JULY 2019
Dr. Andrew Choi and Fellows Present at the 14th Annual Society of Cardiac Computed Tomography Sessions


GW Heart & Vascular Institute had a leading presence at the 14th Annual Society of Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) Scientific Sessions held in Baltimore, MD.

Dr. Andrew Choi, Co-Director of Cardiac CT & MRI  served as a key member of the meeting planning committee, judged best abstracts and provided leadership as chair of a 17-member social media working group that resulted in the highest ever digital engagement (40 million digital impressions) for the society and among the top 2 for all cardiac imaging meetings.  He presented several invited lectures including:
  • Fact and Fiction regarding coronary artery calcium testing
  • Advances & the Future of Cardiac CT: American Social Media Editor's Perspective
  • Closing Session Meeting Highlights
  • Carving a unique niche in cardiac CT: Perspectives for trainees and early career professionals (Session Chair)
  • Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning in CT (Abstract Moderator)

Cardiology fellow Dr. Angela Ryan (3rd Year Cardiology Fellow) presented "Cases from the Urban Trenches" on role of CT in valvular endocarditis with senior author Dr. Andrew Choi.



Cardiology fellow Dr. Raza Yunus (3rd Year Cardiology Fellow) presented "Does aortic valve calcium predict improvement in low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis" with co-authors Drs. Alzahrani, B. Choi, Krepp, Nagy, and A. Choi.



Dr. Gurusher Panjrath, Director of Heart Failure was invited to speak on "Imaging needs in clinical heart failure: Tips from a master clinician."

The GW Heart & Vascular Institute aims to continue to serve as a both a regional and national leader through several new initiatives incorporating innovative approaches in cardiac imaging in the care of patients.


Dr. Gomberg is Featured Speaker at International Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI) Meeting


Dr. Mardi Gomberg, Director of GW's Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Program and international leader in PH research, presented the "Pros and Cons of Risk Scores as Potential Clinical End Points and Statistical Aspects of Incorporating Risk Scores into Clinical Trials" at the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute's 6th Annual Drug Discovery & Development Symposium in Paris, France this July.  She also led a discussion with the PVRI Innovative Drug Development Initiative participants on best practices in trial design and statistical analyses. The symposium assembled the top experts in pulmonary hypertension to identify promising treatments, devices and drugs in development.  Out of the select invited faculty from academia, industry, and the European and US Drug Agencies to present at this conference, Dr. Gomberg was the only female academic speaker from the US.
Institute Welcomes Incoming Class of
GW Cardiology Fellows


GW offers a three-year general cardiology fellowship program under the leadership of Dr. Allen Solomon; a two-year electrophysiology program under the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Tracy, and a one-year interventional cardiology fellowship under the leadership of Dr. Ramesh Mazhari.

This July, we welcomed the following GW Cardiology Fellows:

General Cardiology Fellows:
  • Tushina Jain, MD, and Ariel Faiwiszewski, MD, both graduates of the GW internal medicine residency.

Interventional Cardiology Fellows:
  • Mortada Shams, MD, a graduate of the GW cardiology fellowship program, and Mark McConnell, MD, a graduate of general cardiology at Bethesda Navy Hospital.

Electrophysiology Fellow:
  • Kumar-Kiran Kanjerla, MD, completing his second year in advance heart rhythm disorders.

To launch the academic year, our new GW cardiology fellows participated in a city-wide Fellows Bootcamp for fellows from across the metropolitan region. The program was co-organized by Dr. Allen Solomon, GW fellowship director, and Dr. Angela Ryan, GW Chief Cardiology Fellow along with colleagues at collaborating academic centers.   Drs. Allen Solomon and Marco Mercader gave lectures on cardiac arrhythmias and fellows participated in simulation activities to practice echocardiograms, device interrogations, central lines, pericardiocentesis, and cardiac catheterization.
Dr. William Borden Leads Discussions on
Cardiovascular Quality of Care

Dr. William Borden and panelists from the U.S. Senate briefing on Improvements to Rural Health Care Through Patient-Centered Research sponsored by Research!America.

Dr. William Borden, who was recently appointed to Chair of the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Council, served on a panel discussing "Improvements to Rural Health Care through Patient-Centered Research," at the U.S. Senate. Panelists shared what makes health care delivery unique in rural areas and how patient-centered/community-based programs can lower the risk of heart disease and address other public health challenges.  Dr. Borden also spoke this month at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to the Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention in Atlanta on "Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes Research."
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