Two-day Cardiovascular Disease Program Will Be Held in Beverly Hills

The eighth annual "Controversies and Advances in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease," which draws heart specialists from around the world, will be held September 4 and 5 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The two-day symposium is one of the few that brings together both heart doctors and heart surgeons and encourages debate as well as education. It is sponsored by the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in conjunction with the California Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and the California Chapter of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Among the many keynote speakers featured will be Eduardo Marbán, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. Dr. Marbán is a renowned expert in molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying heart problems and serves as editor-in-chief of Circulation Research. The topic of his discussion on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m. will be "Biologic Pacemakers: From Bench to Bedside?"

Performing comedy for this year's event is Emmy Award-winning comedian Dana Carvey. Carvey was a member of the Saturday Night Live cast for seven seasons and is well known for his characters and impressions.

Prediman (P.K.) Shah, M.D., director of the Division of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai, will present a state-of-the-art lecture on ongoing research for the development of a vaccine for atherosclerosis.

In addition to the lectures, eight "Cross Fires" will feature panelists and group conversations, and 10 debates will address controversial medical and surgical issues.

This year's program directors are Gregory P. Fontana, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon and vice chairman of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai; Raj Makkar, M.D., cardiologist and director of Interventional Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai; Shah; Alfredo Trento, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai; John G. Harold, M.D., cardiologist and past Chief of Staff of Cedars-Sinai; and Gordon L. Fung, M.D., Ph.D., cardiologist and director of the Cardiology Consultation Service, the Cardiac Noninvasive Laboratory and the Enhanced External Counterpulsation Unit.

Registration fees to attend the symposium range from $195 to $795, depending on profession and affiliation with the American College of Cardiology. Registration information is available from Promedica International CME at 760-720-2263 or education@promedicacme.com.