Conference to Focus on New Frontiers in Percutaneous Cardiovascular Therapies

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2013) - The Gill Heart Institute will host a cardiovascular program titled, "New Frontiers in Percutaneous Cardiovascular Therapies," on May 11 on the University of Kentucky campus.

The conference will provide updates in the latest percutaneous and minimally invasive technologies for the treatment of coronary and peripheral arterial disease, along with highlights of emerging procedures in the field, specifically:

• Team-based approaches to valvular heart disease and options for high-risk and inoperable patients;
• Newer, catheter-based therapies for pulmonary embolism and venous thrombosis;
• And new directions in the treatment of medically resistant hypertension, regenerative medicine for heart repair, and non-traditional options for vascular access.

The program is designed for primary care and emergency medicine physicians, cardiologists, nurses, advance practice registered nurses, physician assistants, residents, fellows, emergency medical technicians and medical students.

The speakers will include UK HealthCare's director of interventional cardiology, Dr. John C. Gurley, and Dr. Khaled M. Ziada, director of UK HealthCare's catheterization laboratories.

The interventional cardiologists will present brief overviews of the new technologies of renal denervation, difficult vascular access and stem cell therapy in cardiac repair.  

Also presenting are:

• Dr. Susan S. Smyth, chief of cardiovascular medicine, director of the Gill Heart Institute, and a professor in the UK College of Medicine;
• Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Latif of the Gill Heart Institute, an assistant professor in the UK College of Medicine;
• Dr. Joseph Foley, interventional cardiovascular fellow in the Gill Heart Institute;
• Dr. Justin Fraser, neurosurgeon in the Kentucky Neurological Institute and an assistant professor of medicine in the UK College of Medicine;
• Dr. Matthew Wiisanen, interventional cardiovascular fellow in the Gill Heart Institute;
• Dr. Eleftherios Xenos, vascular and endovascular surgeon and an assistant professor in the UK College of Medicine.

Conference topics include:

• Pulmonary Embolism: Changing the Way We Approach an Old Disease
• Advances in STEMI care: Optimizing Regionalized Care and New Options for High-Risk Patients
• Contemporary Percutaneous Approaches in the Treatment of Valvular Heart Disease
• Updates in Management of Peripheral Vascular Disease: Treating the Legs and the Head
• Emerging Science: New Options for Treatment of Medication-Resistant Hypertension
• Emerging Science: Inside-Out Central Venous Access
• Emerging Science: Stem-Cell Therapy for Heart Repair

The conference will be from 7:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, in 124 BioPharm Complex. The day's events include a lunch program and an afternoon tour of Gill Heart Institute cath lab facilities.

The UK College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This program is designated for a maximum of 3.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.™

There is no charge for this event, however, registration is required. Go to www.cecentral.com/live/6754 to register.

For additional information about attending this event, please contact Susan.Quick@uky.edu, or at (859) 218-0122.