Donut of Destiny

Host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by co-authors of the recently published NATURE-CT study: Srikanth Krishnan, MD, MSc, FSCCT and Suvasini Lakshmanan, MD, MS. Topics include the scientific foundation of atherosclerotic plaque progression on CT, the unique contribution of NATURE-CT to our understanding of serial plaque imaging, and the future of precision cardiovascular medicine. Tune in and enjoy!NATURal history of coronary PlaquE on cardiac computed tomography in individuals without MACE or lipid-lowering therapy: NATURE-CTstudy

Host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by FiRST committee members and liaisons Shruti Hegde, MD; En-Haw Wu, MD and Marcus Chen, MD to explore topics in personal finance for early career physicians. To provide his expertise on these topics, the team directs their questions to Stanley Liu, MD a cardiologist and financial planner with a unique perspective on personal finance for physicians. Tune in and enjoy! 

To discuss the recently published 2025 multi-society Advanced Training Statement on Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by lead writer Lauren Baldassarre, MD, FSCCT, CT subcommittee member Anam Waheed, MD and SCCT FiRST committee members Matt Tysarowski, MD and Kevin O'Gorman, MD.

On this special industry sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by Dr. Brandie Williams (cardiology) and Dr. Nanette Evans (radiology) who share how they brought advanced cardiac CT imaging to a small-town community in Stephenville, TX. What began as a vision to improve access and reduce delays in diagnosis evolved into a powerful partnership that transformed patient care pathways.The conversation explores the challenges of launching new technology in a rural setting, the importance of cross-specialty collaboration, and the real impact on patient outcomes—from faster answers to fewer unnecessary procedures. Through practical insights and personal stories, this episode highlights how innovation, trust, and a shared mission can expand access to high-quality care and reshape how communities think about cardiac health.This episode is sponsored by GE HealthCare. References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

In this special podcast episode, we are bringing you the audio from a previously recorded SCCT Knowledge Lab webinar featuring host Praveen Ranganath, MD interviewing Stephan Achenbach, MD, MSCCT as they explore the next frontier of cardiac CT.This discussion blends historical perspective with future projections as Dr. Achenbach shares insights on how technological innovation, emerging clinical evidence and evolving applications of cardiac CT are reshaping the standard of care.The original webinar concluded with a live audience Q&A, offering listeners the opportunity to hear direct engagement with one of the field’s foremost experts in cardiovascular imaging.

On this special industry sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath, MD is again joined by the esteemed Amir Ahmadi, MD, FSCCT to discuss the shift from "CT 1.0" to "CT 2.0" and eventually to "CT 3.0". Topics covered include CT-based coronary lesion-level assessment, normalizing plaque analyses, serial coronary CT imaging, reproducibility error margins, and the heart-brain axis. Tune in and enjoy!This episode is sponsored by Elucid. References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by cohost Manish Motwani, MBChB, PhD, FSCCT to facilitate a panel discussion on artificial intelligence in cardiac imaging. Panelists:Damini Dey, PhD, FSCCTArthur Shiyovich, MDAlan Vainrib, MDMarly van Assen, MSc, PhD Resources:•Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (CCT): A White Paper of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT)•AI/ML Toolkit AI and Innovations SymposiumFor more thought-provoking discussions on AI and machine learning in cardiac imaging, join us at the SCCT2026 AI and Innovations Symposium on July 9, 2026, where global experts will explore cutting-edge advances, real-world challenges and the future integration of AI into clinical practice.

On this industry-sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath speaks with Dr. Ron Blankstein about recent advancements in the interpretation and use of advanced plaque analysis tools based on 3 recent publications: 1. ACC Scientific Statement on Quantitative Coronary Plaque Analysis 2. AHA Scientific Statement on Nonobstructive CAD 3. The Lancet Commission on Rethinking Coronary Artery Disease This episode is sponsored by Heartflow. References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

On this industry-sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath, MD speaks with Anthony Puzelli, RT(R)(MR)(CT)(MRSO), Adam Alberti, ARRT (R)(CT)(MR)(MRSO), and Steven Mendelsohn, MD from Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology about their experience with the AI-driven FFRct solution from Keya Medical. Tune in and enjoy!This episode is sponsored by Keya Medical. References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by FiRST Committee members Shruti Hegde, MD; Ady Orbach, MD, MSc; and Jonathan Pan, MD for a candid conversation on navigating the transition from cardiac imaging training into the first year of attending practice. Tune in and enjoy!

On this industry-sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath is joined by guest Dr. Pete Tomlins, Head of Innovation, Caristo Diagnostics, to discuss the FAI-Score, a novel imaging marker that enables doctors to see coronary inflammation, the previously invisible underlying driver of heart attacks and stroke. Tune in to learn about:Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) imaging - a ‘biosensor’ for invisible coronary inflammationFAI-Score – transforming PCAT imaging into a standardized clinical measure of coronary inflammationThe future of cardiac risk assessment – combing invisible inflammation with visible plaque on CCTAThis episode is sponsored by Caristo Diagnostics. References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

On this episode of the Donut of Destiny, hosts Sotirios Evangelou, MD, FSCCT and Nisha Hosadurg , MBBS speak with guest Alan Vainrib, MD on how computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is emerging as a powerful research tool for understanding blood-flow behavior in structural heart disease. Using CT/MRI-based models, CFD can simulate pressures, velocities, shear stress and even post-procedure hemodynamics — offering new possibilities for evaluating aortic stenosis, planning TAVR and guiding mitral, tricuspid and LAAO interventions.

In this industry-sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by returning guest, Amir Ahmadi, MD, FSCCT to discuss the paradigm shift from an ischemia-driven to an atheroma-driven approach to cardiovascular disease. Tune in and enjoy!This episode is sponsored by Elucid.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

In this industry sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath speaks with Dr. Seth Uretsky from Morristown Medical Center about the growth of their multimodality cardiac imaging program. Tune in and enjoy!This episode is sponsored by GE HealthCare.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Host Sotirios Evangelou, MD, FSCCT is joined by Vlasis Ninios, MD to explore the indispensable role of cardiac CT in transcatheter structural heart interventions. From planning TAVI and TMVR to assessing tricuspid valve therapies, they highlight how CT imaging guides prosthesis sizing, vascular access, and risk assessment. Together, they discuss emerging technologies, evolving indications, and how cardiac CT is shaping the future of structural heart disease treatment. 

On this industry-sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath, MD continues the "Building a Cardiac CT Program" series through a conversation with David Furman, MD the cardiothoracic imaging division director at St. Lukes University Health Network in Pennsylvania. Topics include platforming CT upgrades, complex imaging reimbursement landscapes, and the halo effect of cardiac CT. Tune in and enjoy!This episode is sponsored by GE Healthcare.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Host Sotirios Evangelou, MD, FSCCT is joined by Gianluca Pontone, MD, PhD, FSCCT to explore the evolving role of stress cardiac CT perfusion, from its early limitations to today's advanced scanners capable of capturing dynamic myocardial perfusion in just a few beats. Together, they discuss how this technique helps quantify blood flow and identify hypoperfused regions with precision. 

In this industry-sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by Yader Sandoval, MD and Jonathon Leipsic, MD, MSCCT, the chair and co-chair of the recently published inter-society roundtable document on CCTA for PCI planning. Conversation topics include the origin of this expert roundtable, the benefits of and evidence supporting CCTA for PCI planning, a deep-dive into heavily calcified and bifurcation lesion planning, and insights on how to tackle current barriers to adoption. Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography to Guide Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Expert Opinion from a SCAI/SCCT RoundtableThis episode is sponsored by Heartflow. References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

In this special industry-sponsored episode. host Praveen Ranganath, MD speaks with Matthew Fuld, PhD, the director of photon counting CT with Siemens Healthineers North America, about the history, development, clinical impact, workflow changes, and access to care of photon-counting CT technology as it pertains to cardiac CT. Tune in and enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Siemens Healthineers.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Host Praveen Ranganath, MD is joined by cohost Nisha Hosadurg, MD and expert guest Dinesh Kalra, MD, FSCCT to discuss cardiovascular disease in the South Asian population through the lens of cardiac CT. Tune in and enjoy!

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by FiRST committee members Dr. Anam Waheed and Dr. En-Haw Wu to discuss the transition from cardiac imaging training to the first year of attending-hood. 

In this industry sponsored episode, Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by familiar esteemed guests Dr. Waseem Cossor and Dr. Madhu Ganigara to discuss the formation and growth of their academic pediatric cardiac CT program in Chicago.This episode is sponsored by GE HealthCare.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. 

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by guest Dr. Amir Ahmadi to discuss the bridge between a population-based and a personalized approach to managing coronary artery disease through the lens of cardiac CT. Tune in and enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Elucid.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Coronary physiology, plaque morphology, and culprit lesion identification are all topics on today's industry sponsored episode. Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by esteemed guest Dr. Bon-Kwon Koo to discuss the EMERALD and EMERALD II studies. Tune in and enjoy!EMERALD study: https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.01.023EMERALD II study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1936878X2400130XThis episode is sponsored by HeartFlow.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

In this industry sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath is joined by pediatric cardiologists Dr. Waseem Cossor and Dr. Madhu Ganigara to discuss the role of cardiac CT in imaging pediatric patients. Topics discussed include multimodality imaging, pediatric IV access, radiation dose management strategies, sedation, complex postsurgical anatomy, virtual reality, and 3D printing. Tune in and enjoy! This episode is sponsored by GE HealthCare.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by returning expert guest Dr. Ahmad Slim to discuss the unprecedented proposed rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2025, which have the potential to DOUBLE cardiac CT reimbursement! For everyone in the cardiac CT community, we urge you to submit your positive comments to CMS before September 9, 2024. How do you do this? SCCT has made this process super simple -- just follow this link: https://scct.org/page/2024_CMS_OPPS_rule

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by expert technologists Michelle Kohanski and Kimberly Hatch to discuss the ins and outs of building a high-quality, high-volume cardiovascular imaging 3D laboratory. Topics include: Laboratory staffingSelecting postprocessing softwareLaboratory financial structure and billingQuality assurance workflowAdvice for upcoming 3D laboratoriesTune in and enjoy!

In this industry-sponsored episode, host Praveen Ranganath speaks with interventional cardiologist Dr. James Parker about the growth of the cardiac CT program at his community practice in Louisiana. Tune in and enjoy!This episode is sponsored by GE HealthCare.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by friend and former podcast guest, Vinit Baliyan, to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of systolic imaging in cardiac CT. 

On this industry-sponsored episode, hosts Nidhi Madan and Praveen Ranganath speak with esteemed guests Dr. Jonathon Leipsic and Dr. Stephanie Sellers about our current understanding of hypoattenuating leaflet thickening through the lenses of basic science, translational science, and clinical practice. This episode is sponsored by GE HealthCare.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

In this first episode of the Technologist Perspective series, host Praveen Ranganath speaks with Nikki Weber, cardiac CT technologist and chair of the SCCT Technologist Education Committee, about her first experiences learning cardiac CT, the challenges of cardiac CT compared to other CT imaging, building the technologist-physician team, and educational resources for technologists new to cardiac.  Tune in and enjoy!

Alastair Moss sits down with co-host Praveen Ranganath to talk about Praveen's experience transitioning from training into clinical practice, including a discussion about building a cardiac CT service at a small resource-limited hospital in rural Texas.

On this episode, hosts Kashif Shaikh and Praveen Ranganath speak with Dr. Ahmad Slim about cardiac CT policy, coverage and reimbursements. This episode is a complement to the recent SCCT Knowledge Lab webinar on Finances in Cardiac CT. How do cardiac CTs get paid? How do new cardiac CT technologies get valued? How do we advocate for fair reimbursement for cardiac CT? Tune in and find out!

On this industry-sponsored episode, hosts Nidhi Madan and Praveen Ranganath are joined by the esteemed Dr. Carlos Collet to discuss the role of coronary CT in planning coronary interventions.This episode is sponsored by GE HealthCare.References to a specific product, process, or service by speakers in this podcast episode do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. The views and opinions expressed in do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Hosts Alastair Moss and Praveen Ranganath are joined by the esteemed Dr. Jonathan Weir-McCall to discuss his recent publication on the national trends of coronary imaging in the UK. Through the lens of cardiac CT, the group covers a wide range of topics from study design, causality, guideline writing, healthcare economics, geographic heterogeneity, and the future of imaging. Tune in and enjoy! 

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by the esteemed Dr. Ricardo Cury to discuss his experience building the cardiac CT program at his practice in Florida. Topics discussed include acute chest pain workups, CT perfusion, 3D laboratory formation, and population health. Tune in and enjoy!

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by Dr. Mark Rabbat, professor of cardiology from Loyola University, to discuss his recent EVAPORATE-FFRCT publication and the relationship between coronary atherosclerosis, coronary physiology, icosapent ethyl, and CT imaging biomarkers. Check out the link to the paper below. Enjoy!EVAPORATE-FFRCT paper: https://academic.oup.com/ehjcimaging/article/24/7/866/7135508

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by Dr. Jerry Breen, cardiac CT pioneer, and Dr. Eric Williamson, past president of SCCT, to discuss the history, uniqueness, and future of the robust cardiac CT program at the Mayo Clinic. Tune in and enjoy!Start your cardiac CT service efficiently | SCCT Starter KitThe SCCT Starter Kit is a collection of tools and resources to help community hospitals and cardiology and radiology practices plan, launch and operate a cardiovascular CT service. www.scctstarterkit.org

Hosts Anam Waheed, Nidhi Madan, and Praveen Ranganath recap the cardiac CT highlights at the recent ACC 2023 annual scientific meeting. Special guest Dr. Andrew Choi also joins to give a recap of ACC 2023 as well as some teasers for the upcoming SCCT 2023 annual scientific meeting. Tune in and enjoy!

Host Praveen Ranganath is joined by Dr. Vinit Baliyan, assistant professor of radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, to dissect his research and thoughts on the routine performance of coronary calcium CTs immediately before coronary CTAs. Tune in and enjoy!

Dr. Brian Ghoshhajra, president of SCCT and director of CV imaging at MGH, joins hosts Praveen Ranganath and Alastair Moss to discuss the nuances of building an emergency department coronary CTA program with specific insights and experiences from MGH. Tune in and enjoy!Start your cardiac CT service efficiently | SCCT Starter KitThe SCCT Starter Kit is a collection of tools and resources to help community hospitals and cardiology and radiology practices plan, launch and operate a cardiovascular CT service. www.scctstarterkit.org

Dr. Brian Ghoshhajra, president of SCCT and director of CV imaging at MGH, joins hosts Praveen Ranganath and Alastair Moss to discuss the nuances of building an emergency department coronary CTA program with specific insights and experiences from MGH. Tune in and enjoy!Start your cardiac CT service efficiently | SCCT Starter KitThe SCCT Starter Kit is a collection of tools and resources to help community hospitals and cardiology and radiology practices plan, launch and operate a cardiovascular CT service. www.scctstarterkit.org

Another installment in our Building a Cardiac CT Program Series. Dr. James Shambrook is a cardiothoracic radiologist at the University Hospital of Southampton in the UK. He joins hosts Alastair Moss and Praveen Ranganath to discuss the growth of the CT program at his institution, the landscape of cardiac CT programs in the UK, and the nuances of building a congenital cardiac CT practice. Tune in and enjoy!Start your cardiac CT service efficiently | SCCT Starter KitThe SCCT Starter Kit is a collection of tools and resources to help community hospitals and cardiology and radiology practices plan, launch and operate a cardiovascular CT service. www.scctstarterkit.org

Kickoff episode in our series on Building a Cardiac CT Program! Dr. Frank Corrigan, an interventionist and CT imager based in Atlanta, GA, joins host Praveen Ranganath to talk about growing the CT program at his practice. This episode is chock full of tips, tricks, woes, and dreams - tune in and enjoy!Start your cardiac CT service efficiently | SCCT Starter KitThe SCCT Starter Kit is a collection of tools and resources to help community hospitals and cardiology and radiology practices plan, launch and operate a cardiovascular CT service. www.scctstarterkit.org

Cohosts Suvasini, Kashif and Praveen are joined by the legendary Dr. Matt Budoff for a compelling conversation on the past, present, and future of coronary calcium and cardiac CT. Tune in and enjoy!

On this special episode of the podcast, Dr. Daniele Andreini speaks with FiRST committee member Sotirios Evangelou about the recently published expert consensus document on using cardiac CT to plan coronary revascularization. Enjoy!

Podcast hosts Nidhi Madan and Praveen Ranganath are joined by the esteemed Dr. Patricia Rodriguez-Lozano to discuss the unique disease features of atherosclerosis in women through the lens of cardiac CT. Tune in and enjoy!

Alastair Moss sits down with Praveen to discuss his recently published research in fluoride PET imaging and coronary artery disease. How does hybrid fluoride PET/coronary CT perform in predicting subsequent events in the setting of a recent MI? Tune in and find out!

Alastair and Praveen are joined by the renowned Todd Villines to discuss the evolving role of cardiac CT in identifying cardiovascular disease phenotypes. 

Hosts Alastair and Praveen are joined by Dr. Tim Fairbairn, lead investigator of the ADVANCE study, to discuss the present science and future prospects of FFRct.