Echocardiography and Structural Heart Symposium, 42nd Annual

September 26, 2025 to September 27, 2025
 

Live, In-Person Symposium | 14.5 Cat. 1
Friday-Saturday, September 26-27, 2025
Loews Coral Gables Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida

Welcome to the 42nd Annual Echocardiography and Structural Heart Symposium.

As valvular heart disease and structural heart treatments become increasingly integral within cardiology, our symposium focuses on building the fundamental tools of echocardiography. Tailored to both beginner and advanced skills, each section is constructed from the ground up, ensuring a comprehensive understanding from the perspective of the sonographer scanning the patient to the reader, be it a cardiologist or medical professional, taking care of the patient.

Herbert Greene, MD
Baptist Health’s 42nd Annual Echocardiography and Structural Heart Symposium is endorsed by the American Society of Echocardiography.

What to Expect

  • Core Echocardiography Principles: Our agenda spans core echocardiography principles, encompassing cardiac structure, function and hemodynamics assessment, aligned with current guidelines.
  • Cutting-Edge Discussions: Internationally renowned faculty will lead discussions on the latest technologies and future directions in structural heart disease assessment and treatment.
  • Advanced Imaging Techniques and Treatment Approaches: Topics will range from advanced echocardiography imaging techniques like 3-D, Strain, CT, and TEE to innovative valve repair approaches such as TAVR, TEER, and more.
  • Special Focus Areas: A spotlight will shine on the treatment of aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves, as well as interatrial septum valvular heart disease, tailored to specific patient populations, including those with cancer, atrial fibrillation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • Controversies and Debates: Controversies surrounding diagnostic and treatment approaches will also be addressed.

Who Should Attend

This year's symposium extends a special invitation to cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, critical care physicians, ED physicians, sonographers, sonography students, anesthesiologists and medical professionals deeply invested in echocardiography and the latest advancements in structural heart disease diagnosis and treatment.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this symposium, participants should be better able to:

  • Enhance understanding and communication: Gain insight into valve disease fundamentals from the sonographer's perspective, fostering improved collaboration with reading cardiologists in echocardiography.
  • Utilize a multidisciplinary approach: Learn to diagnose and treat structural heart disease through collaboration within a structural heart team.
  • Develop proficiency in advanced imaging: Discern complex echocardiographic presentations and effectively apply advanced imaging techniques in both normal and abnormal cardiac conditions, including valvular heart disease and other pathologies.
  • Demonstrate the utility of multimodality imaging: Showcase the use of multimodality imaging in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the evaluation of left atrial appendage and valvular heart disease.
  • Apply comprehensive management: Assess and manage aortic, mitral and tricuspid valve pathologies, as well as interatrial septum issues, utilizing basic and advanced imaging techniques to guide treatment effectively.
  • Utilize evidence-based data for optimization: Apply current evidence-based clinical data in optimizing treatment strategies for various structural heart interventions, including TAVR, TMVR, TEER, LAA occluder devices, paravalvular leaks and EtOH septal ablation.
  • Demonstrate procedural guidance: Exhibit proficiency in managing structural heart procedures using transesophageal and 3-D imaging techniques in the cardiac catheterization lab.
  • Define tricuspid valve anatomy and implications: Further define tricuspid valve anatomy and its implications for transcatheter therapy in treating tricuspid regurgitation.

Registration and Fees

 Standard RateDaily Rate
Physicians$495$250
Baptist Health Employees$150$80
Physicians-in-Training*$150$80
Students$100$65
Others$325$165
ASE Members - Physicians$395$200
ASE Members - Others$260$135

* Registration must be accompanied by a letter from the Fellowship/Residency Director.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be received by Friday, September 12, 2025 to receive a refund of the registration fee, less a $35 administrative fee. Registration fees are not refundable after Friday, September 12, 2025.

Commercial Support

Baptist Health gratefully acknowledges the educational grants provided by Abbott Cardiovascular, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic.

Course Summary
Course opens: 
04/18/2025
Course expires: 
10/31/2025
Event starts: 
09/26/2025 - 8:00am EDT
Event ends: 
09/27/2025 - 4:00pm EDT
Cost:
$1.00

Agenda

Friday, September 26 - 7.25 Cat. 1

6:30 AMRegistration, Breakfast and Exhibits
7:15 AMWelcome and Opening Remarks
Tom C. Nguyen, M.D. 
Mitral Valve Disease
7:30 AMPanel Introductions
7:35 AMExploring Valvular Heart Disease: Guidelines, Updates and Diagnostic Insights
Vera H. Rigolin, M.D. 
7:55 AMSonographer's Perspective: Mastering Mitral Regurgitation Evaluation
Elliott Elias, M.D., MPH
8:10 AMPrimary vs. Secondary Mitral Regurgitation: Disease Progression and Treatment Strategies
Stephen H. Little, M.D.
8:30 AMInteractive Case-Based Discussion: Surgery for Functional MR – Is There a Role?
Ana Victoria Soto-Quintela, M.D.
8:45 AMThree-Way Debate: The Best Approach for Mitral Valve Treatment – Robotic, Surgical or Transcatheter
  • Robotic Surgery
    Makoto Hashimoto, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
    Gerald M. Lawrie, M.D.
  • Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair
    Nish Patel, M.D.
9:30 AMPanel Discussion
9:40 AMBreak and Exhibits
10:05 AMPanel Introductions
10:10 AMQuiz and Teaching – Mitral Valve Disease
10:20 AMMitral Stenosis: A Resolved Challenge or an Ongoing Puzzle? Calcific vs. Rheumatic Disease Considerations
Linda Gillam, M.D.
10:40 AMBeyond Surgery and Transcatheter Repair: Leveraging Advanced MRI/CT Imaging to Personalize Mitral Valve Therapy — Are We Ready for Patient-Tailored Solutions?
Omar Khalique, M.D.
11:00 AMPushing Boundaries in TMVR: Successes, Setbacks and What's Next
Nish Patel, M.D. 
11:10 AMPanel Discussion
Echo Insights: From Pericardial Precision to Diastology with the World's Expert
11:20 AMPanel Introductions
11:25 AMQuiz and Teaching – Challenging Structural Heart Cases
11:35 AMBeyond the Heart: The Critical Role of Its Surroundings – Differentiating PE, Constriction and Effusion
Ana Victoria Soto-Quintela, M.D.
11:55 AMUpdate on Diastology with New Guidelines
Jae K. Oh, M.D. 
12:25 PMLunch, Exhibits and Product Theater
Complex Cases and Controversies: Diastology, LA Appendage and Surgical Dilemmas
1:40 PMPanel Introductions
1:45 PMQuiz and Teaching – Complex Cases and Controversies
1:50 PMEcho and AI: Emerging Tools for Automated Quantification and Decision Support
Linda Gillam, M.D.
2:05 PMMultimodality Imaging of Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage
Muhamed Saric, M.D., Ph.D.
2:25 PMLive Case Discussion – A Surgical Dilemma
Socrates Kakoulides, M.D. 
2:40 PMDiastology in Practice: Case-Based Interpretation
Muhamed Saric, M.D., Ph.D.
3:05 PMBreak and Exhibits
Tricuspid Valve Disease
3:30 PMPanel Introductions
3:35 PMQuiz and Teaching – Tricuspid Valve Disease
3:45 PMTricuspid Valve: Remembering the Forgotten Valve
Vera H. Rigolin, M.D. 
4:05 PMMRI Talk on RV Function in the Setting of Tricuspid Disease
Omar Khalique, M.D.
4:25 PMTTVR vs. T-TEER: Balancing Excitement with Practicality for the General Cardiologist
Stephen H. Little, M.D.
4:45 PMDebate Tricuspid Therapies - Seeing the Whole Picture or Flying Blind? 
  • Part 1: Transcatheter Edged-to-Edge Repair (tTEER) - Why TCT is the Future
    Lowie Van Assche, M.D.
  • Part 2: Surgical Tricuspid Repair - I Can See and React to Everything...You’re Still in the Dark
    Gerald M. Lawrie, M.D.
5:10 PMAdjourn
5:25 PMProduct Theater 

Saturday, September 27 - 7.25 Cat. 1

6:30 AMRegistration, Breakfast and Exhibits
7:25 AMWelcome and Opening Remarks
Elliott Elias, M.D., MPH
Damian Chaupin, M.D.
Aortic Valve Disease
7:30 AMPanel Introductions
7:35 AMQuiz and Teaching – Aortic Valve Disease
7:40 AMDeciphering Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis: Comparing TAVR and SAVR Outcomes, and Are We Overtreating Aortic Stenosis?
Linda Gillam, M.D.
8:00 AMInteractive Case-Based Discussion: Aortic Valve Disease Challenge
Sergiu Darabant, M.D.
8:10 AMCurrent and Future Landscape of TAVR: Our TAVR Patient: Pre-, Intra- and Post-Procedural Workup – Echo-Based Approach
Muhamed Saric, M.D., Ph.D.
8:30 AMDebate: TAVR vs. SAVR – Which Treatment Should Prevail? A Surgical vs. Structural Heart Showdown
  • Surgeon
  • Structuralist
  • Rebuttal and Final Arguments
Tom C. Nguyen, M.D.
Bernardo Lopez Sanabria, M.D.
9:10 AMPanel Discussion
9:20 AMBreak and Exhibits
Aortic Regurgitation
9:50 AMPanel Introductions
9:55 AMQuiz and Teaching – Aortic Regurgitation
10:00 AMAortic Regurgitation: Striking the Balance Before the Tipping Point - Case-based Insights into Timing Surgical Intervention Before Irreversible LV Dysfunction
Sergiu Darabant, M.D.
Paula Montana De La Cadena, M.D. 
10:30 AMAortic Regurgitation: Defining Severity, Outcomes and Treatment Timing
Vera H. Rigolin, M.D. 
10:50 AMMultimodality Imaging in Aortic Valve Disease: Case Examples of Multimodality Imaging
João Cavalcante, M.D.
11:10 AMAortic Regurgitation Through the Eyes of a Surgeon: Evolving from Basic Surgical Techniques to Advanced Repair
Bradley S. Taylor, M.D., MPH
11:25 AMPanel Discussion
Imaging with Our Experts - Multimodality Imaging
11:35 AMPanel Introductions
11:40 AMQuiz and Teaching – Multimodality Imaging
11:45 AMDidactic Lecture: Shunts/PFO/Bubble/Evaluation of a Cardiac Source of Embolism
Muhamed Saric, M.D., Ph.D.
12:05 PMThe Adjunctive Role of CMR for Cardiomyopathies: When Echo is Not Enough
Omar Khalique, M.D.
12:20 PMMultimodality Imaging to Solve, Guide or Plan Specific Structural Cases or Surgical Cases
João Cavalcante, M.D.
12:30 PMLunch, Exhibits and Product Theater
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
1:30 PMPanel Introductions
1:35 PMLive Scanning Session with Strain,3D, X-plane, Meet Our Expert Scanner
Veronica Gonzalez Fernandez, RDCS, RVT, RDMS
2:00 PMQuiz and Teaching – Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
2:05 PMAdvancements in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Comprehensive Review
Vera H. Rigolin, M.D. 
2:25 PMHCM Through the Sonographer's Lens: Real-World Experience, Key Takeaways and Imaging Pearls
Angelina Luxardo, RDCS, ROMS
2:40 PMMultimodality Imaging for HCM: Echo, MRI and CT Applications
João Cavalcante, M.D.
3:00 PMHCM Surgery: A View from the Operating Room
Gerald M. Lawrie, M.D.
3:15 PMPanel Discussion
Structural Valve Degeneration and Prosthetic Valve Cases
3:25 PMQuiz and Teaching – Structural Valve Degeneration and Prosthetic Valve Cases
3:30 PMPanel Introductions
3:35 PMSurgical Backup after Transcatheter Failure
Bradley S. Taylor, M.D., MPH
3:50 PMWhat Should I Expect from My Surgeon and Structuralist? Mechanisms of Prosthetic Valve Failure
Linda Gillam, M.D.
4:10 PMStructural Valve Degeneration of a TAVR Valve, Patient-Prosthetic Mismatch, Explant TAVR
Stephen H. Little, M.D.
4:30 PMStrain Imaging in 2025: Advancements and Applications Across Cardiac Pathologies
Christos George Mihos, D.O.
4:45 PMAdjourn

NOTE: Schedule subject to change.

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Loews Coral Gables Hotel

2950 Coconut Grove Dr.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
United States
+1 (786) 772-7600


Located just four blocks south of the iconic Miracle Mile, Loews Coral Gables Hotel is part of a mixed-use new development - The Plaza Coral Gables.

In addition to its 242 expertly appointed guestrooms, refined amenities, and expansive indoor and outdoor meeting space, The Plaza Coral Gables is home to new office space, residential units, high-end retail, and a public collection of curated international art.

Rooms Rates and Highlights

  • Special group rates starting from $239 USD per night, plus taxes/fees
  • Room service - Free Wi-Fi - Complimentary fitness center access - Spa - Pool

Services + Amenities

Pick your lounge chair and take a dip in our pool, located on our 9th-floor al fresco deck. Enjoy full food and beverage service featuring delicious poolside cuisine and hand-shaken cocktails for soaking up the Miami sun. Enjoy panoramic views of downtown Coral Gables and enhance your pool day with a VIP cabana experience.

Relax and renew at The Spa at Loews Coral Gables, featuring restorative body therapies and facial treatments, as well as hair and nail salon services set in an elegant ambiance. The Spa offers a serene and elegant ambiance to indulge in self-care.

Adjacent to The Spa is our Fitness Studio, the perfect escape for an energizing workout, featuring state-of-art equipment and free weights including Peloton bikes and Technogym cardio equipment.

Dining

Savor the flavors of Miami with locally curated sips and bites at four distinct restaurants and lounges. Enjoy some of Coral Gables’ best culinary experiences, from al fresco, and poolside dining to approachable all-American fare, elevated mixology, and quick, fresh bites.

Travel Information

The drive time between the Loews Coral Gables Hotel and Miami International Airport (MIA) is around 20 minutes and covers a distance of around 5 miles.

Coral Gables

From historic Mediterranean Revival architecture to a thriving cultural scene, Coral Gables is truly the City Beautiful. Coral Gables was planned in the 1920s by visionary developer George Merrick. Situated a few miles southwest of Downtown Miami, the area is filled with wide, tree-lined avenues named after Spanish and Italian towns. It features stunning Mediterranean Revival architecture complemented by plazas, parks and fountains.

Explore Coral GablesExplore Miami

Symposium Directors

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Elliott J. Elias, M.D., MPH, FACC, FASE, FSCCT
Cardiologist
Medical Director of Cardiac and Structural Imaging
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida
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Damian F. Chaupin, M.D.
Cardiologist
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida

Faculty

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João L. Cavalcante, M.D., FASE, FACC, FSCCT, FSCMR
Section Head, Cardiac Imaging
Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute
Director, Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center and Core Lab
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Sergiu Darabant, M.D.
Medical Cardiologist
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida
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Linda D. Gillam, M.D., MPH, MACC, FAHA, FASE
Dorothy and Lloyd Huck Chair
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
Medical Director Cardiovascular Service Line
Morristown Medical Center/Atlantic Health System
Morristown, New Jersey
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Veronica Gonzalez Fernandez, RDCS, RVT, RDMS
Echocardiographer
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida
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Makoto Hashimoto, M.D.
Cardiac Surgeon
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Director and Professor of Robotic Cardiac Surgery
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Miami, Florida
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Socrates V. Kakoulides, M.D.
Medical Director, Diagnostic Center
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Miami, Florida
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Omar Khalique, M.D.
Director, Division of Cardiovascular Imaging
Saint Francis Hospital and Catholic Health System of Long Island
Director, Cardiovascular Imaging Research and Education
DeMatteis Cardiovascular Institute
Roslyn, New York
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Gerald M. Lawrie, M.D.
Michael E. DeBakey Distinguished Chair in Cardiac Surgery
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery
Institute for Academic Medicine
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College
Houston, Texas
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Stephen H. Little, M.D.
President, American Society of Echocardiography
Director, Cardiovascular Fellowship Program
Director of Structural Heart, Houston Methodist Hospital System
John S. Dunn Chair in Clinical Cardiovascular Research and Education
Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston, Texas
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Bernardo Lopez Sanabria, M.D.
Interventional Cardiologist
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida
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Angelina Luxardo, RDCS, RDMS
Cardiovascular Sonographer
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida
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Christos George Mihos, D.O.
Director, Echocardiography Laboratory
Columbia University Division of Cardiology
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Miami Beach, Florida
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Paula Montana De La Cadena, M.D.
Cardiologist
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida
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Tom C. Nguyen, M.D.
Chief Medical Executive
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Director of Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
Barry T. Katzen Endowed Chair
Professor of Surgery
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Miami, Florida
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Jae K. Oh, M.D.
Professor, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Samsung Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Consultant, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Director, Echo Core Lab, Mayo Clinic
Director, Pericardial Diseases Clinic, Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota
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Nish Patel, M.D.
Interventional Cardiologist and Structural Heart Interventionalist
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida
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Vera H. Rigolin, M.D., M.S., FASE, FACC, FAHA
Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Director, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute System Echocardiography Laboratory Quality
Past-President, American Society of Echocardiography
Chicago, Illinois
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Muhamed Saric, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Noninvasive Cardiology & Echo Lab
Professor of Medicine
New York University Langone Health
New York, New York
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Ana Victoria Soto-Quintela, M.D., FACC, FASE
Clinical Cardiologist and Advanced Structural Echocardiographer at MyCardiologist CVAUSA
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Echocardiography Operations Committee Co-Chair
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
Miami, Florida
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Bradley S. Taylor, M.D., MPH
Chief of Cardiac Surgery
Baptist Health North Region
Chief of Quality and Outcomes
Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care
Boca Raton, FL
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Lowie Van Assche, M.D.
Interventional Cardiologist
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida

Accreditation

Baptist Health South Florida is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Baptist Health has been re-surveyed by the ACCME and awarded Commendation for 6 years as a provider of CME for physicians.

Baptist Health South Florida designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been approved for a total of 14.5 credit hours, CE Broker Course #20-1299285, by the Florida Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine and by the Florida Council of Physician Assistants.

This activity has been approved for 14.5 credits for Nurse Practitioners and Nurses, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Techs and Respiratory Therapists (direct delivery). CE Broker Course #20-1299285. Baptist Health South Florida CE Broker Provider #50-182.

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American Board of Surgery - Maintenance of Certification (MOC) - Accredited CME- General and Vascular Surgery

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 14.5 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Your participation information will be shared with specialty boards through the ACCME's PARS reporting system. Submissions are recorded in approximately 48 hours. You will receive an email when your credits have been processed.

Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Sonographers and vascular technologists may use these credits to fulfill their ARDMS requirements.  The ARDMS accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) accepts CEs accredited by the ACCME. Individuals are responsible for checking with the AANPCB for further guidelines.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ claimed by physicians attending live events certified and organized in the United States for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ can be claimed through the agreement on mutual recognition of credits between UEMS and AMA, considered as being equal to the European Continuous Medical Education Credits (ECMEC©) granted by the UEMS. One AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is equivalent to one (1) hour of European EACCME Credit (ECMEC©). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Disclaimer

Baptist Health South Florida presents this CME activity for use by healthcare professionals for educational purposes only. Opinions, perspectives and information presented by the faculty represent their ideas and views, and participants should carefully consider all available scientific data before acting on knowledge gained through this activity. Additionally, participants should consult the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approved uses prior to prescribing medications or utilizing medical devices discussed in this activity.

While Baptist Health makes reasonable efforts to ensure that accurate information is presented, no warranty, expressed or implied, is offered. Participants should rely on their own clinical judgment, knowledge and experience before applying information acquired to their professional use.

Price

Cost:
$1.00
Please login or register for a Baptist Health CME account to take this course.

Please ensure the payment amount is accurate during checkout. If the amount displayed is $1.00, please remove the course from your cart and add it again to correct the issue. For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact our office at 786-596-2398.