The Society of Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) was co-founded by the late Melvin P. Judkins, MD, with his colleague across the country, the late Dr. Mason Sones, both pioneers in coronary angiography. Today, neither would be surprised to learn that their tradition of educating colleagues working in the field continues at an even higher level than ever before through the annual SCAI symposium, named in Dr. Judkins’ honor. Dr. Warren Laskey, a former President of the SCAI who chaired the event for 10 of its 20 years in existence, said something I believe applies to those of us working in the field of coronary imaging and intervention: “The Judkins Cardiac Imaging Symposium anchors us to our past.” This unique educational symposium, dedicated to the cath lab and cardiac imaging, has evolved from a focus on simple and complex x-ray angiography to the newest imaging technologies available.

Held at SCAI’s 30th Annual Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, May 9, the Judkins Cardiac Imaging Symposium offers a comprehensive mix of both fundamentals and innovations from the basic “need-to-know” imaging facts and techniques to advanced concepts.

The core curriculum will provide a complete overview of various imaging technologies. “Ultrasound physics” will be discussed by Chandra Sehgal, PhD, of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and “Advances in X-ray Tube Technology: Angiography and MDCT” will be addressed by Jenss Schmidt-May, PhD, of Philips Medical Systems in Hamburg, Germany. Other presentations include “Digital Fluoroscopy and Fluorography: A to Z,” “Flat Panel Technology: What Does the Clinician Need to Know?,” “Physics of MRI: Teslas, Hz and Resolution,” and “Physics of X-radiation.” These sessions are for people who want to understand and get ahead of the traditional didactic aspects.

Creative clinical applications will also be highlighted. Neil J. Weissman, MD, of Georgetown University, will discuss the use of ultrasound in the cath lab. Robert L. Wilensky, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, will tackle the topic of MRI. John C. Messenger, MD, of the University of Colorado, will describe new aspects of CT. Other presentations are “Radiation Safety: Practical Applications in the Cath Lab,” “Radiographic Contrast Media: Always Something New,” and “Electro-Mechanical Imaging Modalities: Dead or Alive?”

As a special presentation, Pamela S. Douglas, MD, of Duke University, former American College of Cardiology President, will talk on “The Practicing Cardiologist and Imaging Technology.” Although it’s impossible to cover everything in a single day, attendees will come away very satisfied with new information and reinvigorated as they return to their cath labs.

Still hungry for knowledge? SCAI’s Hemodynamics Symposium offers a rare chance to learn and review. Last year, Zoltan G. Turi and I inaugurated SCAI’s Hemodynamics Symposium in Chicago. Although we suspected there was a need for such a course on the subtleties of hemodynamics and cath lab basics, we were surprised to find an overwhelming attendance and interest. At the day’s end, people were still standing in the back, eager for more of this course’s unique focus on the fundamentals of hemodynamics and diagnostic catheterization pearls.

This year’s Hemodynamics Symposium, held Wednesday, May 9, in Orlando, Florida, again, as part of the SCAI’s Annual Scientific Sessions, covers materials almost never available in a course format in the United States. In conversations with several SCAI past presidents, we discovered that most of the current cath lab training experiences lack teaching in the subtleties of pressure tracings. Now trainees and cath lab technologists rely entirely on the computer, even if the data sometimes makes no sense. For cath lab personnel who want to reacquaint themselves with the basic hemodynamic building blocks or for physicians who realize they are relying solely on what the computer tells them, SCAI’s Hemodynamics Symposium will provide highly useful information in a very enjoyable and practical way.

The Hemodynamic Symposium will include many real-world hemodynamic examples that may fool even some of the most experienced practioners. The attendee will be shown how to differentiate pathology from artifact; severe disease and data that only look like severe disease; and data from patients who need immediate intervention versus data from patients who need only conservative care. As presented for those who attended the Society’s other hemodynamic programs, the material will be fast-paced and fun, with relatively short talks, mini-quizzes and an audience-response system for self-assessment. In addition to getting reacquainted with the intricacies of hemodynamics, coronary and peripheral angiography, and structural heart disease, you will acquire much more confidence in decision-making and an improved ability to make a definitive diagnosis in the cath lab.

As a teacher, student and strong supporter of our field, I believe that these SCAI symposia offer the best of the best in cath lab education for all levels of cardiovascular professionals. I hope you can attend.

For more information or to register for SCAI’s 30th Annual Scientific Sessions, call 800-992-7224 or visit www.scai.org