Genetics of Heart & Vascular Disease

 COURSE LOCATION
The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa
1 Resort Drive
Savannah, GA 31421

COURSE DESCRIPTION
During this 3 day CME course, experts in the field of cardiovascular genetics and genetic cardiology detail the important role of genetics, genomics, and pharmacogenetics in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of diseases affecting the heart and the blood vessels.

Topics covered will include, genetics and genomics 101, pharmacogenetics, polygenic risk scores, variant interpretation, the molecular autopsy, and the diagnostic, prognostic, & therapeutic implications of genetic testing for patients with congenital heart disease, long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, hypertrophic/dilated/arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemias, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac amyloid, and the aortopathies.

Unique Features: Audience response system to enhance immediate feedback. Easy access to faculty members.  One-on-one interaction. Efforts will be made to introduce the clinical applications using new technology, however, there is no hands-on experience provided. Self-assessment questions to gauge outcome. A special workshop will be conducted to analyze your genetic test reports and to comment on the significance of the genetic test results and the implications for your patients.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon conclusion of this program, participants should be able to:

• Summarize the probabilistic nature of genetic testing
• Develop a strategy to manage the variant of uncertain significance (VUS) test result
• Identify the impact of genetic testing in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of patients with heritable cardiomyopathies, channelopathies, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac amyloidosis, and aortopathies
• Determine the role of genetic testing in children and adults with congenital heart disease
• Define genetic markers of atherosclerosis and the role of genetic risk scores (GRS) in risk stratification of coronary heart disease
• Identify the genetic basis of heritable lipid disorders and implications for prevention and familial screening
• Define the role of pharmacogenetics in cardiovascular drug response and to utilize pharmacogenetics testing to minimize adverse events and maximize drug efficacy

INTENDED AUDIENCE
This course is intended for both pediatric and adult cardiologists, internists, primary care providers, PAs,  nurse practitioners, nurses, pediatric and adult cardiology trainees, genetic counselors, and medical students with an interest in the management of patients with genetically mediated heart and vascular disease.  

LIVESTREAM FORMAT

Livestream participation is to be viewed during the livestreaming hours posted for the course. This course is not intended, nor approved, as an on-demand learning activity.