Heart Matters

Guest: Jeffrey Hsu, MD, PhD The field of sports cardiology has experienced remarkable growth, with new guidelines, expanding programs, and increasing recognition of cardiovascular risk in athletes. Hear from Dr. Jeffrey Hsu as he shares current and emerging approaches to risk assessment, prevention, and management of cardiac conditions in this population. Dr. Hsu is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and he spoke about this topic at the 2026 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions.

Guest: Joban Vaishnav, MD For patients newly diagnosed with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), it's essential to set realistic expectations and prioritize whole-person care. Dr. Joban Vaishnav, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of the Comprehensive Amyloidosis Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, shares insights on guiding these patients through this diagnosis.

Guest: Joban Vaishnav, MD When transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) progresses, an individualized and empathetic approach to patient conversations is key. Hear from Dr. Joban Vaishnav as she shares practical strategies for addressing patient fears while clarifying what progression truly means. Dr. Vaishnav is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of the Comprehensive Amyloidosis Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

Guest: Frederick Ruberg, MD Artificial intelligence has rapidly advanced disease recognition in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), and its role in guiding treatment selection, predicting progression, and refining prognosis is now being explored. Discover what's next in ATTR-CM care with Dr. Frederick Ruberg, Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Thomas J. Ryan Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Guest: Ahmad Masri, MD, MS New therapeutic approaches are reshaping how we think about managing transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Gain insight into the next generation of ATTR therapies as Dr. Ahmad Masri highlights evolving strategies beyond traditional stabilizers. He's an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University.

Guest: Kevin Alexander In the past decade, significant strides have been made in diagnosing and treating patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Increased disease awareness, non-invasive diagnostic tools like scintigraphy, and AI-assisted screening have led to earlier detection and improved outcomes. Learn more with Dr. Kevin Alexander, an Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Guest: Quan Bui, MD Quality of life in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) varies widely by disease stage, but early detection and treatment can make a profound difference. Hear from Dr. Quan Bui as he highlights how recent therapeutic advances have transformed symptom management, even in advanced cases. Dr. Bui is a cardiologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego Health.

Host: Laurence S. Sperling, MD, FACC, FAHA, FACP, MASPC Guest: Eugenia Gianos, MD Cholesterol management is evolving, but new data presented at the 2025 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions reveal persistent gaps in care—especially among high-risk patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In this expert discussion, Dr. Laurence Sperling and Dr. Eugenia Gianos explore real-world treatment shortfalls, key findings from clinical trial, and the expanding treatment landscape. Dr. Sperling is the Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology and Founder of the Center for Heart Disease Prevention at the Emory University School of Medicine as well as the Chief Medical Officer of the Family Heart Foundation. Dr. Gianos is the System Director of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Northwell Health.

Guest: Susan Davis Emerging research is challenging long-held assumptions about the roles of estrogen and testosterone in women’s health—particularly in the context of aging and cardiometabolic risk. Hear from Dr. Susan Davis as she reviews the evolving evidence. Dr. Davis is an endocrinologist as well as the head of the Women’s Health Research Program and a Professor of Women's Health at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. She also spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

A recent study explored the emerging role of KCNQ5 potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle regulation and their potential as therapeutic targets to promote vasodilation and manage blood pressure. Hear from Dr. Geoffrey Abbott as he dives into cutting-edge research using a CRISPR-generated KCNQ5 knockout rat model, revealing critical insights into adrenergic signaling, vascular reactivity, and the vascular effects of aloperine. Dr. Abbott is a Professor and Interim Chair of Physiology and Biophysics at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, and he also spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

Guest: Jun-ichi Abe, MD, PhD Cancer therapies can trigger both acute and chronic vascular effects, from treatment-induced hypertension to long-term atherosclerotic changes. Learn more as Dr. Jun-ichi Abe shares insights from his presentation at the 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Dr. Abe is a Professor in the Department of Cardiology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Understanding how lipids and lipoproteins are formed, metabolized, and cleared is essential for accurate lipid interpretation and cardiovascular risk assessment. Hear from Dr. Robert Eckel as he explains these molecular mechanisms and implications for patient management. Dr. Eckel is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine with a primary appointment in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes with a joint appointment in Cardiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, where he was previously the Charles A. Boettcher II Chair in Atherosclerosis. He's also the former President of the American Heart Association, Obesity Society, and American Diabetes Association.

Sex-based differences in lipid metabolism can have critical impacts on cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment. Hear from Dr. Connie Newman as she explains why understanding lipid metabolism in women is essential for accurate risk stratification and optimal treatment decisions. Dr. Newman is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women, yet it is often underrecognized due to gender bias in healthcare. Hear from Dr. Connie Newman as she explores the impact of bias on cardiovascular risk perception, highlights the importance of lipid and Lp(a) screening, and reviews evidence-based statin therapy strategies to improve outcomes for women. Dr. Newman is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Effective lipid management depends on identifying how specific dietary factors drive LDL cholesterol and triglyceride elevations. Dr. Robert Eckel shares evidence-based strategies for tailoring nutrition recommendations in patients with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Dr. Eckel is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine with a primary appointment in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes with a joint appointment in Cardiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, where he was previously the Charles A. Boettcher II Chair in Atherosclerosis. He's also the former President of the American Heart Association, Obesity Society, and American Diabetes Association.

Statin intolerance, though uncommon, presents a challenge for patients who experience persistent side effects despite adjustments in dosing or switching statins. Dr. Matthew Sorrentino reviews evidence-baesd alternatives, shares insights on practical use in clinical care, and highlights the latest advances in lipoprotein (a)–targeted therapies now in late-stage development. Dr. Sorrentino is a Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair for Clinical Operations in the Section of Cardiology at University of Chicago Medicine.

Despite advances in lipid-lowering therapies, disparities in hyperlipidemia diagnosis and treatment persist. Dr. Keith Ferdinand examines how social drivers of health impact access, adherence, and outcomes and explains how clinicians can help address gaps in care for underserved populations. Dr. Ferdinand is a Professor of Medicine as well as the Gerald S. Berenson Chair in Preventative Cardiology and Director of Preventative Cardiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Effective management of hyperlipidemia requires tailoring treatment to a patient’s cardiovascular risk profile. Lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone of care, while high-risk patients often require pharmacotherapy. Dr. Keith Ferdinand shares evidence-based strategies for reducing LDL and addressing comorbidities while engaging patients in shared decision making. Dr. Ferdinand is a Professor of Medicine as well as the Gerald S. Berenson Chair in Preventative Cardiology and Director of Preventative Cardiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Wilson Tang, MD Many different artificial sweeteners are being consumed by patients; however, this discussion will focus on research around one that has been used in the food industry for a long time, called erythritol. Interestingly, it was found that patients with cardiac problems had the highest levels of erythritol levels in their blood, which prompted further studies on this association. So to learn more about the impact of artificial sweeteners on heart disease and how we can guide patients into consuming less, join Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with Dr. Wilson Tang, Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Co-Author of the article, titled “The Artificial Sweetener Erythritol and Cardiovascular Event Risk,” published in Nature Medicine in February 2023.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Jeffrey Wilson, MD There’s a decent amount of evidence showing allergic immune responses could have connections with heart disease. But with the knowledge gaps that exist, a need for bigger cohorts is necessary to get more information and data. So to explore the link between allergic reactions from food and heart disease, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, Allergist and Immunologist in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology at the University of Virginia.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Michael J. LaMonte, PhD, MPH The American Heart Association recommends physical activity to help lower the risk of heart failure, but how much exercise is needed, especially for older women, to lower that risk? According to a recent study, even just low-intensity exercise for 30 minutes is associated with a 25 percent lower risk of overall heart failure. Dive further into the findings with Dr. Javed Butler and Dr. Michael LaMonte, a Research Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University of Buffalo.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Chiadi Ndumele, M.D., Ph.D., M.H.S. For the first time, the American Heart Association (AHA) has identified cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which reflects a strong overlap between heart disease, kidney disease, and obesity. The major clinical consequence of CKM syndrome is multi-organ dysfunction with a particularly high incidence and burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the result of this is premature morbidity and mortality. So as a result, recognizing CKM syndrome is the first step in earlier diagnosis and treatment. Dive into this episode with Dr. Javed Butler who’s joined by Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research at Johns Hopkins University.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Dave L. Dixon, PharmD, FACC,  FCCP, FNLA, BCPS, BCACP, CDE, CLS What would the cost-effectiveness look like if the uptake of a pharmacist-prescribing model for hypertension were to be put into practice? A new study shows that a pharmacist-prescribing method could have significant economic impact on the U.S. healthcare system. Dive in with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with Dr. Dave Dixon, Nancy L. and Ronald H. McFarlane Professor of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, to discuss the findings from the study, titled “Cost-Effectiveness of Pharmacist Prescribing for Managing Hypertension in the United States,” which was published in JAMA Network.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Javed Butler, MD There’s no approved therapies specifically targeting obesity and HFpEF, but based on the STEP-HFpEF study that was presented at the 2023 ESC Congress, the treatment option semaglutide improves heart failure-related symptoms, physical function, and weight loss among patients with HFpEF and obesity. Here to walk through the study’s key findings with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is fellow ReachMD host, Dr. Javed Butler, President of Baylor Scott and White Research Institute in Dallas, Texas.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Steve Grinspoon, MD The risk of cardiovascular disease is twice as great among patients living with HIV, and this could partly be due to traditional risk factors, along with nontraditional risk factors. Here to discuss the results from the REPRIEVE study with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is Dr. Steve Grinspoon, Co-Principal Investigator and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Carol Kirkpatrick, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLS, FNLA The National Lipid Association (NLA) recently published updated recommendations for lifestyle therapies to manage three common dyslipidemias in adults. To discuss this, Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is joined by Dr. Carol Kirkpatrick, Clinical Lipid Specialist and Clinical Scientist at Midwest Biomedical Research.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Steve Grinspoon, MD Many studies over the last few years have shown that the risks of cardiovascular disease have increased between 50 to 100 percent among patients with HIV. So what steps need to be taken to help reduce this risk for our patients? Here to discuss what we need to know is Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley and Dr. Steven Grinspoon, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Metabolism Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Host: Alan S. Brown, MD, FACC, FAHA, FNLA Guest: Maya S. Safarova, MD, PhD, FNLA Learn which patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) would benefit from this group of medication. In this episode, Dr. Alan Brown is joined by Dr. Maya Safarova, Chief Fellow in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, to discuss the benefits of non-statin LDL lowering therapies.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Alan S. Brown, MD, FACC, FAHA, FNLA Both clinical trials for lowering Lp(a) had patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Join in for a further discussion on important updates presented at the 2023 National Lipid Association Meeting with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley and fellow ReachMD host, Dr. Alan Brown, Past President of the National Lipid Association.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: John W. MacArthur With many barriers standing in the way of people in the United States who need a heart transplant, fewer than 10 percent of patients actually receive this life-saving surgery according to Stanford Medicine. Therefore, surgeons are working on different techniques to increase the pool of healthy donated hearts. To speak more about this, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. John MacArthur, Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford School of Medicine.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Pedro A Villablanca Spinetto, MD A complex condition known as tricuspid valve regurgitation may cause concern for patients as it typically doesn’t show signs or symptoms until the disease is severe. So what technologies and therapies do we have to look forward to? Join Dr. Javed Butler as he speaks with Dr. Pedro Villablanca, Structural Heart Interventional Cardiologist at Henry Ford Health.

Guest: Patricia A. Pellikka, M.D. Artificial intelligence (AI) has several applications in cardiology, such as echocardiography. Can machine learning and AI algorithms in echocardiology help clinicians better detect heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)? Dr. Patricia A. Pellikka, Director of the Ultrasound Research Center at the Mayo Clinic, shares data from ACC.23 and explores the potential of AI in detecting HFpEF.

Guest: Paul Sorajja, MD TRILUMINATE was the first trial to take a look at the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) reduction on patients, and its results may lead to significant improvements in care and quality of life. To learn more about this trial, Dr. Paul Sorajja from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation details the key findings from this trial and explores their impact.

Guest: Ana Barac, MD, PhD The American College of Cardiology's 72nd Scientific Session & Expo featured the latest advancements in all fields of cardiovascular medicine, including cardio-oncology. To learn more, Dr. Javed Butler sits down with Dr. Ana Barac from the MedStar Washington Hospital Center to take a look at clinical data from the STOP-CA trial.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Ana Barac, MD, PhD Cardio-oncology is a novel field in cardiovascular medicine that has rapidly grown over the past few years. What kind of role does multidisciplinary care have in it? Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Ana Barac from the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute to take a look at where cardio-oncology is and where it could be headed.

Host: Marius M. Hoeper, MD A recent study explored the safety and efficacy of sotatercept on top of background pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapy. To learn more about this clinical data, Dr. Marius M. Hoeper, a Professor of Medicine and the Deputy Director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Hannover Medical School in Hannover, Germany, dives into the results of this trial and explores how they may impact patients with PAH.

According to the CDC, patients with familial hypercholesterolemia or patients who show signs of coronary heart disease are at an increased chance of having heart attack, stroke, and aortic stenosis due to high levels of lipoprotein(a). So how can me manage lipoprotein(a) in our patients? To discuss this, Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is joined by fellow ReachMD host Dr. Alan Brown, who’s also the Director of the Division of Cardiology and the Lipid Clinic at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Kevin C. Maki, PhD, FNLA, CLS At the American College of Cardiology's 72nd Annual Scientific Session & Expo, cardiologists will gather to explore the latest advancements in the field. Joining us to share what you can expect to learn about statin intolerance at their upcoming session are Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley and Dr. Kevin Maki.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Laney K. Jones, PharmD, MPH Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) are at an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease at a young age. So what’s on the horizon for using implementation science strategies in treating patients with FH? Learn more about implementation science as Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley discusses this with Dr. Laney Jones, Associate Professor at Geisinger’s Department of Genomic Health.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Lauren Williams, MCN,RD,LD Kids with dyslipidemia don’t have much different nutritional needs than other young kids their age. However, there are a few key things to be aware of. So how can clinicians meet families where they are to improve their diet? Dive into the unique needs of youth with dyslipidemia as Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is joined by Lauren Williams, Class II Clinical Dietician at Cook Children’s Health System.

Host: Matthew Sorrentino, MD Guest: Luke Laffin, MD Six commonly used supplements thought to improve patients’ cholesterol may be doing more harm than good. So what do we need to know about these supplements? To walk us through the results of the SPORT trial, Dr. Matthew Sorrentino is joined by Dr. Luke Laffin, Co-Director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders at the Cleveland Clinic.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Scott Solomon, MD Dapagliflozin in heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (DELIVER trial) is a study designed to assess the effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with higher left ventricular ejection fraction. To help lead the discussion on the results of this study, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Scott Solomon, lead study author and Director of the Clinical Trials Outcomes Center and the Edward D. Frohlich Distinguished Chair at Harvard Medical School.

Host: Matthew Sorrentino, MD Guest: Michael A. Solomon, MD, MBA Guest: Sean Agbor-Enoh, MD, PhD Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, and even fatal, condition that can impair the chest and lungs. But could a new blood test help us better assess disease severity and survivability in patients with PAH? To dive deeper into this topic, Dr. Matthew Sorrentino is joined by Dr. Michael Solomon and Dr. Sean Agbor-Enoh from the National Institutes of Health.

Host: Hector O. Chapa, MD, FACOG Guest: Erin Michos Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately 5 to 13 percent of women in the general population. And although previous research has shown its link to cardiovascular (CV) risk factors later in life, a new study has revealed that PCOS can increase the risk of heart complications during delivery. So what do these findings mean when it comes to caring for pregnant patients with PCOS? Find out with Dr. Hector Chapa as he’s joined by lead author of the study Dr. Erin Michos, who's the Director of Women’s Cardiovascular Health and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Sameed Khatana, MD, MPH As global temperatures continue to rise, experts are calling attention to the devastating effects this can have on human health. Cardiovascular mortality is especially a concern, as two recent studies from the University of Pennsylvania outlined the connection between these two health risks. To learn more about how climate change can impact our cardiovascular health, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Sameed Khatana, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a physician at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Alice White, PhD Guest: Christopher Chen, MD, PhD There is currently no safe way to get a close-up view of the human heart, which is exactly why a team of Boston University researchers created a device to mimic the human organ. So how does the new device called miniPUMP work, and how was it developed? To discuss this, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Alice White and Dr. Christopher Chen from Boston University.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Tariq Ahmad, MD, MPH The Pragmatic Trial of Messaging to Providers About Treatment in Heart Failure (PROMPT-HF) was designed to test the hypothesis that tailored and targeted electronic health record alerts recommending guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for patients with heart failure (HF) would result in greater adherence to medication use. Explore the trial’s findings with Dr. Javed Butler and Dr. Tariq Ahmad, Director of the Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program and Chief of Heart Failure at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Justin Ezekowitz, MD, MBBCh, MSc The Study of Dietary Intervention under 100 millimole in Heart Failure (SODIUM-HF) trial was designed to assess the effects of a low-sodium diet on adverse cardiovascular events. So what were the study’s findings, and what do they mean for our patients with heart failure? Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Justin Ezekowitz, who shared the SODIUM-HF trial results at the 2022 American of Cardiology Annual Scientific Meeting.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: John Cleland Guest: Fraser Graham, MD Iron deficiency is one of the most frequent comorbidities in patients with heart failure and is estimated to present in up to 50 percent of patients. So what’s the criteria for iron deficiency, and how is it currently defined in cardiology? To discuss this, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Drs. John Cleland and Fraser Graham from the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow.

Host: Javed Butler, MD Guest: Mikhail Kosiborod, MD With the prevalence of heart failure continuing to rise worldwide, recent trials have shown that sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors may improve impairments and decrease the risk of hospitalizations. So based on these recent findings, what exactly is their role in the management of patients with heart failure? Find out with Dr. Javed Butler as he speaks with Dr. Mikhail Kosiborod, Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Vice-President of Research at Saint Luke's Health System.