Highlights of ASNC2019

• By: admin
• On: 09/23/2019 07:55:16
• In: Annual Meeting

Missed ASNC2019? Order ASNC2019 Meeting on Demand. 

‘Listen, Pause, Recruit' - Dr. Clyde Yancy Outlines Practical Approach to Tackling Disparities

In this afternoon's opening keynote address at ASNC2019, Clyde W. Yancy, MD, challenged the nuclear cardiology community to think differently about disparities and change behaviors that contribute to health inequities. Dr. Yancy, who is chief of cardiology and vice dean for diversity and inclusion at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, framed his presentation around a question: “Addressing Cardiovascular Disease Disparities – Are We Getting Closer to the Truth?” The answer, he announced after sharing a range of evidence demonstrating the presence of inequities, is “stridently, yes, we are.” To overcome bias, he said, cardiologists should address cultural competency, provider demographics, and diversity in clinical trials, and implement precision medicine. Asked what individual clinicians can do in their daily practice, he recommended three steps: 
1 – LISTEN to your patients.  

2 – PAUSE and check your assumptions at the door. He has trained himself to pause, exhale and reset his mindset before every patient encounter. 

3 – RECRUIT. Actively acquire the opinions and ideas of different people, which may require “changing your infrastructure” to take advantage of cardiology's diverse workforce. 

Another tip, he said, is to take an Implicit Association Test, which will make you aware of your own biases. 

“What a tremendous keynote address by Dr. Clyde Yancy,” said ASNC2019 Program Director Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD. “His insights on cardiovascular disparities and how to get to the truth about them are directly relevant to our work in cardiac imaging. Bias affects our patients' access to imaging studies as well as how test results are interpreted and applied. I love that Dr. Yancy gave us practical approaches for what to do when we get back to our practices next week."

Full House at ASNC's Board Prep Course 

ASNC's Nuclear Cardiology Board Preparatory Course again proved to be the perfect lead-in to the Society's Annual Scientific Session, as demonstrated by the rapt attention of some 230 physicians in Chicago this week. Program Chair Karthik Ananthasubramaniam, MD, ran a flawless course, reported attendees, who praised his attention to the questions that poured in over the SMS system. More than 70 percent of attendees indicated they enrolled in the course as part of their recertification strategy. Course highlights include its Read with the Experts, SPECT and PET presentations, plus four mock exams featuring 150 practice questions.
Mark your calendar to attend ASNC's next Board Prep Course Sept. 23-24, 2020, in Washington, D.C.  

Tribute to Dr. Mario Verani & a Tale of Two Imaging Technologies

ASNC Past President John Mahmarian, MD, MASNC, brought Scientific Session attendees to their feet at Thursday's President's Session. His Mario Verani Lecture was a rapid-fire analysis of a bright future, where nuclear cardiology and cardiac CT will complement each other as imagers seize opportunities to use the two tests together for optimal patient care. Dr. Mahmarian's presentation was also a moving tribute to Mario Verani, MD, who was his “inspiration to do nuclear cardiology.” Dr. Verani wore many hats," he said, "from husband and father to physician, researcher and scholar and especially mentor and friend.” 

We thank Dr. Mahmarian for insights into the future of cardiac imaging and for sharing his memories of Dr. Verani with all of us. 

‘The Future Is Now' – ASNC President Rob Beanlands, MD, MASNC

After a full day of education, ASNC2019 attendees are heading to the Society's TweetUp Social, probably with the words of 2019 President Rob Beanlands, MD, MASNC, echoing in their heads. “The future is now,” he declared at the President's Session. In complementary presentations, Dr. Beanlands and President-elect Sharmila Dorbala, MD, MPH, FASNC, revealed the key concepts in ASNC's strategic plan, which is slated for a full reveal later this year. “This is 2020 vision and beyond,” promised Dr. Dorbala.

Dr. Pamela Douglas and Mr. Bill Nelligan Honored at ASNC/ACC Session 

At Friday's special “ASNC/ACC: Your Societies Working for You” session, ASNC honored two of cardiology's giants, individuals whose impact will be long appreciated.
Rob Beanlands, MD, MASNC, presented the ASNC Distinguished Career Award to ACC Past President Dr. Pamela Douglas, MD, in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the specialty of cardiology and the field of cardiac imaging practice and research. Dr. Douglas, who was unable to attend ASNC2019, delivered an audio message, where she thanked ASNC and spoke of how “powerful new technologies and new ways of seeing promise insights beyond what we can imagine now.” Accepting the award for Dr. Douglas was her friend and PROMISE trial collaborator James Udelson, MD, MASNC. Among many superlatives that could be used to describe Dr. Douglas, he said, the two that describe her best are “true leader” and “master mentor.”
ASNC posthumously presented a Distinguished Service Award to Mr. William D. Nelligan, III, MASNC, whose work as ASNC's executive director was transformative for the Society. Mr. Nelligan passed away in July at the age of 92. Jeffrey Leppo, MD, MASNC, accepted the award on behalf of Mr. Nelligan's family. “Everything Bill did was well done,” said Dr. Leppo. “Nothing just came close… Bill left everything much better than when he started. We talk about people being old school. Well, Bill invented the school.”
Stay tuned for future messages, where all of ASNC's 2019 award recipients will be recognized.  

ASNC Takes Conference Attendees Inside Rush University's Cardiac PET Lab

In a special session offered only at ASNC2019, attendees received a guided tour of Rush University's cardiac PET lab. Organized by Rupa Mehta Sanghani, MD, FASNC, and Rami Doukky, MD, FASNC, the lab visit session provided insights into how to start a PET program, with an emphasis on practical first steps. Dr. Sanghani made her team available to ASNC, providing a uniquely personalized learning experience for them.
Eileen Berdan, RN, from NYU Langone Health, said she especially appreciated the opportunity to ask specific questions of one of the nurses in the control room. "She was really truthful in her replies, such as when I asked what they do if a patient gets frightened as they give the regadenoson— which was reassuring to me."
A first time ASNC conference attendee, Ms. Berdan is here with four of her colleagues, including Larry Phillips, MD, FASNC, who encouraged her to take the tour. Ms. Berdan said there was no substitute for observing a rest scan on a live patient, seeing how Rush has their lab set up, and talking to the Rush team about their roles. "Actually seeing the scan in process vs. attending a lecture makes a big difference," she said.

Seven Members Earn FASNC Credential   

Please join us in congratulating the members who have just earned our highly regarded Fellow of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (FASNC) designation. These individuals have demonstrated their commitment to ASNC's mission of improving cardiovascular outcomes through image-guided patient management.
Osama Alsara, MD, FASNC, of Carle Foundation Hospital
Lisa Pudusseri, DO, FASNC, of Advocate Christ Hospital Little Company of Mary Hospital Palos Community Hospital
Steven Raible, MD, FASNC, of Norton Healthcare
Terrence Ruddy, MD, FASNC, of University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Bartolo Santiago-Delgado, MD, FASNC, of VA Caribbean Healthcare System
Abdulbaset Sulaiman, MD, FASNC, of Heart Hospital, Doha, Qatar
Jean-Luc Urbain, MD, PhD, CPE, FASNC, of Wake Forest University

Having earned the FASNC designation, they are entitled to include “FASNC” everywhere their name appears, such as on CVs, publications, websites, and business cards as well as in their practice literature and waiting rooms. Learn how you can apply for ASNC Fellowship.