A special Thank You to the Donald Guthrie Foundation for providing funding towards this symposium.

Saturday, February 7, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Tioga Downs Casino Resort, 2384 W. River Rd., Nichols, N.Y. 

THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS FOR THIS EVENT. PLEASE REGISTER EARLY TO SECURE!

Register Online

Conference Description

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, affecting over 120 million adults, with hypertension impacting nearly half of the adult population. Despite advances in treatment, risk factors such as high blood pressure and obesity continue to rise, contributing to increasing rates of CVD-related deaths.

This conference, developed by Guthrie’s cardiovascular health experts, will provide an up-to-date review of primary and secondary prevention strategies, as well as breakthroughs in the diagnosis and management of common cardiovascular conditions. Attendees will gain practical insights into current practice guidelines, innovative diagnostic tools, and therapeutic options aimed at improving patient outcomes.

Join us for this patient-centered, interactive educational experience designed to equip healthcare professionals with the latest knowledge to combat the growing cardiovascular disease burden.

Intended Audience

This conference is designed to provide an update in the diagnosis and evidence-based management of cardiovascular disease for primary care providers. Emphasis will be placed on building primary care-based skills and recognizing when to treat and when to refer. Others that will find this program valuable include medical specialists, advanced practice providers, registered nurses, cardiovascular fellows, residents, medical and nursing students, and other allied healthcare professionals who would like to increase their knowledge base regarding cardiovascular disease.

Elements of Competence

The CME activity has been designed to change learner competence and focus on the American Board of Medical Specialties areas of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice.

Educational Methods

  • Live lectures with Q & A sessions will facilitate the dissemination of information.

  • Interactive discussions are included to provider greater in-depth understanding of selected clinical issues.

Conference Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  1. Describe evidence-based strategies for risk assessment, screening, and prevention of cardiovascular disorders.

  2. Identify the most cost-effective interventions for primary and secondary prevention.

  3. Clarify the role of systems-based practice in improving quality of care and outcomes, reduce medical cost, and improve patient experience for individuals and patient populations.

  4. Discuss strategies to enhance efficacy of care, improve transit of care and facilitate high quality medical information.

  5. Integrate new advances into practice.

  6. Identify new novel emerging therapies that should be integrated into the clinical practice to reduce morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disorders.

Conference Agenda

  • 8-8:10 a.m. – Welcome – Dr. Sudhakar Sattur

  • 8:10-9 a.m. – Cardiology Guest Speaker 

  • 9-9:30 a.m. - Lifestyle Medicine: Relevance of Exercise and Sleep on the Heart- Dr. Kevin Desai 

  • 9:30-10 a.m. - When to Refer to Cardiology: Chest Pain, Murmurs, Syncope, Irregular Pulse and Edema – Dr. Daniel Sporn

  • 10-10:10 a.m. – Break

  • 10:10-10:40 a.m. - Stratification of ASCVD Risk Beyond the Pooled Cohort Equation– Dr. Saurabh Sharma

  • 10:40-11:10 a.m. - HFpEF– What PCPs Should Know – Dr. Jocelyn McCullough

  • 11:10-11:40 a.m. - Cardiac MRI – Overview for the PCPs – Dr. Julius Aitsebaomo  

  • 11:40a.m.-12:40 p.m. – Lunch/Poster Sessions/Exhibits

    • Exhibit Boot Camp – Review of Basic EKG Findings – Guy Rogers, PA-C

  • 12:40-1:30 p.m. – Vascular Guest Speaker

  • 1:30-2 p.m. – Cardiothoracic Surgery Gust Speaker 

  • 2-2:30 p.m. – Atrial Fibrillation – Evolution of Ablation- Dr. Pramod Deshmukh

  • 2:30-3 p.m. - Cardio-oncology for the PCPs – Monitoring the Cancer Survivor– Dr. Najeeb Rehman

  • 3-3:30 p.m. - Palpitations, PVCs and Holter Interpretations for PCPs – Dr. Hao Yang

  • 3:30-4 p.m. - Primary and Secondary Prevention - SGLT2 Inhibitors and GLP 1 Agonists – Dr. Michael DePersis

  • 4-4:45 p.m. - Debates

    • SAVR versus TAVR for Low-Risk Patients  
      Pro: Dr. Chanderdeep Singh 
      Con: Dr. Edo Kaluski

    • Octagenerians + Nanogenerians – No Statin versus Statin for Primary Prevention of ASCVD Pro: Dr. Shiavax Rao
      Con: Dr. Astha Prasai

    • Aspirin for Primary Prevention of ASCVD 
      Pro: Dr. Resha Khanal 
      Con: Dr. Bikal Lamichhane

  • 4:45 p.m. – Closing Remarks/Poster Presentation Awards/Giveaway

Conference Directors

Sudhakar Sattur, MD, MHSA

Sudhakar Sattur, MD, MHSA
Chief, Section of Cardiology; Associate Program Director, Cardiovascular Fellowship 
Robert Packer Hospital and Guthrie Medical Group, P.C., Sayre, PA

 Najeeb Rehman, MD, MHA, FACC, FASE, FASNC

Najeeb Rehman, MD, MHA, FACC, FASE, FASNC
Director, Non-Invasive Cardiology, Guthrie Medical Group, P.C., Sayre, PA

 

Guthrie Conference Faculty

E. Julius Aitsebaomo, MD, FACC, FASE, FSCMR

E. Julius Aitsebaomo, MD, FACC, FASE, FSCMR
Associate, Cardiology

 Michael DePersis, DO

Michael DePersis, DO
Associate, Cardiology
Kevin Desai, MD

Kevin Desai, MD
PGY-VI Cardiovascular Fellow

 Pramod Deshmukh, MD, FACC, MRCP

Pramod Deshmukh, MD, FACC, MRCP
Chief, Electrophysiology
Edo Kaluski, MD, FACC, FESC, FSCAI

Edo Kaluski, MD, FACC, FESC, FSCAI
Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories and Interventional Cardiology

 Resha Khanal, MD

Resha Khanal, MD
PGY-V, Cardiovascular Fellow
Bikal Lamichhane, MD

Bikal Lamichhane, MD
PGY-V, Cardiovascular Fellow

 Jocelyn McCullough, DO

Jocelyn McCullough, DO
PGY-VI, Cardiovascular Fellow
Astha Prasai, MBBS

Astha Prasai, MBBS
PGY-IV, Cardiovascular Fellow

 Shiavax Rao, MD

Shiavax Rao, MD
PGY-IV, Cardiovascular Fellow
Najeeb Rehman, MD, MHA, FACC, FASE, FASNC

Najeeb Rehman, MD, MHA, FACC, FASE, FASNC
Director, Non-Invasive Cardiology

 Guy Rogers, Jr., MPAS, PA-C

Guy Rogers, Jr., MPAS, PA-C
Advanced Practice Provider, Cardiology
Saurabh Sharma, MD, FACC, FASE, FACP

Saurabh Sharma, MD, FACC, FASE, FACP, RPVI
Director, Cardiovascular Prevention and Lipid Clinic
Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

 Chanderdeep Singh, MD, FACS

Chanderdeep Singh, MD, FACS
Associate, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Daniel Sporn, MD, FACC, MHA

Daniel Sporn, MD, FACC, MHA
Chairman, Cardiovascular Service Line
Program Director, Cardiovascular Fellowship

 Hao Yang, MD

Hao Yang, MD
Associate, Cardiology

Conference Fees

  • $80 – Providers/Advanced Practice Providers
  • $40 – Nurses/Administrators/Other Health Care Professionals
  • No Cost - Fellows/Residents/Students

Guthrie Providers: This conference is eligible for reimbursement from your 2026 allocated CME/Meeting fund.

Register Online

Cancellation and Refund

The full conference fee is refundable, less $10 processing fee, if your cancellation is received, in writing by Wednesday, January 14, 2026. (The processing fee is nonrefundable regardless of the reason for cancellation). Refunds will not be granted after this time for non-attendance.

The Guthrie Clinic Office of CME reserves the right to cancel an activity due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e., lack of registrations, unexpected events). Any registrants will be notified, and refunds will be processed. In the event the activity has been postponed, the registrant will have the option to receive a full refund, or they can use their registration for the respective conference. In addition, The Guthrie Clinic Office of CME is not responsible for related costs or expenses to participants, including cancellation fees assessed by hotels, airlines, or travel agencies. 

Disclaimers

Minimum and maximum numbers for attendance at this event have been established and we reserve the right to substitute speakers/topics or cancel if necessary. By attending this event, you grant The Guthrie Clinic Office of CME the right to record, film, photograph, or capture your likeness in any media and to distribute, broadcast, use, or otherwise disseminate, in perpetuity, such media without any further approval from or any payment to you.

The Guthrie Clinic CME Vision

"To empower health professionals with the resources and expertise to deliver exceptional preventive and comprehensive care, optimizing health outcomes for the communities we serve."

Accreditation Statement

“The Guthrie Clinic is accredited by the Pennsylvania Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.”

Designation Statement

“The Guthrie Clinic designates this live activity for a maximum of (7.75) AMA PRA Category I Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.”

Faculty Disclosure

The Guthrie Clinic adheres to the ACCME® Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

“Faculty and all others who have the ability to control the content of continuing medical education activities sponsored by The Guthrie Clinic are expected to disclose to the audience whether they do or do not have any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest or other relationships related to the content of their presentation(s).” The presenting faculty/planning committee for this educational activity have no relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Have a question? Contact our staff!
Trish Stern, Director, System CME 
E-mail: Trish.Stern@guthrie.org
Phone: 570-887-5762