George Washington University 8th Annual Cardiovascular Symposium

November 1, 2025
at the American College of Cardiology Heart House, Washington DC

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Overview

The purpose of this symposium is to discuss the latest updates in management and preventive care and to provide a comprehensive overview of the prevention, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular diseases.

Learning Objectives

• Discover which strategy is most helpful to patients with valvular heart disease
• Incorporate the latest cardiology guidelines into practice
• Understand how to recognize and manage heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias
• Recognize the need for defibrillation and pacemaker options in hospital patients
• Learn strategies to cope with upcoming healthcare challenges and improve outcomes
• Utilize the latest breakthroughs and advancements in hypertension and lipid management
• Review anticoagulant management in Atrial Fibrillation

Course Directors

Marco A. Mercader, MD, FACC 
Professor of Medicine 
Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship 
The George Washington University

Andrew Choi, MD, FACC, MSCCT
Professor of Medicine and Radiology
Director, Noninvasive Cardiology 
Clinical Lead - GW Complex Lipid Program 
The George Washington University

Ramesh Mazhari, MD, FACC 
Professor of Medicine 
Director, Interventional Cardiology 
Director, Cardiac Care Unit 
The George Washington University

Agenda

•   7:30 – 8 a.m.: Breakfast and Registration
•   8 – 8:15 a.m.: Welcome Remarks
•   8:15 – 9:45 a.m. Session 1: Cardiac Prevention – New Strategies for a Healthier Tomorrow
   

  Moderator: Jannet Lewis, MD

  • Highlights from new ACC/AHA Guidelines — Andrew Choi, MD
  • Rethinking Risk: PREVENT and Non-Traditional Risk Factors — William Borden, MD, MBA
  • Beyond Statins – New Strategies for Lipid Management —  Andrew Choi, MD
  • Lifestyle Medicine – Patient Centered Approach — Brad Moore, MD, MPH
  • Case Presentation & Panel Discussion — Kathia Smith, MD
•   9:45 – 10:30 a.m.: Break and Industry Symposium (TBD, non-CME session)
•   10:30 a.m. – Noon Session 2: Cardiomyopathies and Pulmonary Hypertension – Early Detection and Treatment
   

  Moderator: Mardi Gomberg-Maitland, MD, MSC

  • Group II PH, Emerging Therapies — Mardi Gomberg-Maitland, MD, MSC
  • Prevention of Myocarditis/Pericarditis – Imaging Guidance to Preserve the Future — Andrew Bradley, MD
  • New Treatments for Cardiac Amyloidosis — Gurusher Panjrath, MD
  • Cancer and the Heart – Managing and Preventing Cardiotoxicity — Malik Ghawanmeh, MD
  • Case Presentation & Panel Discussion — Karthik Sreedhara, MD
•   Noon – 12:45 p.m.: Lunch Session (NON-CME, Sponsored by Novo Nordisk)
   
  • Battling Obesity: Cardiology HCPs Unite in the Fight against Weight-related Comorbidities — Hamid Taheri, MD
•   12:45 – 2:15 p.m.: Session 3: Interventional and Structural Heart Disease
   

  Moderator: Ramesh Mazhari, MD

  • Cardiogenic Shock — Ramesh Mazhari, MD
  • Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair in 2025 — Christian Nagy, MD
  • Update in Early TAVR Indications — Jonathan Reiner, MD
  • Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction — Nardos Temesgen, MD
  • Case Presentation & Panel Discussion — Fotios Gkargkoulas, MD
•   2:15 – 2:45 p.m.: Industry Symposium and Break (TBD, non-CME session)

   

•   2:45 – 4:30 p.m.: Session 4: Cardiac Arrhythmias and Devices
   

  Moderator: Marco Mercader, MD

  • Anticoagulation for New AFib on Cardiac Devices – Who Needs It? — Cynthia Tracy, MD
  • Dual Chamber Leadless Pacemaker — Allen Solomon, MD
  • Pros and Cons of Left Bundle Pacing — Marco Mercader, MD
  • Case Presentation & Panel Discussion — Christopher Perez, MD

Format

This year's symposium will be offered as a hybrid (in-person and virtual) event. The symposium will be hosted in person at the Heart House and virtually via WebEx (virtual participation instructions will be sent to all registered attendees before the symposium). The meeting capacity is 100 people in person and 100 people online.

Parking

Street parking is limited. Paid parking is available at Colonial Parking, 2300 N Street NW, Washington DC 20037 (directly across from Heart House). Guests can also use SpotHero to reserve and pay for parking in advance at nearby garages.
 

Physician CME Credit

CME and MOC credit will be available via GW's Ethos Continuing Education Portal. Please check back for more details.

Contact information

Please contact us at GWHVI [at] mfa [dot] gwu [dot] edu (GWHVI[at]mfa[dot]gwu[dot]edu) with any questions about the symposium