Cardiology Update at Puerto Vallarta: A Focus on Prevention
January 18-23, 2026
In-Person | Marriott Casamagna, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Currently accepting registrations!
Credit Types:
AMA PRA Category 1™
(25.0),
ANCC
(25.0),
Price: $785-$985 | Register by 12.21.25 to save $100
Program
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2026
4:00 p.m.
Precourse Registration
4:30 p.m.
CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY FOR CVD REDUCTION
Moderator: Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD
4:55 p.m.
Obesity as a Root Cause Risk Factor
Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD
4:30 p.m.
Welcoming Remarks
4:40 p.m.
Newer Insights in the Understanding of Obesity
Andres Acosta, MD, PhD
4:55 p.m.
Obesity as a Root Cause Risk Factor
Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD
5:10 p.m.
Obesity Treatment to Reduce CVD Risk
Kyla Lara-Breitinger, MD
5:40 p.m.
Establishing a Cardiometabolic Clinic: The Mayo Experience
Nadia Elfessi, PA-C, Kyla Lara-Breitinger, MD
5:55 p.m.
Case-Presentations
Andres Acosta, MD, PhD, Maria Collazo-Clavell, MD, Nadia Elfessi, PA-C, Kyla Lara-Breitinger, MD
6:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion
6:30 p.m.
Adjourn
7:00 a.m.
MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2026
7:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast - Visit Exhibits (Vallarta Ballroom Foyer)
7:20 a.m.
Welcome & Course Objectives
Moderator: Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD
7:25 a.m.
CVD RISK ASSESSMENT
Moderator: Thomas Allison, PhD
7:30 a.m.
Identifying the Patient At Risk: Beyond Risk Prediction Formulas
Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD
7:50 a.m.
CT-Based CV Risk Assessment: CAC, Plaque Analysis, Fat Inflammation and Beyond
Thomas Gerber, MD, PhD
8:10 a.m.
Beyond Standard CVD Risk Factors: What to Look for in Women vs Men
Thais Coutinho, MD
8:30 a.m.
Nutritional Assessment and Counseling in Our Busy Cardiology Practice
Kyla Lara-Breitinger, MD
8:50 a.m.
Active Pause with a Teaching Point
8:55 a.m.
Panel Discussion
9:10 a.m.
Refreshment Break & Visit Exhibits
9:30 a.m.
CASE-BASED MANAGEMENT OF CORE CORONARY RISK FACTORS
Moderator: Sara Severson, APRN, CNP, DNP
9:30 a.m.
Evidence-Based Lipid Management in Primary and Secondary Prevention
Regis Fernandes, MD
9:50 a.m.
Contemporary Treatment of Hypertension
Thomas Gerber, MD, PhD
10:10 a.m.
Management of Diabetes to Reduce CVD Risk
Maria Collazo-Clavell, MD
10:30 a.m.
Smoking Cessation
Alicia Mickow, APRN, CNP, MSN
10:50 a.m.
Panel Discussion
11:05 a.m.
Active Pause with a Teaching Point
11:10 a.m.
COMPREHENSIVE CVD RISK MANAGEMENT: BEYOND THE BASICS
Moderator: Rekha Mankad, MD
11:10 a.m.
Stress Management for CVD Risk Reduction
Roberto Benzo, MD
11:30 a.m.
Lipid Cases
Regis Fernandes, MD, Alicia Mickow, APRN, CNP, MSN
11:50 a.m.
Addressing the Forgotten Risk Factors: Sleep, Social Isolation, Pollution and Beyond
Regis Fernandes, MD
12:10 p.m.
Panel Discussion
12:30 p.m.
Adjourn
6:30 p.m.
- 7:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception (Patio)
Attendees, guests, and faculty invited
7:30 p.m.
Salsa 101 and Dancing on the Patio
6:30 a.m.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026
6:30 a.m.
Mindful Yoga and Meditation at the Las Casitas Garden with Dr. Benzo
7:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast - Visit Exhibits
7:30 a.m.
SPORTS AND EXERCISE CARDIOLOGY
Moderator: Thomas Allison, PhD
7:30 a.m.
Team Sports, Games, Racquet Sports, Social Dancing: Can We Get Fit/Stay Fit and Have Fun Doing It?
Kathryn Larson, MD
7:50 a.m.
Playing Sports With a Defibrillator – What Are the Issues?
Guru Kowlgi, MBBS
8:10 a.m.
Distinguishing the Athletic Heart from Pathologic Findings in Echocardiography
Kathryn Larson, MD
8:30 a.m.
Chronotropic Incompetence in Athletes – Definition, Traditional, and Emerging Therapies.
Guru Kowlgi, MBBS
8:50 a.m.
Active Pause with a Teaching Point
8:55 a.m.
Sports Cardiology Case Presentations – Focus on the Aging Athlete
Thomas Allison, PhD, Nadia Elfessi, PA-C
9:15 a.m.
Panel Discussion
9:30 a.m.
Refreshment Break & Visit Exhibits
9:45 a.m.
- 10:30 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
9:45 a.m.
More on Sports Cardiology (Mexico-Cozumel)
Thomas Allison, PhD, Guru Kowlgi, MBBS
10:00 a.m.
Building Highly Functional Multidisciplinary Teams in Cardiology (Salon los Cabos)
Jane Linderbaum, APRN, CNP, Sara Severson, APRN, CNP, DNP
10:15 a.m.
Increasing Quality of Care in Cardiac Rehab (Main Ballroom)
Amanda Bonikowske, PhD, Carmen Terzic, MD, PhD
10:30 a.m.
HEART RHYTHM TOPICS
Moderator: Thomas Allison, PhD
10:30 a.m.
Distinguishing Benign Versus Life-Threatening Syncope
Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD
10:50 a.m.
Exercise Testing for Arrhythmias. Indications and Case Examples
Thomas Allison, PhD
11:10 a.m.
Active Pause with a Teaching Point
11:15 a.m.
Never Miss a Long QT Ever Again!
Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD
11:35 a.m.
PVCs Are Very Common When to Worry? How to Evaluate?
Guru Kowlgi, MBBS
11:55 a.m.
Panel Discussion
12:15 p.m.
Adjourn
2:00 p.m.
- 3:30 p.m.
Annual Volleyball Tournament – Lopez vs Allison Teams (Left side of the property beach front)
This event is open to all Interested Attendees, Faculty, and Exhibitors.
6:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026
6:30 a.m.
Mindful Yoga and Meditation at the Las Casitas Garden with Dr. Benzo
7:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast - Visit Exhibits
7:00 a.m.
Special Breakfast Discussions – High Top Discussion (Vallarta Ballroom Foyer)
7:00 a.m.
More on Establishing A Cardiometabolic Clinic
Nadia Elfessi, PA-C
7:00 a.m.
APPs Involvement at ACC/AHA
Jane Linderbaum, APRN, CNP
7:00 a.m.
Strength Training
Amanda Bonikowske, PhD
7:30 a.m.
SPECIAL TOPICS IN PREVENTION
Moderator: Sara Severson, APRN, CNP, DNP
7:30 a.m.
Preventing Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
Steve Ommen, MD
7:50 a.m.
Can We Prevent Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction?
Janell Grazzini Frantz, APRN, MSN, CNP
8:10 a.m.
Preventing Cardiovascular Events in Aortic Stenosis
Rekha Mankad, MD
8:30 a.m.
Active Pause with a Teaching Point
8:35 a.m.
Atrial Fibrillation: Can We Prevent It and If Not, What’s Our Best Way to Prevent CV Events
Guru Kowlgi, MBBS
8:55 a.m.
Sleep and Cardiovascular Risk: Practical Recommendations in Preventing CVD
Anna Svatikova, MD, PhD
9:15 a.m.
Panel Discussion
9:55 a.m.
Refreshment Break & Visit Exhibits
10:10 a.m.
- 11:10 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10:15 a.m.
More on Sports Cardiology (Salon los Cabos)
Thomas Allison, PhD, Guru Kowlgi, MBBS
10:30 a.m.
Building Highly Functional Multidisciplinary Teams in Cardiology (Main Ballroom)
Jane Linderbaum, APRN, CNP, Sara Severson, APRN, CNP, DNP
11:00 a.m.
Increasing Quality of Care in Cardiac Rehab (Mexico-Cozumel)
Amanda Bonikowske, PhD, Carmen Terzic, MD, PhD
11:10 a.m.
SPECIAL TOPICS IN PREVENTION
Moderator: Sara Severson, APRN, CNP, DNP
11:10 a.m.
CVD Risk Reduction in Diverse Populations
Demilade Adedinsewo, MD
11:30 a.m.
Active Pause with a Teaching Point
11:35 a.m.
Preventing Aortic Dissection and Rupture
Thais Coutinho, MD
11:55 a.m.
Updates in Cardio-Rheumatology
Rekha Mankad, MD
12:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion
12:30 p.m.
Adjourn
7:00 a.m.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026
7:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast - Visit Exhibits
7:00 a.m.
Special Breakfast Discussions – High Top Discussion (Vallarta Ballroom Foyer)
7:00 a.m.
Faculty Development for APPs
Sara Severson, APRN, CNP, DNP
7:00 a.m.
Running A Women’s Health Clinic
Rekha Mankad, MD
7:00 a.m.
I Want to Learn AI: Where Do I Start?
Guru Kowlgi, MBBS
7:30 a.m.
DIAGNOSING CORONARY DISEASE
Moderator: Rekha Mankad, MD
8:10 a.m.
Forget the Stress, Do a CT Angiogram
Malcolm Bell, MD
7:30 a.m.
ECG-Based Stress Test: Extremely Useful or Obsolete Technology
Thomas Allison, PhD
7:45 a.m.
Incorporating Imaging to Stress Test to Optimize Diagnostic Performance
J. Wells Askew, III, MD
8:30 a.m.
Case Discussions
Thomas Allison, PhD, J. Wells Askew, III, MD, Malcolm Bell, MD
8:50 a.m.
Active Pause with a Teaching Point
8:55 a.m.
Panel Discussion
9:10 a.m.
Refreshment Break & Visit Exhibits
9:30 a.m.
MANAGING CORONARY ARTERY DIESEASE
Moderator: Thomas Allison, PhD
9:30 a.m.
Unstable Angina/Non-ST Elevation of Myocardial Infarction
J. Wells Askew, III, MD
9:45 a.m.
Management of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, What Is New?
Guy Reeder, MD
10:10 a.m.
Management of Stable Ischemia
J. Wells Askew, III, MD
10:30 a.m.
Interesting Cardiovascular Surgical Cases From Mayo Clinic
Malcolm Bell, MD, Guy Reeder, MD
10:50 a.m.
Active Pause with a Teaching Point
10:55 a.m.
Untangling the Convoluted Recommendations for Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Therapy in CAD Patients
Malcolm Bell, MD
11:10 a.m.
Contemporary Delivery of Cardiac Rehabilitation for Secondary Prevention
Amanda Bonikowske, PhD
11:30 a.m.
Preventing Stokes With Cardiac Devices
Guy Reeder, MD
11:50 a.m.
Panel Discussion
12:10 p.m.
Adjourn
7:00 a.m.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026
7:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast - Visit Exhibits
7:30 a.m.
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS BEYOND PREVENTION
Moderator: Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD
7:30 a.m.
State-of-the-Art Lecture AI in Cardiology
Zachi Attia, PhD
7:50 a.m.
Reducing CVD Risk, One Tweet at the Time: The Role of Social Media to Scale Preventive Cardiology
Martha Gulati, MD
8:10 a.m.
Get With the Guidelines: Treatment of Heart Failure With Reduced (and Mildly Reduced) Ejection Fraction
Robert Frantz, MD
8:30 a.m.
Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Demilade Adedinsewo, MD
9:05 a.m.
Panel Discussion
9:30 a.m.
Refreshment Break & Visit Exhibits
9:45 a.m.
The Care of the Heart Failure Patient Beyond the Diagnosis
Sara Severson, APRN, CNP, DNP
9:50 a.m.
WRAPPING UP THE PROGRAM
Moderator: Thomas Allison, PhD
9:50 a.m.
Special Lecture: Digital Health in Cardiology 2026
Steve Ommen, MD
10:10 a.m.
Echocardiography Numbers for the Non-Echocardiographer
Rekha Mankad, MD
10:30 a.m.
State of the Art Treatment for Pulmonary Hypertension
Robert Frantz, MD
10:50 a.m.
Approaches to Mitral Regurgitation: From Follow-up to Treatment
Jane Linderbaum, APRN, CNP
11:00 a.m.
The Future of Cardiology Is Prevention
Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD
11:20 a.m.
Panel Discussion
11:45 a.m.
Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Credit Types Offered
-
AMA PRA Category 1™25.0
-
ANCC25.0
Price: $785-$985 | Register by 12.21.25 to save $100
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