The Summit, "21st Century of Heart Failure: Synchronizing Surgical and Medical Therapies for Better Outcomes," is expected to draw more than 450 leading physicians and researchers to discuss the latest in the treatment of end-stage heart failure.
"Heart failure is a growing health problem in the United States and around the world," said Randall C. Starling, M.D., Medical Director of the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure, Section Head of Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Medicine and Vice Chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. "The Summit provides a compelling forum for physicians, and others dedicated to the treatment of heart failure, to share the most current information on leading-edge treatments and practices."
Among the topics discussed at the Summit will be the epidemiology and pathophysiology of heart failure, recent drug trials for advanced heart failure and innovative assist device technologies for mechanical circulatory support, including the total artificial heart and rotary blood pumps. Strategies for the use of left ventricular assist devices, such as recovery, permanent replacement and bridge to heart transplantation, will also be addressed. A renowned group of surgical experts will discuss the role of conventional surgery for heart failure, including coronary artery bypass grafts and mitral and aortic valve repair and replacement.
The Summit will include a featured lecture on the economic challenges in treating and caring for heart failure patients delivered by Floyd D. Loop, M.D., Former CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic at 1:20 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20. Dr. Loop will be presented with the Kaufman Award, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of medicine and leadership in health care.
In addition to Dr. Starling, Gary S. Francis, M.D., a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist and President of the Heart Failure Society of America; Bruce W. Lytle, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Cleveland Clinic and President of the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons; Steven Nissen, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic and President of the American College of Cardiology; and Robert C. Robbins, M.D., President of the International Society of Heart Lung Transplantation, will be among those to attend and participate at the Summit.
The Summit opens Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:55 a.m. with remarks by Delos M. "Toby" Cosgrove, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic. An opening night reception will be held at the House of Blues.
For more information on the Summit, visit www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/heartfailure06.
Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Approximately 1,500 full-time salaried physicians at Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Florida represent more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties. In 2005, there were 2.9 million outpatient visits to Cleveland Clinic. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 80 countries. There were nearly 54,000 hospital admissions to Cleveland Clinic in 2005. Cleveland Clinic's Web site address is www.clevelandclinic.org.
Source: Cleveland Clinic
