Igor F. Palacios, MD Lectureship and Symposium

Needs Statement

Despite ongoing advancements in cardiovascular medicine, clinicians continue to face professional practice gaps in the timely adoption and application of emerging technologies and evidence-based strategies. These gaps include underutilization of percutaneous interventions for congenital and valvular heart disease, limited integration of artificial intelligence into clinical workflows, and inconsistent approaches to managing complex conditions such as cardiogenic shock, atrial fibrillation, and genetic aortopathies. Additionally, Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) often lack structured opportunities for leadership development and clinical elevation, which can hinder their ability to contribute fully to interdisciplinary care teams. To address these gaps, the symposium offers a robust educational experience that spans structural heart interventions, complex cases, ambulatory heart failure management, and surveillance strategies for aortic stenosis. Sessions will also explore the role of AI in cardiology, the impact of new device technologies, and the importance of early intervention and guideline optimization. The symposium also provides targeted content for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, emphasizing diagnostic innovation, professional leadership, and collaborative care. This multifaceted approach ensures that participants gain actionable insights to enhance patient outcomes and lead change in cardiovascular practice.

Educational Objectives

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

• Evaluate recent advances in percutaneous treatments for congenital heart disease, including diagnostic innovations and evolving guideline-based strategies for ambulatory management.
• Analyze paradigm shifts in the treatment of acute heart failure, with emphasis on percutaneous techniques, surveillance strategies, and interdisciplinary approaches to care.
• Explore emerging applications of artificial intelligence in cardiology, recognizing current use cases, limitations, and future directions for clinical integration and decision support.

Target Audience

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 9.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.