Advertise on podcast: 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 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: 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: 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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.