Executive Director of the San Diego Cardiac Center Medical Group. He graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in 1987 w
"Debate: AFib Ablation Patients Should Get Concomitant LAA Closure"
Dr. Charles Athill is the current Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. He is the President and Executive Director of the San Diego Cardiac Center Medical Group. He graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in 1987 with an A.B. degree in Molecular Biology. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1991. After graduating from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Athill served as an intern and resident in Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Upon completion of his medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1994, he relocated to Southern California where he pursued a Cardiology Fellowship program at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and the University of California at Los Angeles. Dr. Athill was also the recipient of a National Institutes of Health Post-graduate research award. After completing his training in cardiology, Dr. Athill remained at Cedars Sinai to pursue a specialty in cardiac electrophysiology. He has been in the practice of clinical cardiac electrophysiology with the San Diego Cardiac Center and Sharp Memorial Hospital since 1998. He currently serves on the Sharp Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, the Sharp Foundation Board and Sharp Community Medical Group Board. He has published articles in his field of specialty in peer-reviewed journals including Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Circulation, Circulation Research and Journal of Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is board certified in Cardiology and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology.
Christine Albert, MD, MPH
Arash Aryana, MD, PhD, FACC, FHRS
Arash Aryana, MD, PhD, FACC, FHRS
"Sudden Death- What Do We Know in 2025?"
Dr. Christine Albert is a Professor of Cardiology and the founding Chair of the Department of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She holds the Stephen R. Corday, MD Distinguished Chair in Cardiology within the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. In addition, she is a Visiting Lecturer at
"Sudden Death- What Do We Know in 2025?"
Dr. Christine Albert is a Professor of Cardiology and the founding Chair of the Department of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She holds the Stephen R. Corday, MD Distinguished Chair in Cardiology within the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. In addition, she is a Visiting Lecturer at Harvard Medical School and an Epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Albert earned her MD from Harvard Medical School and her MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine, followed by fellowships in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
A nationally recognized expert in the epidemiology of heart rhythm disorders, Dr. Albert has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Nature Genetics. Her NIH-funded research investigates the epidemiology, risk stratification, and prevention of sudden cardiac death and atrial fibrillation through large-scale, multi-center clinical trials.
Dr. Albert's work has significantly advanced understanding of how diet, supplements, lifestyle, and genetics impact heart rhythm disorders. She is also a leader in applying genetic, biologic, and electrocardiographic tools to improve risk prediction for sudden cardiac death in the general population.
She has served as President of the Heart Rhythm Society and is a member of the editorial boards for Heart Rhythm and Circulation.
Arash Aryana, MD, PhD, FACC, FHRS
Arash Aryana, MD, PhD, FACC, FHRS
Arash Aryana, MD, PhD, FACC, FHRS
"Ventricular Ablation- From PVCs to VT (When and How?)"
Dr. Arash Aryana is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist who has been practicing in Sacramento, California since 2008. He is the Medical Director of Cardiovascular Services and the Medical Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory at Mercy General Hospital and the
"Ventricular Ablation- From PVCs to VT (When and How?)"
Dr. Arash Aryana is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist who has been practicing in Sacramento, California since 2008. He is the Medical Director of Cardiovascular Services and the Medical Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory at Mercy General Hospital and the Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute in Sacramento, overseeing one of the largest AFib ablation programs in the country.
He completed his internship and residency at Creighton University Medical Center, followed by a chief residency at the same facility. He then completed a Cardiology fellowship at the Creighton Cardiac Center, followed by a fellowship training in Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition, he completed a PhD in Physiology in Prof. Pedro Brugada’s Laboratory at the Free University of Brussels in Belgium.
Dr. Aryana’s primary area of research focuses on advancing catheter-based therapies for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. To date, he has authored over 200 peer-reviewed scientific abstracts, manuscripts, and book chapters. In addition, Dr. Aryana is the course director of a nationally-recognized epicardial mapping and ablation training program, as part of which he has trained over 230 practicing cardiac electrophysiologists and fellows in the United States and abroad.
Ashkan Ehdaie, MD
Arash Aryana, MD, PhD, FACC, FHRS
Ashkan Ehdaie, MD
"Ventricular Ablation- From PVCs to VT (When and How?)"
Day 4 Faculty- Heart Failure
Jim Mudd, MD
Marcus Anthony Urey, MD
Marcus Anthony Urey, MD
"Heart Failure: Zebras Do Exist"
Marcus Anthony Urey, MD
Marcus Anthony Urey, MD
Marcus Anthony Urey, MD
"Decompressing the Left Atrium"
Marcus Anthony Urey ,MD, is a board-certified cardiologist specializing in advanced heart failure, mechanical circulatory devices and heart transplantation. He has a particular interest and expertise in managing end-stage congenital heart disease and cardiac amyloidosis. Dr. Urey serves as the medical direc
"Decompressing the Left Atrium"
Marcus Anthony Urey ,MD, is a board-certified cardiologist specializing in advanced heart failure, mechanical circulatory devices and heart transplantation. He has a particular interest and expertise in managing end-stage congenital heart disease and cardiac amyloidosis. Dr. Urey serves as the medical director of the heart transplantation and cardiac amyloidosis programs. He has extensive clinical trial experience being a leading enroller in heart transplant trials, amyloidosis treatment trials, and heart failure device trials. Dr. Urey completed his internal medicine residency and fellowships in both general cardiology and advanced heart failure at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He earned his medical degree from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease, advanced heart failure, and internal medicine.
Ahmad Masri, MD
Marcus Anthony Urey, MD
Richard Wright, MD
"Treating Amyloidosis: A New World"
Richard Wright, MD
Ty Gluckman, MD, MHA, FACC, FAHA, FASPC
Richard Wright, MD
"Faculty Q&A; Intriguing Cases"
Dr. Richard Wright earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and completed his medical residency and cardiology fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Wright served as Director of the Heart Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and on clinical faculty at UCLA. Dr.
"Faculty Q&A; Intriguing Cases"
Dr. Richard Wright earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and completed his medical residency and cardiology fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Wright served as Director of the Heart Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and on clinical faculty at UCLA. Dr. Wright is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist and board chair of Pacific Heart Institute, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, recently received the Master of the ACC Award.
He is currently:
- Co-Director of the California Medicare Contractor Advisory Committee
- Chair, American College of Cardiology National Carrier Advisory Committee
- Cardiology Advisor, Medicare’s Relative Value Update Committee.
He has served as President of the American College of Cardiology, California Chapter, and on the Medical Advisory Board at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he served as the cardiologist for the Great Apes.
Dr. Wright is a renowned lecturer and was a co-author of the U.S. guideline on management of patients with heart failure. A recipient of the Specialist of the Year Award from the American College of Cardiology, California, he continues to be listed in peer surveys as one of the top cardiologists in the state.
Ty Gluckman, MD, MHA, FACC, FAHA, FASPC
Ty Gluckman, MD, MHA, FACC, FAHA, FASPC
Ty Gluckman, MD, MHA, FACC, FAHA, FASPC
"AI in Heart Failure: Help or Hindrance"
Ty J. Gluckman is the Medical Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Analytics, Research, and Data Science (CARDS) at the Providence Heart Institute in Portland, Oregon, and adjunct faculty at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
His clinical focus is
"AI in Heart Failure: Help or Hindrance"
Ty J. Gluckman is the Medical Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Analytics, Research, and Data Science (CARDS) at the Providence Heart Institute in Portland, Oregon, and adjunct faculty at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
His clinical focus is on improving cardiovascular care delivery. He has authored over 100 scientific works published in top journals including JACC, Circulation, JAMA, JAMA Cardiology, JAHA, and NEJM Catalyst. He co-chaired the 2022 ACC Expert Consensus on cardiovascular effects of COVID-19.
Dr. Gluckman has held leadership roles within the American College of Cardiology (ACC), including Associate Editor for JACC, chair of the Solution Set Oversight Committee, and Governor of the Oregon Chapter. He has also contributed to national quality initiatives through the ACC and American Heart Association (AHA), including the Focus MI program, the AHA COVID-19 CVD Registry, and the Target: Aortic Stenosis initiative. He was lead developer of the ASCVD Risk Estimator app.
Mariko Harper, MD, FACC
Ty Gluckman, MD, MHA, FACC, FAHA, FASPC
Ty Gluckman, MD, MHA, FACC, FAHA, FASPC
"Beta Blockers: Any Role in HCM?"
Mariko Harper, MD, FACC is the founding System Medical Director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH). Under her leadership, the Center has become a premier regional hub offering comprehensive, patient-centered cardiovascular care—including advan
"Beta Blockers: Any Role in HCM?"
Mariko Harper, MD, FACC is the founding System Medical Director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH). Under her leadership, the Center has become a premier regional hub offering comprehensive, patient-centered cardiovascular care—including advanced medical, surgical, and investigational therapies—throughout Washington state and the surrounding region.
Dr. Harper is a principal investigator for both grant-funded, investigator-initiated studies and a site investigator for numerous national and international clinical trials in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and book chapters across a broad range of cardiology topics and is a frequent invited speaker at national conferences on HCM.
Deeply committed to education, Dr. Harper serves as core faculty for the VMFH cardiology fellowship and is the program chair for the annual VMFH Cardiovascular Service Line Symposium. Nationally, she served as the founding Cardiology and Innovation Council Co-Chair for CommonSpirit Health—the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S.—where she led enterprise-wide initiatives in stewardship, standards, research, advocacy, and program development. Her leadership was instrumental in establishing a national HCM sub-council and integrating HCM care standards with innovations in AI/ML, advanced imaging, and precision medicine.
Recognized as one of Seattle’s Top Doctors since 2020, Dr. Harper is passionate about holistic care, patient education, and lifestyle medicine. She holds a master’s degree in Human Nutrition and previously served as program director for a regional “Food as Medicine” CME initiative.
Florian Rader, MD, MSc
Florian Rader, MD, MSc
Florian Rader, MD, MSc
"Myosin Inhibition in HCM"
Dr. Florian Rader is the Co-Director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Medical Director of the Hypertension Center of Excellence, and Associate Director of the Noninvasive Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute in Los Angeles, CA. He ranks as Professor at Cedars-Sinai and UCLA. Dr. Rader gradua
"Myosin Inhibition in HCM"
Dr. Florian Rader is the Co-Director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Medical Director of the Hypertension Center of Excellence, and Associate Director of the Noninvasive Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute in Los Angeles, CA. He ranks as Professor at Cedars-Sinai and UCLA. Dr. Rader graduated from medical school at the University of Vienna, Austria. He completed the Physician Scientist Program at Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth Campus and Cleveland Clinic.
His clinical and research interests focus on novel treatment options for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and device-based therapies for hypertension and valvular heart disease. He has published over 140 manuscripts focusing on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and valvular heart disease and is principal investigator on many ongoing clinical trials in these areas.
Faculty Affiliations
