Heart Matters

Host: Ty J. Gluckman, MD, MHA, FACC, FAHA, FASPC Host: Rishi Wadhera, MD, MPP, Mphil This on-demand knowledge primer explores key challenges and evidence-based strategies for improving atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) management in rural populations. Led by two expert faculty members, the program provides a comprehensive overview of disparities in ASCVD care, guideline-directed therapies, and practical approaches to overcoming barriers in rural settings. Participants will gain essential knowledge to enhance patient outcomes and optimize cardiovascular care in underserved communities.

Host: Ty J. Gluckman, MD, MHA, FACC, FAHA, FASPC Host: Rishi Wadhera, MD, MPP, Mphil This on-demand knowledge primer explores key challenges and evidence-based strategies for improving atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) management in rural populations. Led by two expert faculty members, the program provides a comprehensive overview of disparities in ASCVD care, guideline-directed therapies, and practical approaches to overcoming barriers in rural settings. Participants will gain essential knowledge to enhance patient outcomes and optimize cardiovascular care in underserved communities.

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: 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: 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: 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: Gerald Watts, MD, PhD There is a high unmet need for patients with persistent chylomicronemia. Plozasiran (ARO-APOC3) is an investigational drug that is being evaluated for these patients. Professor Gerald Watts shares the outcomes of the PALISADE trial, in which the efficacy and safety of plozasiran was examined in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

Host: Gerald Watts, MD, PhD There is a high unmet need for patients with persistent chylomicronemia. Plozasiran (ARO-APOC3) is an investigational drug that is being evaluated for these patients. Professor Gerald Watts shares the outcomes of the PALISADE trial, in which the efficacy and safety of plozasiran was examined in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Wilson Tang, MD Many different artificial sweeteners are being consumed by patients; however, this discussion will focus on research around one that has been used in the food industry for a long time, called erythritol. Interestingly, it was found that patients with cardiac problems had the highest levels of erythritol levels in their blood, which prompted further studies on this association. So to learn more about the impact of artificial sweeteners on heart disease and how we can guide patients into consuming less, join Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with Dr. Wilson Tang, Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Co-Author of the article, titled “The Artificial Sweetener Erythritol and Cardiovascular Event Risk,” published in Nature Medicine in February 2023.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Wilson Tang, MD Many different artificial sweeteners are being consumed by patients; however, this discussion will focus on research around one that has been used in the food industry for a long time, called erythritol. Interestingly, it was found that patients with cardiac problems had the highest levels of erythritol levels in their blood, which prompted further studies on this association. So to learn more about the impact of artificial sweeteners on heart disease and how we can guide patients into consuming less, join Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with Dr. Wilson Tang, Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Co-Author of the article, titled “The Artificial Sweetener Erythritol and Cardiovascular Event Risk,” published in Nature Medicine in February 2023.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Jeffrey Wilson, MD There's a decent amount of evidence showing allergic immune responses could have connections with heart disease. But with the knowledge gaps that exist, a need for bigger cohorts is necessary to get more information and data. So to explore the link between allergic reactions from food and heart disease, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, Allergist and Immunologist in the Department of Medicine's Division of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology at the University of Virginia.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Michael J. LaMonte, PhD, MPH The American Heart Association recommends physical activity to help lower the risk of heart failure, but how much exercise is needed, especially for older women, to lower that risk? According to a recent study, even just low-intensity exercise for 30 minutes is associated with a 25 percent lower risk of overall heart failure. Dive further into the findings with Dr. Javed Butler and Dr. Michael LaMonte, a Research Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University of Buffalo.

Host: Javed Butler, MD, MBA, MPH Guest: Jeffrey Wilson, MD There's a decent amount of evidence showing allergic immune responses could have connections with heart disease. But with the knowledge gaps that exist, a need for bigger cohorts is necessary to get more information and data. So to explore the link between allergic reactions from food and heart disease, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, Allergist and Immunologist in the Department of Medicine's Division of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology at the University of Virginia.

Host: Javed Butler, MD, MBA, MPH Guest: Michael J. LaMonte, PhD, MPH The American Heart Association recommends physical activity to help lower the risk of heart failure, but how much exercise is needed, especially for older women, to lower that risk? According to a recent study, even just low-intensity exercise for 30 minutes is associated with a 25 percent lower risk of overall heart failure. Dive further into the findings with Dr. Javed Bulter and Dr. Michael LaMonte, a Research Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University of Buffalo.

Host: Javed Butler, MD, MBA, MPH Guest: Chiadi Ndumele, M.D., Ph.D., M.H.S. For the first time, the American Heart Association (AHA) has identified cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which reflects a strong overlap between heart disease, kidney disease, and obesity. The major clinical consequence of CKM syndrome is multi-organ dysfunction with a particularly high incidence and burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the result of this is premature morbidity and mortality. So as a result, recognizing CKM syndrome is the first step in earlier diagnosis and treatment. Dive into this episode with Dr. Javed Butler who's joined by Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research at Johns Hopkins University.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Chiadi Ndumele, M.D., Ph.D., M.H.S. For the first time, the American Heart Association (AHA) has identified cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which reflects a strong overlap between heart disease, kidney disease, and obesity. The major clinical consequence of CKM syndrome is multi-organ dysfunction with a particularly high incidence and burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the result of this is premature morbidity and mortality. So as a result, recognizing CKM syndrome is the first step in earlier diagnosis and treatment. Dive into this episode with Dr. Javed Butler who's joined by Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research at Johns Hopkins University.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Dave L. Dixon, PharmD, FACC,  FCCP, FNLA, BCPS, BCACP, CDE, CLS What would the cost-effectiveness look like if the uptake of a pharmacist-prescribing model for hypertension were to be put into practice? A new study shows that a pharmacist-prescribing method could have significant economic impact on the U.S. healthcare system. Dive in with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with Dr. Dave Dixon, Nancy L. and Ronald H. McFarlane Professor of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, to discuss the findings from the study, titled “Cost-Effectiveness of Pharmacist Prescribing for Managing Hypertension in the United States,” which was published in JAMA Network.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Dave L. Dixon, PharmD, FACC,  FCCP, FNLA, BCPS, BCACP, CDE, CLS What would the cost-effectiveness look like if the uptake of a pharmacist-prescribing model for hypertension were to be put into practice? A new study shows that a pharmacist-prescribing method could have significant economic impact on the U.S. healthcare system. Dive in with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with Dr. Dave Dixon, Nancy L. and Ronald H. McFarlane Professor of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, to discuss the findings from the study, titled “Cost-Effectiveness of Pharmacist Prescribing for Managing Hypertension in the United States,” which was published in JAMA Network.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Javed Butler, MD There's no approved therapies specifically targeting obesity and HFpEF, but based on the STEP-HFpEF study that was presented at the 2023 ESC Congress, the treatment option semaglutide improves heart failure-related symptoms, physical function, and weight loss among patients with HFpEF and obesity. Here to walk through the study's key findings with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is fellow ReachMD host, Dr. Javed Butler, President of Baylor Scott and White Research Institute in Dallas, Texas.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Javed Butler, MD, MBA, MPH The STEP-HFpEF study was a program of two sister trials. The study that you'll hear about today is in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity patients without type 2 diabetes. Learn more about semaglutide with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with fellow ReachMD host, Dr. Javed Butler, President of Baylor Scott and White Research Institute in Dallas, Texas.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Steve Grinspoon, MD The risk of cardiovascular disease is twice as great among patients living with HIV, and this could partly be due to traditional risk factors, along with nontraditional risk factors. Here to discuss the results from the REPRIEVE study with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is Dr. Steve Grinspoon, Co-Principal Investigator and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Steve Grinspoon, MD The risk of cardiovascular disease is twice as great among patients living with HIV, and this could partly be due to traditional risk factors, along with nontraditional risk factors. Here to discuss the results from the REPRIEVE study with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is Dr. Steve Grinspoon, Co-Principal Investigator and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Carol Kirkpatrick, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLS, FNLA The National Lipid Association (NLA) recently published updated recommendations for lifestyle therapies to manage three common dyslipidemias in adults. To discuss this, Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is joined by Dr. Carol Kirkpatrick, Clinical Lipid Specialist and Clinical Scientist at Midwest Biomedical Research.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Carol Kirkpatrick, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLS, FNLA The National Lipid Association (NLA) recently published updated recommendations for lifestyle therapies to manage three common dyslipidemias in adults. To discuss this, Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is joined by Dr. Carol Kirkpatrick, Clinical Lipid Specialist and Clinical Scientist at Midwest Biomedical Research.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Steve Grinspoon, MD Many studies over the last few years have shown that the risks of cardiovascular disease have increased between 50 to 100 percent among patients with HIV. So what steps need to be taken to help reduce this risk for our patients? Here to discuss what we need to know is Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley and Dr. Steven Grinspoon, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Metabolism Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Steve Grinspoon, MD Many studies over the last few years have shown that the risks of cardiovascular disease have increased between 50 to 100 percent among patients with HIV. So what steps need to be taken to help reduce this risk for our patients? Here to discuss what we need to know is Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley and Dr. Steven Grinspoon, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Metabolism Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Host: Alan S. Brown, MD, FACC, FAHA, FNLA Guest: Maya S. Safarova, MD, PhD, FNLA Learn which patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) would benefit from this group of medication. In this episode, Dr. Alan Brown is joined by Dr. Maya Safarova, Chief Fellow in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, to discuss the benefits of non-statin LDL lowering therapies.

Host: Alan S. Brown, MD, FACC, FAHA, FNLA Guest: Maya S. Safarova, MD, PhD, FNLA Learn which patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) would benefit from this group of medication. In this episode, Dr. Alan Brown is joined by Dr. Maya Safarova, Chief Fellow in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, to discuss the benefits of non-statin LDL lowering therapies.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Alan S. Brown, MD, FACC, FAHA, FNLA Both clinical trials for lowering Lp(a) had patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Join in for a further discussion on important updates presented at the 2023 National Lipid Association Meeting with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley and fellow ReachMD host, Dr. Alan Brown, Past President of the National Lipid Association.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Alan S. Brown, MD, FACC, FAHA, FNLA Both clinical trials for lowering Lp(a) had patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Join in for a further discussion on important updates presented at the 2023 National Lipid Association Meeting with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley and fellow ReachMD host, Dr. Alan Brown, Past President of the National Lipid Association.

Elevated lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is the most common inherited dyslipidemia that can drive the atherosclerotic process. So at what age does Lp(a) impact a patient's life? To find out more, tune into this episode sponsored by Novartis. Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. 6/23 278623

Guest: Santica Marcovina, PhD, ScD Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a unique apoB family lipoprotein that contains apo(a), which is a peculiar carbohydrate-rich protein covalently bound to an apoB lipoprotein. So are elevated Lp(a) levels a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease? Dive into this episode, sponsored by Novartis, to find out. Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. 6/23 278623

It's estimated that 20 percent of the world's population has elevated Lp(a) greater than 50 milligrams per deciliter. Lp(a) is an independent, genetic, and causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. For more insights, tune into this episode sponsored by Novartis. Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. 6/23 278623

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: John W. MacArthur With many barriers standing in the way of people in the United States who need a heart transplant, fewer than 10 percent of patients actually receive this life-saving surgery according to Stanford Medicine. Therefore, surgeons are working on different techniques to increase the pool of healthy donated hearts. To speak more about this, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. John MacArthur, Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford School of Medicine.

Host: Javed Butler, MD, MBA, MPH Guest: John W. MacArthur With many barriers standing in the way of people in the United States who need a heart transplant, fewer than 10 percent of patients actually receive this life-saving surgery according to Stanford Medicine. Therefore, surgeons are working on different techniques to increase the pool of healthy donated hearts. To speak more about this, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. John MacArthur, Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford School of Medicine.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Pedro A Villablanca Spinetto, MD A complex condition known as tricuspid valve regurgitation may cause concern for patients as it typically doesn't show signs or symptoms until the disease is severe. So what technologies and therapies do we have to look forward to? Join Dr. Javed Butler as he speaks with Dr. Pedro Villablanca, Structural Heart Interventional Cardiologist at Henry Ford Health.

Host: Javed Butler, MD, MBA, MPH Guest: Pedro A Villablanca Spinetto, MD A complex condition known as tricuspid valve regurgitation may cause concern for patients as it typically doesn't show signs or symptoms until the disease is severe. So what technologies and therapies do we have to look forward to? Join Dr. Javed Butler as he speaks with Dr. Pedro Villablanca, Structural Heart Interventional Cardiologist at Henry Ford Health.

Guest: Patricia A. Pellikka, M.D. Artificial intelligence (AI) has several applications in cardiology, such as echocardiography. Can machine learning and AI algorithms in echocardiology help clinicians better detect heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)? Dr. Patricia A. Pellikka, Director of the Ultrasound Research Center at the Mayo Clinic, shares data from ACC.23 and explores the potential of AI in detecting HFpEF.

Guest: Patricia A. Pellikka, M.D. Artificial intelligence (AI) has several applications in cardiology, such as echocardiography. Can machine learning and AI algorithms in echocardiology help clinicians better detect heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)? Dr. Patricia A. Pellikka, Director of the Ultrasound Research Center at the Mayo Clinic, shares data from ACC.23 and explores the potential of AI in detecting HFpEF.

Guest: Paul Sorajja, MD TRILUMINATE was the first trial to take a look at the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) reduction on patients, and its results may lead to significant improvements in care and quality of life. To learn more about this trial, Dr. Paul Sorajja from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation details the key findings from this trial and explores their impact.

Guest: Paul Sorajja, MD TRILUMINATE was the first trial to take a look at the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) reduction on patients, and its results may lead to significant improvements in care and quality of life. To learn more about this trial, Dr. Paul Sorajja from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation details the key findings from this trial and explores their impact.