Cath Lab Digest

Dr. Mark H. Wholey

What would you like to share with the physician or professional who has never had the chance to attend the New Devices Seminar?
The New Devices Seminar is a meeting we have had for approximately 12 years now, on an annual basis. It is designed for physicians interested in peripheral vascular disease, but also coronary artery disease as well.
A blue-ribbon faculty presents cases and discusses concepts in management of complex and simple cases. With the expansion of interest from cardiologists and vascular surgeons in endovascular peripheral procedures, it is the ideal medium and the ideal seminar as a training process. This year we are also adding a special summit day focusing solely on carotid stenting. Certification of carotid stenting will evolve from participating in the program.

What about the simulation component of the meeting?
Simulation has always been a part of the meeting, but this year we will have an expanded application of all simulators. Simulators have become critically important as a training tool for endovascular stenting procedures and especially for the carotids. Basically, we will have several simulators at the carotid training day session, staffed by responsible investigators. These investigators will both manage the simulators and train cardiologists and vascular surgeons, as well as interventional radiologists, on the simulator, which is true simulation with accurate metrics for carotid stenting procedures.

Dr. Jay S. Yadav

What are some of the new technologies you are focusing on this year at the New Devices Seminar?
Some of the new things we are including this year include a session on structural heart disease, such as valve repair. We also have some sessions on more advanced types of drug-eluting stent technology, and new technology for chronic total occlusions. I think it’s some very interesting new technology. We have an outstanding faculty with very well-known presenters. We are very lucky this year to have Marty Leon and Antonio Colombo speaking at our meeting.

The meeting has been going on for a long time, and as the title suggests, we try to focus on new technologies, but we also provide a background in standard procedures, because we have an audience varying from people who have just started to people who are very experienced users.

Could you share your thoughts on the Carotid Stenting Summit that the New Devices Seminar is offering?
We are putting on what we think is a pretty innovative program. It will be an all-day program with outstanding faculty members, as well as a very large medical simulation component, with multiple simulators. You can really get some hands-on experience and not be rushed, as you usually are at most of these things.

What level of carotid stenting experience is the summit focused on addressing?
It would really be for all levels; certainly for people who are just getting started (or wanting to) would benefit from it; also people who are already doing some procedures would benefit from considering some of the more advanced cases. We will also have a case discussion session.

How did you and Dr. Wholey first get together to begin this meeting?
Mark used to have his own meeting in Florida, and I had our meeting at the Cleveland Clinic. We had been collaborating on a number of things, and we thought about just combining meetings. It's worked out very well for the past 12 years.

What is nice about our meeting is that it’s truly multi-disciplinary. We have a nice combination of radiologists, vascular surgeons and cardiologists. It is also a very family-oriented meeting, so there is time for you to spend with your family and children over the holiday weekend. The surroundings at the J.W. Marriott Ritz-Carlton, where the meeting will be held this year, are truly exceptional.
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