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The Cardiovascular CME podcast is a free educational offering from Mayo Clinic, featuring content geared towards physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who are interested in exploring a multitude of cardiology-related topics.
Tune in and subscribe to explore today’s most pressing cardiology topics with your colleagues at Mayo Clinic and gain valuable insights that can be directly applied to your practice.
No CME credit offered for podcast episodes at this time.
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Robotic Cardiac Surgery
Guest: Phillip Rowse, M.D.
Guest: Marty Unruh, APRN, C.N.P., D.N.P.
Host: Kyle Klarich, M.D.
In this episode of “Interviews With the Experts,” listeners will hear a discussion on the most important questions patients should ask as they consider whether or not to pursue a robotic-assisted approach for surgical treatment of their valvular heart disease. It is clarified how robotic heart surgery works, including associated risks, benefits, and misconceptions. And finally, there is a discussion on the expected short- and long-term results of robotic heart valve surgery.
Topics Discussed:
- What types of procedures can be performed robotically, and how does robotic surgery compare to traditional and other minimally invasive techniques?
- Who qualifies for robotic surgery, and is it safe and effective?
- What testing is needed beforehand, what is the typical recovery time, and how long is the hospital stay and return-to-work timeline?
- Do surgeons perform the procedure or does the robot operate independently?
- How many robotic surgeries has Mayo Clinic performed, and what are the benefits compared to open-heart surgery (sternotomy)?
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Anticoagulation with AF and Cancer
Guest: Nicholas Tan, M.D., M.S.
Host: Anthony H. Kashou, M.D.
In today’s episode of ECG Making Waves, Dr. Anthony Kashou interviews Dr. Nicholas Tan on how to manage anticoagulation in patients with cancer. They discuss the importance of appreciating the challenging balance in managing stroke risk in patients with cancer and atrial fibrillation. After listening to this episode, listeners will understand alternative strategies for stroke prevention in addition to systemic anticoagulation.
Topics Discussed:
- What is the relationship between cancer and atrial fibrillation?
- Why is stroke prevention challenging in this situation?
- What is the role of left atrial appendage closure in cancer patients?
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Ceramide Risk Score: How to Incorporate it Into Your CV Prevention Practice
Guest: Vlad Vasile, M.D., Ph.D.
Host: Stephen L. Kopecky, M.D.
Ceramides score is a blood test used to assess the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Most patients evaluated for cardiovascular risk benefit from this test, particularly patients deemed at intermediate risk by other assessments. Score is reported as numbers: the higher the score, the higher the risk. Ceramides score is reproducible and modifiable with lifestyle interventions and medications that lower cholesterol; it also helps with tracking patient progress and motivation.
Topics Discussed:
- What is the ceramides score?
- How is ceramides score different than hs CRP?
- Who benefits from ceramides testing?
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
CT Scan for Coronary Artery Calcification Window
Guest: Thomas C. Gerber, M.D., Ph.D.
Host: Stephen L. Kopecky, M.D.
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) scanning can help improving our assessment of the risk of heart attack or stroke in thoughtfully selected patients. Not everyone needs a CAC scan! The results of a CAC scan can be particularly helpful in deciding whether a patient should start medications to reduce their risk. Coronary artery calcium scanning is *not* used to follow a patient’s risk over time (to see whether the risk is decreasing or increasing).
Topics Discussed:
- How is a coronary artery calcification (CAC) scan done, and what can the results tell us about a patient’s cardiovascular risk and management?
- Who should consider having a CAC scan? Should a patient discuss the possibility of a CAC scan with their doctor, and should they just self-refer to a screening center?
- What changes can we make in patient management based on CAC scan findings?
- How should we monitor whether the management is improving the patient’s cardiovascular risk? How often should a CAC scan be done?
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Management of Postoperative Pericarditis.
Guest: Melissa Erdman, P.A.-C.
Guest: Juan Crestanello, M.D.
Host: Sharonne Hayes, M.D.
In this podcast, Mayo Clinic experts explore the complexities of diagnosing and managing postoperative pericarditis, a condition that presents unique challenges compared to other forms of pericarditis. The discussion delves into how this complication differs in presentation and progression, outlines current treatment approaches used in clinical practice, and examines potential preventive strategies that surgeons and care teams can implement to reduce its incidence and severity.
Topics Discussed:
- How is postoperative pericarditis different from other causes?
- What are the management strategies you are using to treat these patients?
- Are there measures that surgeons can take to prevent or reduce incidence or severity?
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
How a Years Worth of Experience of PFA for AF has Revolutionized My Practice
Guest: Christopher DeSimone, M.D., Ph.D.
Guest: Abhishek Deshmukh, M.B.B.S.
Host: Anthony H. Kashou, M.D.
Patients most commonly have undergone traditional catheter ablation for AF via a thermal energy source. A newer energy modality is called Pulsed Field Ablation – using very high energy pulsation of strong voltages to destroy tissue responsible for AF. At Mayo Clinic, we have significant expertise in using this technology for our patients. This has changed our ablation practice, approach to ablation, and has made a tremendous impact on AF management.
Topics Discussed:
- How has the implementation of PFA for AFib changed your practice?
- What are some of the benefits of offering patients PFA?
- How has experience with this technology reflected your ablation approach?
- Where is the field of PFA heading to next for AFib?
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Lipoprotein (a) Elevation: What Does it do to CV Risk and What do You Need to Know About Treatment
Guest: Vlad Vasile, M.D., Ph.D.
Host: Stephen L. Kopecky, M.D.
Lipoprotein (a) is a blood biomarker that poses independent risk of heart attacks and stroke when elevated. All patients should be screened for this biomarker. Currently, there are no efficient treatments for lipoprotein (a) elevations, but likely the scenery will change as we will have treatments available in the near future. For now, we recommend a healthy lifestyle, medications that lower cholesterol, aspirin and screening of all first-degree relatives of patients with elevated lipoprotein (a), including children.
Topics Discussed:
- What is lipoprotein (a)?
- How does lipoprotein (a) increase cardiovascular risk?
- How do we treat lipoprotein (a) elevation?
- Do you screen children of patients with elevated lipoprotein (a)?
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
How to Tell Patients about Adding in Intervals to Their Physical Activity Program
Guest: Kate Russell, C.E.P.
Host: Stephen L. Kopecky, M.D.
Intervals are a hugely beneficial addition to any exercise program. As with any exercise topic, finding good information can be difficult and overwhelming. We will discuss how to modify intervals to fit patients of all ages, fitness levels, and limitations
Topics Discussed:
- How do I do intervals if I am unable to run?
- Should I base my intensity on heart rates?
- What’s more important, the length of the interval or the intensity?
Click here for the citation for the research article that Dr. Kopecky references, or see below:
Stamatakis E, Ahmadi M, Biswas RK, et al. Br J Sports Med Epub ahead of print: [01.13.2025]. doi:10.1136/ bjsports-2024-108484
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Role of Thrombophilia Testing in Venous Thromboembolism
Guest: Ana Casanegra, M.D., M.S.
Host: Kyle Klarich, M.D.
Thrombophilia testing identifies inherited or acquired conditions that increase the risk of abnormal blood clotting. Sometimes it can help us guide management decisions for patients, but who and when to test are key questions to address before making this decision.
Topics Discussed:
- What is thrombophilia, what is the difference with hypercoagulable states?
- Who should consider getting tested for thrombophilia, what does the testing process involve, and what to consider in preparation for it?
- How can the results of thrombophilia testing impact a person’s medical management and lifestyle?
- Are there downsides of thrombophilia testing?
Easily check your diet with mini-eat.org as discussed by Dr. Lara-Breitinger and Dr. Kopecky!
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Electrophysiology Considerations in Oncology Patients
Guest: Nicholas Tan, M.D., M.S.
Host: Anthony H. Kashou, M.D.
In today’s episode of ECG Making Waves, Dr. Anthony Kashou interviews Dr. Nicholas Tan on how clinicians should consider electrophysiology in the patient with cancer. After listening to this episode, learners will understand the relationship between cancer and heart rhythm disorders, as well as begin to appreciate how cancer and arrhythmia treatments can interact.
Topics Discussed:
- Why are arrhythmias even relevant in cancer patients?
- What are some key arrhythmias associated with cancer or their therapies?
- What is a general approach towards managing arrhythmias in cancer patients?
Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.
LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Education App:
The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!
No CME credit offered for this episode.
Podcast episode transcript found here.