Ohio-ACC Newsletter, March 2026

Dear Ohio-ACC Colleague,

Spring Summit on April 18th

It is my pleasure to invite you to the Ohio-ACC Spring Summit & Carl J. Wiggers Memorial Lecture on Saturday, April 18th, at the Cleveland Marriott East. Our co-chairs Ashish Aneja, MD, FACC, and Kelly Bartsch, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, AACC, have collaborated with the planning committee to create an excellent scientific session, including our featured 62nd Annual Carl J. Wiggers Memorial Lecturer, Darren McGuire, MD, FACC, who will deliver the lecture A 360-Degree Cardiovascular View of GLP-1s.

Highlights of the Meeting

Session 1 – Cardiogenetics: NICM / Inherited Arrhythmias (8:00–8:45 AM)

This session focuses on the growing clinical importance of genetic evaluation in cardiology. Dr. Rocio Moran will guide clinicians on when to suspect an inherited condition and who to refer for further workup, while Emily Massiello, LGC, will walk through the practical logistics of genetic testing. Marguerite Shanahan, MBA, BSN, RN will moderate the Q&A.

Session 2 – Advancing Practice (8:45–9:30 AM)

Exploring the frontier of cardiovascular care, this session features Dr. Laxmi Mehta discussing how artificial intelligence is streamlining everyday clinical practice, followed by Dr. Andres Schuster presenting novel imaging modalities transforming cardiovascular diagnostics. Dr. Michael Glidden will moderate.

Session 3 – Pericarditis (10:00–10:45 AM)

This session delivers an up-to-date look at pericarditis management. Dr. Allan Klein covers the latest advances in diagnosis, and Dr. Aisha Siraj presents evolving treatment approaches. Dr. Tom Wang will moderate the discussion.

Session 4 – Innovative Practice (10:45–11:45 AM)

The final session highlights forward-thinking approaches in cardiovascular care. Megan LaBreck, PharmD, BCPS, CACP presents innovations in outpatient sotalol initiation, followed by a rapid-fire review of the Top 4 Clinical Trials of 2025 featuring the REBOOT, RHEIA, VESALIUS-CV, and ALONE-AF trials, presented by Fellows in Training from institutions across Northeast Ohio. Dr. TJ O’Neill will moderate.

62nd Annual Carl J. Wiggers Memorial Lecture & Luncheon (12:15–1:45 PM)

This year’s featured lecture, A 360-Degree Cardiovascular View of GLP-1s, will be delivered by Darren McGuire, MD, FACC. Dr. McGuire will offer a comprehensive cardiovascular perspective on GLP-1 receptor agonists — one of the most impactful drug classes in modern medicine. Dr. Ashish Aneja will moderate the luncheon session.

CV Team Poster Presentation Opportunity 
There will be a CV Team Poster Presentation opportunity at this meeting! Ohio CV team clinicians (non-physician clinicians – RN, NP, CNS, PA, PharmD) are invited to submit a case or research. The deadline for submissions is March 18th. Get complete details here.

Ohio-ACC Legislative Day

You are cordially invited to join the Ohio-ACC for a special legislative day in Columbus, on May 12th with a kick-off dinner on May 11th. This will be a day of visiting your Ohio representatives and senators to introduce them to cardiology issues facing you and your patients. Building relationships with your state lawmakers will help ensure that the Ohio General Assembly remains informed of issues facing clinicians and patients. There is no charge for the event, and appointments with your lawmakers will be made for you. Parking will be validated. 

Get complete details here.

Laws we have successfully championed include raising the legal purchasing age for cigarettes, tobacco products, and nicotine alternatives like e-cigarettes and vaping devices from 18 to 21; Lindsay's Law, which raises awareness among student athletes, parents, and coaches about the signs and risks of sudden cardiac arrest; and landmark telehealth legislation. Your involvement truly matters!

Travel Stipends Available

A limited number of Ohio-ACC Legislative Day travel stipends are available on a first-come, first-served basis, which includes overnight accommodations for May 11th and parking. Contact us for this opportunity.

Midwest Women in Cardiology Symposium

We are delighted to be the host of the 2026 Midwest Women in Cardiology Symposium in Cleveland the weekend of June 6th, at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. Please make plans to attend! Here is complete information:

• About
• Agenda
• Registration & Rates
• Hotel & Travel – May 12 Hotel room block deadline
• Exhibitors & Sponsors
• Continuing Education
• Poster Contest – April 1 Poster contest submissions due

Contact Us

If Gwen Goldfarb, our chapter executive, or I can be of assistance to you, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Ellen

Call for Abstracts: Spring Summit 2026

Please submit your case reports and research for the Ohio-ACC Spring Summit on April 18, 2026! This is an excellent opportunity for you to present in an informal setting as well as network with colleagues from across the state. Here is complete information for you. The deadline for submission is March 18th. We hope to see you (and your poster) in Cleveland!

ACC.26 CV Team Section Breakfast- March 29, 2026

Join the CV Team Section for breakfast and networking in person at ACC.26 in New Orleans! Breakfast will be held in the Lounge and Learn Pavilion, Meet Up Zone 2, from 7:00-8:30 am CT on Sunday, March 29, 2026. RSVP here.

Ohio-ACC Fellow Grand Rounds Series

The Ohio-ACC FIT 2025-26 Grand Round Series Guidelines to Bedside is underway. If you missed any of the past sessions, you can view them here. Stay tuned for the next two sessions at noon:
March 16th, Lipids: Guidelines to Bedside. Register here.
May 14th, Syncope: Guidelines to Bedside. Register here.

Apply to Serve on the 2026-2027 Ohio-ACC FIT Council

Represent your training institution as a member of the Ohio-ACC Fellow in Training Council. Share your ideas, network with colleagues, and get involved with the Ohio-ACC. Applications are now being accepted for the 2026-2027 FIT Council. The application deadline is April 15.

Steps:

1. Please complete the application.

2. Have your program director or an Ohio-ACC Board Member send a letter of support to ohioacc@gmail.com by April 15.

Ohio-ACC Fellow & Resident Poster Competition

Submissions are open for the 2026 Ohio-ACC Poster Competition. Get complete details.

CardiOhio Podcast

Please take a moment to subscribe to the Ohio-ACC CardiOhio Podcast. Simply copy and paste this URL into the podcast app of your choice, or click here to view in Apple podcasts. These 30-minute audio podcasts are designed to provide practical management tips for our providers. We hope that you will find this information useful for your practice.

Episode 26

Join our guests, Drs. Matthew Tong and Subha Raman, both imaging specialists in Central Ohio, as we review the current state of cardiovascular MRI imaging- including common indications, patient selection, and specific scenarios such as device patients. They offer tips for the cardiac practitioner for ordering studies and interpreting the results in clinical context.

Episode 25

Join us as we welcome back our most popular guest, Dr. Heather Gornik, co-director of the Vascular Center at University Hospitals of Cleveland, as we discuss her role as the lead author of the 2024 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease, including a review of key points from the guidelines.

Episode 24

Pressure in Pregnancy: The Current State of Pregnancy-Associated Hypertension

Join our special guest, Dr. Deirdre Mattina from Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, for a review of the current state of peripartum hypertension. We review the current definitions, medical therapy, and lifestyle management, as well as discuss implications for future cardiovascular risk.

Episode 23

ECPR: Something “Extra” to Improve Resuscitation Outcomes

Join our special guests, Drs. Kelsey Gray from Cleveland and Suzanne Bennett from Cincinnati, for a discussion on extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). We review the rationale for extracorporeal support during CPR, the components of a successful ECPR program, and discuss initial outcomes with the strategy.

Episode 22

Beyond Statins: A Practical Plan to Incorporate the New Lipid Agents

Please join our special guest, Dr. Benjamin Romer from The Ohio State University, as we address the current state of lipid therapy in both primary and secondary prevention patients. He addresses a practical approach to the issue of statin intolerance, then reviews the newer agents including ezetimide and bempedoic acid, as well as the newer percutaneous agents, with a focus on practical tips for implementation. We wrap up with a discussion on the role of coronary calcium scoring to guide therapeutic decisions in select patients.

Find all episodes here.

Heading to ACC.26 in New Orleans? A host of dedicated guideline sessions are planned – providing opportunities to chat with authors, share best practices, discuss challenges, and more. Plan your agenda here.

ACC, AHA Release First-Ever Guideline For Treatment and Management of Acute PE

The new ACC/AHA Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE) in Adults is a de novo document offering comprehensive, evidence‑based recommendations for the evaluation, management, and follow‑up of adults with acute PE. Collaborated on and endorsed by an additional eight societies, the new guideline recognizes that management of patients with acute PE "is uniquely multidisciplinary and crosses emergency department, inpatient settings, and outpatient clinics."

"There have been significant advances in the understanding of pulmonary embolism and treatments to effectively manage this condition," said Writing Committee Chair Mark A. Creager, MD, FACC. "This guideline is a road map to help clinicians navigate these advances for the safest and most effective approaches to care for people with this condition.”

ACC Statement Opposes Legislative Mandates For Universal ECG Screening in Competitive Athletes

Legislative mandates for universal electrocardiogram (ECG) screening in competitive athletes pose potential harm and unintended consequences, drawing attention and resources away from emergency action plan implementation, an effective intervention for saving athletes' lives, according to an ACC Societal Statement published Feb. 13 in JACC. Read the full report from ACC’s Solution Set Oversight Committee.

CardioSmart is the ACC’s dedicated home for patient tools and resources, including infographics, shared decision-making aids, and more. Find information on specific clinical conditions, health lifestyle choices, and more at CardioSmart.org.