SPRING'26 AGENDA

CV TRANSFORUM FALL'26 AGENDA

Last updated August 4, 2026. Please check back for updates, including full session descriptions, locations, CME credits, and fields of study. All times in Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).

Wednesday, October 21

TIME	SESSION
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.	Registration & Early Exhibitor Set-Up Beat the lines and pick up your attendee or exhibitor badge early! Exhibitors may also begin setting up their booth during this time.

TIME

SESSION

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Registration & Early Exhibitor Set-Up

Beat the lines and pick up your attendee or exhibitor badge early! Exhibitors may also begin setting up their booth during this time.

Thursday, October 22

TIME	SESSION
6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.	Registration Desk Open (In-Person Only) Pick up your attendee or exhibitor badge early! Exhibitors may also begin setting up their booth during this time.
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.	Breakfast for Pre-Conference Sessions Attendees (In-Person Only) Pre-Conference session attendees are invited to join for breakfast. Grab a plate and join us early in your pre-conference session for networking before we start.
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.	Breakfast for Partner Pulse Participants (In-Person Only) Partner Pulse participants are invited to join us for breakfast prior to the kick-off of the event.
7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	PARTNER PULSE: A MEMBER & PARTNER SPEED-NETWORKING EVENT (In-Person Only)
	Join us for a lively and thought-provoking speed-networking event between MedAxiom Members and Industry Partners to explore cutting-edge technology and emerging solutions – and help shape the future of how industry engages with providers. Member Benefits: Engage With Innovative Solutions: Meet leading Industry Partners and learn about the technologies and services they offer. Influence How Industry Connects With the Market: Share your insights on gaps in the marketplace and collaborate on solutions to advance the quintuple aim. Hear directly from industry about the latest advancements in technology, implementation models and more. Enjoy Complimentary Participation: This event is free for members and includes breakfast and lunch. Receive a Token of Appreciation: Based on your registration type, you’ll receive either a gift card or a discount on your event registration. Attend an Exclusive Networking Reception: Join us the evening before Partner Pulse for a private reception with the MedAxiom Advisory Council – an esteemed group of leaders and innovators shaping the future of cardiovascular care. This is a unique opportunity to build meaningful connections in a relaxed setting. Please Note: Participation in this event requires arrival on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. To confirm your spot, a MedAxiom team member will reach out with a participation survey.
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION (In-Person Only)
	Mini-Intensive: Building High-Performing Cardiovascular APP Care Teams This event is open to healthcare providers (MedAxiom members, ACC members and non-member program attendees). As cardiovascular programs face growing workforce pressures, increasing patient complexity and rising demands for access, optimizing care teams, especially advanced practice providers (APP), has become a strategic imperative. This mini-intensive is designed for cardiovascular leaders seeking to standardize care models, improve APP retention and build sustainable, high-performing teams across inpatient and outpatient settings. Through practical strategies, real-world examples and benchmarking insights, attendees will explore how leading organizations are redesigning cardiovascular care teams to ensure APPs practice at the top of their license while strengthening physician alignment, operational efficiency and patient access. Participating in this mini-intensive will provide individuals and organizations with both intellectual and financial ROI. Participants will leave with actionable frameworks and implementation ideas to enhance team performance, improve clinician satisfaction and create scalable cardiovascular care models for the future. Topics will incude: Current-state APP utilization benchmarks Role standardization Physician/APP alignment strategies Compensation and productivity models Billing and split/shared compliance considerations Call coverage design and burnout mitigation strategies *Please register for this session during the registration process for $299. Breakfast is included.* CME Credits: 3.5
1:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.	GENERAL SESSIONS
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.	Welcome and Opening Remarks (In-Person & Virtual) Join us as we kick-off the conference with opening remarks and a welcome from MedAxiom leaders.
1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.	Keynote Session (In-Person & Virtual)
2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	Strategic Expansion of CV Services to Support Sustainable Growth (In-Person & Virtual) Cardiovascular patient access for new and returning patients was reported as the top challenge in MedAxiom’s 2026 CV Program Top Priorities Survey Report. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach. Through workforce optimization, access-driven process improvement, regional expansion and thoughtful strategic planning, the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute within the Vanderbilt Health system has developed an integrated cardiovascular ecosystem designed to support sustained growth while meeting rising patient demand. This session will showcase practical, scalable strategies that cardiovascular programs can adopt to enhance access. Speaker: Tiffany K. Street, DNP, ACNP-BC, FAANP, Associate Nursing Office, Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	AI, Efficiency and Cost-Saving Innovations in CV Care (In-Person & Virtual) Speakers: George G. Sokos, DO, FACC, Director, Advanced Heart Failure Program, West Virginia University David Rich, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer, West Virginia University
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	Break With Industry Partners & Exhibitors (In-Person Only)
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.	Designing and Implementing an Enterprise-Wide Inpatient HF Pathway (In-Person & Virtual) Variability in inpatient heart failure (HF) care can lead to inconsistent outcomes, higher readmission rates and missed opportunities to deliver evidence-based care. This session will explore how one health system designed and implemented an enterprise-wide inpatient HF pathway to standardize care across multiple markets. Speakers will share lessons learned in governance, clinician engagement, electronic health record (EHR)-embedded workflows and change management, as well as the development of performance dashboards to support targeted education, measure adoption, and improve outcomes. Speakers: Laura Grafrath, MA, Associate Vice President, Enterprise National Service Line, Advocate Health James Reynolds, MBA, MHA, Assistant Vice President, Outcomes & Care Transformation, Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, Atrium Health Ginger Biesbrock, DSc, PA-C, MPH, FACC, Senior Vice President, National Heart and Vascular Service Line, Advocate Health
4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.	Beyond RVUs: Building a Value-Based Compensation Model for Strategic Growth (In-Person & Virtual) As cardiovascular programs evolve to meet growing demands around access, quality, innovation and care transformation, traditional production-heavy compensation models may no longer align with value-based care and organizational priorities. This session will explore one program's transition to a compensation approach designed to support program development and strategic initiatives beyond clinical volume alone. The speaker will share the context behind the change, outline the compensation model, and discuss how it has advanced organizational goals. Attendees will also learn how the team secured executive and physician buy-in, along with key implementation lessons and considerations for organizations evaluating similar models. Speaker: Rajendra Kattar, MD, FACC, President, ProMedica Heart Institute
5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.	Networking Reception With Industry Partners & Exhibitors (In-Person Only) Join us for a networking reception with industry partners and exhibitors.
6:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.	Group Dinner for All Attendees & Exhibitors (In-Person Only) *Sponsored by MDabstract* Location: Front Range Lawn, outdoors at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center All attendees are invited to join us outside for a group dinner to celebrate the kick-off of the conference.

Friday, October 23

TIME	SESSION
6:15 a.m. - 6:20 p.m.	Registration Desk Open (In-Person Only) Pick up your badge at the registration desk. The MedAxiom team is also available to answer any questions throughout the conference.
6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.	Breakfast for All Attendees (In-Person Only) All attendees and exhibitors are welcome to join us for breakfast.
6:45 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.	Physician-Only Breakfast Session (In-Person Only) Physicians are welcome to join us for this roundtable discussion of hot topics in cardiovascular care
7:15 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.	EDUCATIONAL SPOTLIGHT BREAKFAST (In-Person & Virtual)
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	POD SESSIONS (In-Person Only)
	Exclusive to MedAxiom Members, Pod sessions will allow you to participate in detailed discussions about current industry trends and issues. Guided by Pod leaders, this option provides a mix of presentations from non-competing organizations and open discussions about the specific challenges your organizations are facing. You will receive your pod assignment from MedAxiom the week of the conference. POD A POD B POD C POD D POD E POD PED POD HCA POD Academic
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.	Break With Industry Partners & Exhibitors (In-Person Only) Join us for a break with industry partners and exhibitors.
11:40 a.m. - 11:55 p.m.	HEARTX SESSION
11:40 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.	The Cutting Edge of CV Innovation: HeartX Cohort Company Pitches (In-Person & Virtual) Hear pitches from the most recent cohort of companies participating in HeartX. HeartX is the cardiovascular-focused healthcare accelerator created by MedAxiom and HealthTech Arkansas to facilitate pilot projects and clinical trials for accomplished, early-stage companies bringing new cardiovascular innovations to market. This cohort is the best-of-the-best from over 100 innovations that applied in 2026. The format will resemble the TV show “Shark-Tank” with rapid-fire pitches, but you won’t be asked for an investment! There will also be an opportunity for Q&A during this brief session. Speakers Joe Sasson, PhD, Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President of Ventures, MedAxiom Jeff Stinson, Founder and Director HealthTech Arkansas
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.	EDUCATIONAL SPOTLIGHT LUNCHES (In-Person & Virtual)
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Break With Industry Partners & Exhibitors (In-Person Only) Join us for a break with industry partners and exhibitors.
1:00 - 1:25 p.m.	BREAKOUT SESSIONS
	Non-Clinical Implementations of AI in CV Care (In-Person & Virtual)
	Value-Based Care: A Truly Pooled Cardiology Compensation Model (In-Person & Virtual) Pooled compensation models continue to be popular in cardiology, given the deep subspecialization and natural team orientation of the service. However, because of both compliance and valuation reasons, pooled models often require mettlesome workarounds for certain services and caps at the individual physician level. While these modifications may address regulatory needs, they often pollute the positive intent of the shared model and fall short of motivating the desired team behaviors. This session will explore a model that both satisfies regulatory needs and maintains a true pool without the need for individual physician testing. Speakers: James (Jim) M. Daniel, JD, MBA, Hancock Daniel, LLP Chris Majdi, MS, CBA, CVA, Director – Valuation, Zephyr Healthcare Advisors, LLC Joel Sauer, MBA, Executive Vice President, Care Transformation Services, MedAxiom
	Hospital at Home: Expanding Acute Care Without Expanding Your Footprint (In-Person & Virtual) As health systems face growing capacity constraints, workforce challenges and rising capital costs, the Hospital at Home program offers a scalable alternative to traditional inpatient expansion. This session explores how Tampa General Hospital is delivering hospital-level care in patients' homes to increase acute-care capacity, improve patient experience and reduce the need for costly brick-and-mortar investments. Attendees will learn which high-acuity cardiovascular and medical service lines are best suited for these programs, as well as the clinical, operational and technology capabilities required to support them safely. The session will also explain how the model is evolving into a broader Health System at Home strategy that extends across the entire care continuum – from acute care through recovery, chronic disease management and longitudinal care. Speakers: Peter Chang, MD, Senior Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer, Tampa General Hospital Patrick McGee, Operational Leader, Hospital at Home Program, Tampa General Hospital Tara Collet, MAOL, CPC, Vice President, Heart and Vascular Institute, Tampa General Hospital
	From Vision to Reality: Building a Successful Cardio-Obstetrics Program (In-Person & Virtual) Cardio-obstetrics programs are becoming an essential component of comprehensive cardiovascular care as the number of women with complex cardiovascular conditions during pregnancy continues to grow. In this session, physician leaders from Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio will share why they launched the program, how it is structured, and the multidisciplinary partnerships that have been critical to its success. Attendees will gain practical insights into program implementation, operational workflows, early outcomes and lessons learned, along with perspectives on future opportunities to expand and strengthen care.
1:30 - 1:55 p.m.	BREAKOUT SESSIONS
	The Current State and Future of Private Equity in Cardiology (In-Person & Virtual)
	Team-Based Care: Optimizing Roles, Responsibilities and Care Team Deployment Across the Continuum (In-Person & Virtual) As cardiovascular programs face increasing patient demand, workforce challenges and growing care complexity, many organizations are rethinking how care is delivered across the continuum. This session will highlight one organization's journey to developing and advancing a team-based care model, including key strategies, lessons learned and practical approaches to improving efficiency, coordination and patient access. Participants will gain insights into opportunities, challenges and measurable outcomes that can help guide their own care transformation efforts.
	The Path to Procedural Efficiency: Dynamic Scheduling to Reduce Turnover Time and Incentivizing Providers (In-Person & Virtual) Speakers: Katie Willerick, MA, Vice President, Care Transformation Services, MedAxiom Bryan Mullen, MBA, BAN, RN, Cardiovascular Service Line Program Manager, UnityPoint Health
	Accelerating Excellence: A Roundtable Discussion on Developing CV APP Expertise (In-Person & Virtual) As advanced practice providers (APPs) are increasingly contributing to program success, it's essential for cardiovasculars leaders to develop their cardiovascular APPs' expertise. Join the conversation during this interactive roundtable discussion as we explore strategies to accelerate cardiovascular APP excellence – from onboarding to expert practice. Framed by key themes from the 2026 Cardiovascular APP Utilization and Compensation Survey Report, the discussion will cover onboarding best practices, strategies to support APP professional growth, and practical resources and tools to help APPs advance.
2:00 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.	BREAKOUT SESSIONS
	Optimizing Vascular Medicine and Improving Care Coordination in PAD (In-Person & Virtual)
	The Clinical and Economic Benefits of Multidisciplinary Approach to VTE Clot Management (In-Person & Virtual) Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant cause of preventable morbidity and mortality, yet many patients do not receive coordinated, evidence-based care that optimizes both clinical outcomes and resource utilization. This session will increase awareness of the unmet needs within this patient population. Faculty will discuss how advanced therapies, standardized care pathways and performance tracking can improve care delivery, support better long-term patient outcomes, and demonstrate value across the health system.
	Pulse and Pipeline: How CV and Supply Chain Power Clinical Excellence (In-Person & Virtual) Speakers Joshua Peltz, MBA, MSN, RN, FACHE, Assistant Vice President, Cardiovascular Services, Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, Atrium Health Kathleen Gustafson, MBA, Director, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Management, Advocate Health
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.	Break With Industry Partners & Exhibitors (In-Person Only) Join us for a break with industry partners and exhibitors. Light snacks and beverages will be served.
3:30 PM - 5:35 PM	GENERAL SESSIONS
3:00 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.	Welcome Announcements (In-Person & Virtual)
3:05 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.	Preventing Burnout in the CV Workforce (In-Person & Virtual) Burnout continues to challenge the cardiovascular workforce, contributing to staff turnover, reduced engagement and workforce shortages that can impact patient care. Further, the Quintuple Aim elevates workforce wellbeing as essential to achieving quality, cost, population health and equity goals. This session will explore the causes and consequences of burnout, examine its effect on individuals and organizations, and highlight practical strategies to foster resilience, strengthen organizational culture, improve workforce retention, and create a healthier, more sustainable cardiovascular team. Speaker: Laxmi Mehta, MD, MBA, Chief Wellbeing Officer, Section Director of Preventive Cardiology & Women’s Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
3:35 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.	Key Cardiology Advocacy, Regulatory and Financial Updates: The Potential Impacts in 2027 (In-Person & Virtual) This session will provide an overview of the 2027 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rules and offers insights into the actions cardiovascular programs should take and related ACC Advocacy efforts. MedAxiom and ACC experts unpack the proposed updates to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems, and the Quality Payment Program. They will clarify potential reimbursement shifts affecting cardiovascular services, site-of-service dynamics, efficiency adjustments, and other factors that may shape day-to-day operations and long-term sustainability. Speakers: Nicole F. Knight, LPN, CPC, CCS-P, Executive Vice President, Revenue Cycle Solutions and Care Transformation Services, MedAxiom Nick Morse, MBA, Division Vice President, Advocacy and Government Affairs, ACC Samuel O. Jones IV, MD, MPH, FACC, Director, Electrophysiology Lab, Chattanooga Heart Institute
4:20 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.	Leading by Influence: Building a Community Across a System (In-Person & Virtual) Speakers: Rebecca Craft, MS, MBA, Associate Director of Cardiovascular Outreach Operations, Gill Heart & Vascular Institute, UK HealthCare Navin Rajagopalan, MD, Director, Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network, UK HealthCare
4:50 p.m. - 5:35 p.m.	ePoster Winner Presentations: Transforming the Future of CV Care (In-Person & Virtual) Join us as we celebrate our second cohort of ePoster winners! The MedAxiom CV Transforum Abstract Review Committee will select abstracts in the following topic areas to be displayed as electronic poster presentations (ePosters): Value-Based Care: Delivery of care where reimbursement is based on patient health outcomes. Quality Improvement: Systematic and continuous actions leading to measurable improvement. Care Delivery and Cost Reduction: Operational, administrative and financial processes. Implementation Science: Study of methods promoting adoption/implementation of evidence-based practices. The winning abstracts will represent the projects most likely to transform the future of cardiovascular care.
5:35 p.m. - 6:35 p.m.	Networking Reception With Industry Partners & Exhibitors (In-Person Only) Join us for a networking reception with all attendees, industry partners and exhibitors.

Saturday, October 24

TIME	SESSION
7:00 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.	Registration Desk Open (In-Person Only) Pick up your badge at the registration desk. The MedAxiom team is also available to answer questions throughout the conference.
7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.	Breakfast for all Attendees (In-Person Only) All attendees are welcome to join us for breakfast. Seating will be available in the foyer and inside the general session room.
7:15 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.	Physician-Only Breakfast Session (In-Person Only) Physicians are welcome to join us for this round table discussion of hot topics in cardiovascular care.
8:30 AM – 10:40 AM	GENERAL SESSION
8:30 a.m. - 8:35 a.m.	Final Day Remarks (In-Person & Virtual)
8:35 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.	Hospital Quality Reporting: Strategic Implementation for Targeted Improvement (In-Person & Virtual) Speakers: Mena Rao, MD, Physician Lead, Novant Health, Heather Davis, MD, CMO, Novant Health Sarah Ayoubi, HVI Director of Clinical Excellence, Novant Health
9:00 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.	Expansion of the Multispecialty Heart and Vascular Institute: Critical Care Comes Into the Fold (In-Person & Virtual) As cardiovascular services continue to evolve as strategic priorities within health systems, organizations are rethinking how critical care can be integrated to support growth, quality and financial sustainability. This session will explore the expansion of a multispecialty heart and vascular institute through the integration of critical care, from recognizing the need for change to developing and implementing a new model of care. Speakers will discuss the programmatic value of cardiovascular critical care, including opportunities to improve operational performance, support complex patient care, and demonstrate the financial impact of a dedicated critical care strategy. Attendees will gain insights into building a sustainable critical care program that aligns with the future needs of cardiovascular services. Speakers: Michael D. Harper, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine; Co-Director, Surgical CVICU, Medical Director, ECMO Program, MedStar Washington Hospital Center Aparna Keshavan, MS, Assistant Vice President, Clinical Operations, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary, MedStar Health
9:25 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.	Building a Cardiovascular ASC: From Strategy to Startup (In-Person & Virtual) Opening a cardiovascular ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is one of the most significant strategic decisions a cardiovascular program can make, but determining whether it is the right move is far from straightforward. Through a real-world case study, this session will follow one organization's journey from initial exploration to implementation, examining the operational, financial and workforce considerations that shaped its decision. Attendees will gain practical insights into the challenges and tradeoffs involved in launching a cardiovascular ASC, including the value of partnering with an experienced organization to manage planning, implementation and ongoing operations.
9:50 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.	Virtual Care as a Cost Avoidance Strategy (In-Person & Virtual)
10:15 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.	Successful Approaches for CV Preventive Centers (In-Person & Virtual)
10:40 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.	All Things Patient Access: Virtual Care, APP Models and New Pathways to Care (In-Person & Virtual)
11:05 a.m.	Conference Adjourns (In-Person & Virtual)

Prerequisites: This meeting is recommended to anyone in the cardiology healthcare field/industry.

Program Knowledge Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Advance Preparation: None required