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.
Program Faculty
Matthew Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA
Matthew Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA
Matthew Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA
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
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
C. Noel Bairey Mertz, MD
Matthew Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA
Matthew Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA
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,
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.
Jason T Lee, MD
Matthew Budoff, MD, FACC, FAHA
Jason T Lee, MD
Dr. 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 remai
Dr. 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
Brian Kolski, MD
Jason T Lee, MD
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
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
Brian Kolski, MD
Brian Kolski, MD
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
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.
Brian Kolski, MD
Brian Kolski, MD
Brian Kolski, MD
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 physician
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.
Mariko Harper MD, FACC
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
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 inves
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.
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
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 authorit
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
Rigved Tadwalker, MD
Yehuda Handelsman MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, FAHA, MACE
Rigved Tadwalker, MD
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 Physici
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.
Faculty Affiliations
