AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY NEWS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
The Top Reasons You Will NOT Want to Miss the 26th Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston One of the year’s highlights is the ASE’s Annual Scientific Sessions. The conference is a great venue to learn and interact with your colleagues. Unlike some of the other national meetings, this meeting and its faculty pride itself on accessibility—sessions that are geared to different levels of expertise, different sub-specialty interests (such as congenital, vascular, or peri-operative echocardiography), and faculty that welcome a chance to interact with any attendee. In fact, one of my fondest early memories of the Scientific Sessions was going up to Dr Harvey Feigenbaum when I was a fellow and introducing myself and asking about his lecture. He receptively answered me and engaged me in conversation. It was a thrill to have the founder of the Society share his knowledge. This tradition of openness continues today. We have a wonderful community that is receptive to helping and sharing, and actively provides venues to offer this type of personal interaction. Recently, I asked Dr Rebecca Hahn (Chair of the 2015 Scientific Sessions Program Committee) what she thought were the top 10 things that will enhance this year’s Boston event. I loved her answers and the fact that she could not restrict herself to just 10 reasons. Let me share them with you now. REASON #1: SPECIAL SPEAKER, ROBERTO CANESSA, MD, FASE Dr Roberto Canessa, a pediatric cardiologist from Montevideo, Uruguay, has led an extraordinary life. He was a hero in the famous 1972 Andes plane crash that was documented in the best seller Alive by Piers Paul Reed and the 2008 award-winning documentary ‘‘Stranded: I’ve Come from a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains.’’ He is recognized worldwide for his role in this 1972 Andes event and is in demand as a motivational speaker, having spoken at M.I.T., Harvard, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Royal College of Surgeons in England, and the American Heart Association. Dr Canessa was awarded his country’s National Prize in Medicine in 1986 and twice has been awarded the Great National Prize in Medicine, in 1991 and 1999. He is an active member of ASE and achieved ‘‘Fellow of the ASE’’ designation. Don’t miss Dr Canessa’s account of his amazing experience in the session, ‘‘Inspiring Health Care in Developing Countries.’’ REASON #2: CASE-BASED LEARNING TO INCLUDE TOPICS OF GLOBAL INTEREST An entire track dedicated to case-based learning. These early morning sessions will feature a fascinating array of cases, and you are guaranteed to see something new each day. This year we have several sessions on contrast and strain so we can do a ‘‘deep dive’’ into these areas and allow faculty to answer your questions.
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Disease management topics will be covered including stroke, pericardial, and valvular disease. Pediatric and congenital sessions occur each day, so there will be a ses- Neil Weissman, sion for everyone MD, FASE who treats these patients.
Guest co-author Rebecca Hahn, MD, FASE
REASON #3: GAME SHOW: 3 OF A KIND One of these things is not like the other: Do you have what it takes to figure it out? Pick your team and hang on to your Audience Response System pad, as this raucous, but friendly, competition pits you against others in the audience! During this entertaining session, you will laugh while learning about a variety of diseases in an educational format that involves teambased audience participation. It promises to be a lively and educational experience for all. REASON #4: RETURN OF ATTENDEE FAVORITES Back by popular demand: Chalk Talks in the Exhibit & Poster Hall. During select breaks in the Exhibit & Poster hall, luminary faculty will be available to help you with your clinical conundrums or any other questions you may have on topics such as Valvular Heart Disease, Diastology/Pericardial Disease, Contrast, and Pediatric Cardiology. These intimate chalk talks are your opportunity to get direct answers from ASE’s expert educators. REASON #5: ASE FOUNDATION’S HEELING HEARTS SCAVENGER HUNT The ASE Foundation (ASEF), in partnership with Lantheus and Siemens, will be hosting a one-of-a-kind philanthropic teambuilding event to encourage Scientific Sessions attendees to explore the historic diversity and magnificence of Boston, Massachusetts while raising funds for scholarships and cardiovascular research. ASEF’s Heeling Hearts Scavenger Hunt will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 14th in and around Boston’s historic landmarks. Scavenger Hunt attendees will explore Boston by foot in teams of 8-10 people. Teams have the opportunity to network with
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friends and colleagues in a heart-healthy and fun way. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories at the end of the race.
– Multimodality Imaging in Thoracic Aortic Diseases, – Echo in Critically Ill Patients, and – Echo in Patients with Hypertension
REASON #6: EXHIBIT & POSTER HALL The medical field is in an unprecedented growth cycle, with new advances happening at a rapid pace. The largest gathering of Echo-specific vendors, with over 60 exhibit booths. Talk to the exhibitors and discuss new technologies and learn about the newest advances to stay current in your field. Take part in interactive demonstrations to gain firsthand knowledge of how devices work and how they will benefit your practice or institution. Learn from some of the top experts in the field by attending the Science & Technology Theater presentations each day over lunch (complimentary boxed lunches are provided by the ASE). Spend time in the poster area, and gain firsthand knowledge and insight from scientific investigators. REASON #7: 6TH ANNUAL RESEARCH AWARDS GALA Join the ASEF for a memorable evening celebrating the accomplishments of awardees and the dynamic field of cardiovascular ultrasound on Saturday, June 13th. In this historic city associated with the beginnings of the American Revolution, the 6th Annual Research Awards Gala will continue the Foundation’s tradition of revolutionizing research. 2015 Awardees include Dr Steven Goldstein, Dr Roberto Lang, Peg Knoll, Dr Marielle Scherrer-Crosbie, Dr Michael K. Cahalan, and Dr Hugh D. Allen. The Annual Research Awards Gala is the Foundation’s signature fundraising event of the year. Proceeds from the Gala will provide investigators with much needed funds to continue the growth and advancement of our field. The Gala is a ticketed event and seats are not available onsite at the Scientific Sessions. A portion of each ticket sale is U.S. tax deductible and supports the Foundation’s annual research awards program. Registration is already open, be sure to purchase your table or ticket before seating is sold out! (www. asefoundation.org/gala) REASON #8: NETWORKING ASE provides you with a variety of ways to improve your professional network. From the early Saturday Morning session ‘‘Welcome to ASE’’ to the President’s Reception and the Member Reception, we are providing opportunities for you to interact with leaders in the field of echocardiography. Keep in touch with those you have connected with via ASE’s Connect@ASE online networking site. REASON #9: REVIEW OF THE NEWEST AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY GUIDELINES Don’t miss your opportunity to review the newest ASE Guidelines and learn how you can implement them in your practice. Topics include: – Multimodality Imaging in Patients Receiving Cancer Therapies – Chamber Quantification Update
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REASON #10: GAME OF THRONES: DEBATES FROM THE GREATS Listen to distinguished faculty as they debate these classic echo questions. – Is Multi-modality Imaging the New Standard of Care for Valvular Heart Disease? – Is Echo More Cost-Effective than CT for Suspected Coronary Disease? – Should Strain Imaging Replace LVEF? And then I learned from Dr Hahn that there are just too many good things to limit it to 10, so I gave her two more slots: REASON #11: MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION SESSIONS To demonstrate a public commitment to remain highly skilled and knowledgeable throughout their careers, medical professionals must satisfy the evolving requirements for Board Certification and MOC. In this session, ASE will help physicians meet those certification and recertification needs while earning knowledge points towards ABIM’s Self-Evaluation of Medical Knowledge requirement. This session highlights several key topics through a study of clinical patient scenarios provided and analyzed by field experts. Guided by faculty moderators, topics covered will include: cardiomyopathies, aortic regurgitation, endocarditis, mitral stenosis, Doppler, congenital heart disease, closure devices/device placement, image optimization, CRT, stress echocardiography, and more. Registration for this session includes access to the ASE Online MOC Module and will be awarded 10 ABIM MOC points upon completion of the module. REASON #12: POINT OF CARE ECHO IN MEDICAL EDUCATION This unique session is geared not only towards medical students, but also to more advanced practitioners, physicians, and medical educators interested in how ultrasound is being used in medical education. Leaders in the field who are pioneering the use of ultrasound in medical education will lecture on the evidence of ultrasound’s utility in educating practitioners, as well as doing the hands on instruction and didactic teaching on the focused cardiac exam. Illustrative cases on the dyspneic patient, the patient with undifferentiated shock, and the patient with chest pain will illustrate the value of the focused ultrasound exam, both in diagnostic efficacy and in managing treatment decision making. Convinced yet? This is just a quick snapshot of the enormous variety of tracks and sessions that are available. Take a look at the program online, I assure you there really is something for everyone! I will see you in Boston in June (www.asescientificsessions.org)!
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