Conference information –
April 15-17 at the NY Marriott Marquis Hotel, NYC
For more information visit, www.heartvalveconference.com
NEEDS STATEMENT
Valvular heart diseases are “mystery killers.” Generally, they progress very slowly and almost imperceptibly, yet can
cause sudden and unexpected death. They are among the most prominent causes of heart failure and premature cardiac
death. It is estimated that more than 10 million Americans have some type of heart valve abnormality, and in
approximately five million, the disease is moderate to severe. Three to four million will require surgery at some time in
their lives. These numbers will grow as the population ages, since heart valve diseases develop and progress with
aging. Since other causes of relatively early death are diminishing, valve diseases are emerging as an important public
health concern.
In this program, the latest strategies for evaluation and management of patients with valvular heart diseases will be
presented. In addition, the pathophysiological basis of outcomes, including most recent data concerning myocardial
responses at the cellular and molecular levels, will be discussed to elucidate the foundation for future therapy. In
addition to state-of-the-art lectures (the central core of the program), more than 200 oral presentations and 100
moderated poster presentations will provide information about current original research across the spectrum of valve
diseases.
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Learning Objectives
The goal of this CME activity is to improve patient care by:
 Reviewing natural histories of patients with common isolated, pure valvular lesions.
 Discussing and reviewing predictors of outcomes with and without surgery for common valve lesions.
 Presenting and evaluating currently-accepted criteria for surgical intervention.
 Discussing evolving concepts of pharmacological therapy in patients with valvular lesions.
 Discussing and reviewing current standards for echocardiographic evaluation of valvular diseases —
including technical problems and their solutions and considering the roles of newer imaging modalities.
 Discussing and reviewing current technical approaches to difficult problems in valve surgery.
 Describing techniques and expected outcomes of valve repair.
 Reviewing current strategies for preventing of thrombo-embolic events in patients with valve diseases.
 Reviewing current data concerning percutaneous valve repair and replacement.
 Reviewing current concepts regarding management of infective endocarditis.
Target Audience: cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, physicians, anesthesiologists, engineers, basic researchers
and other health care professionals
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of SUNY Downstate Medical
Center and the Heart Valve Society of America. SUNY Downstate is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing
medical education for physicians.
Designation Statement
SUNY Downstate Medical Center designates this educational activity for a maximum of 19 AMA PRA Category
1Credit(s) TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
ADA Statement
Special Needs: In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, SUNY Downstate Medical Center seeks to
make this conference accessible to all. If you have a disability which might require special accommodations, please
contact the Leslie Yerman at 212-327-2107 or e-mail your needs to: info@heartvalveconference.com
Disclosure Statement
SUNY Downstate Medical Center Office of CME (OCME) and its affiliates are committed to providing educational
activities that are objective, balanced and as free of bias as possible. The OCME has established policies that will
identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to this educational activity. All participating faculty are expected to
disclose to the audience, verbally or in writing, any commercial relationships that might be perceived as a real or
apparent conflict of interest related to the content of their presentations, and unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs and
devices. Detailed disclosures will be made verbally and/or in writing during the program.