Iowa Cardiovascular Summit, 2026
Now in its third year, the Iowa Cardiovascular Summit brought cardiovascular specialists and professionals from other specialities together October 8-9 at the Graduate Hotel in Iowa City.
The annual CME expanded beyond its typical didactic lectures by featuring real case studies to explore emerging therapies, updated clinical guidelines, and multidisciplinary approaches to managing complex cardiovascular conditions. Programming also included an optional hands-on activity, detailed below.
The first day explored the management of patients with multiple cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease in patients with preexisting nonischemic cardiomyopathy, aortic aneurysms, atrial fibrillation, and right ventricular failure. A second session focused on cryptogenic stroke, with presentations addressing diagnostic imaging, electrophysiology evaluations and closure procedures for atrial septal defects. A Q & A followed every session, expanding discussion among audience members and moderators.
Session One
Ahmad Arham, MD
Arun Singhal, MD, PhD
Peter Farjo, MD, MS
Nagalakshmi Nagarajan, MD
Linda Cadaret, MD
Session Two
Amir Shaban, MD
Jason Allen, MD
Kimberly Staffey, MD
Ashraf Alzahrani, MB, BCh
Mohammad Bashir, MD
Once Thursday’s sessions concluded, attendees were welcome to enjoy drinks and appetizers at Wilder, a nearby restaurant. Then, programming continued into the evening with an industry-sponsored, non-accredited heart dissection led by one of the conference organizers, Paari Dominic, MBBS, MPH.
The second day followed the same structure as the first, featuring a variety of specialties in the speaking lineup. Presenters discussed multidisciplinary approaches to advanced heart failure, including medication management, cardiac devices, transcatheter interventions, surgical strategies, and palliative care. Additional sessions examined the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis, the cardiovascular applications of GLP-1 agonists, and strategies for managing cariogenic shock.
Session One
Ily Kristine Yumul-Non, MD
Phillip A. Horwitz, MD
Denice Hodgson-Zingman, MD
Jennifer Becker, DNP
Adnan Al Ayoubi, MD, PhD
Session Two
Katie Halbmaier, DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC
Hira Shaikh, MBBS
Zeba Hashmath, MD
Gabe Kringlen, MS, LGC and Margaret Freese, MS, LGC
Jilene Haas, PharmD
Session Three
Laura Czerniak, PharmD, BCCP
Mehul Adhaduk, MBBS
Leon Jons, MD
Katherine White, MD, MME
Annie Buck, RD, LD
Session Four
Nicholas Arnold, MD
Adnan Al Ayoubi, MD, PhD
Paari Dominic, MD
Ahmed Salim, MD, MBBS
KellyAnn Light-McGroary, MD
Thank you to the event’s moderators, organizers, sponsors, and participants who made this year’s Iowa Cardiovascular Summit a success! We are especially grateful for the course directors:
Laura Czerniak, PharmD, BCCP
Paari Dominic, MBBS, MPH
Suzanne Hennings, ARNP, MSN
Elizabeth Hinders, ARNP, DNP
KellyAnn Light-McGroary, MD
By bringing together perspectives from cardiovascular medicine and related specialties, the summit gave clinicians an opportunity to discuss challenging cases and consider how evolving therapies should inform patient care. Each year has brought meaningful changes to the format, and next year should be no exception.
