Comedian Dana Carvey To Be A Special Guest At "Controversies And Advances" Symposium For Heart Specialists

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 27, 2008 -- Comedian Dana Carvey is not a doctor and he doesn't even play one on TV, but he does know something about heart disease (http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/5640.html) -- from a patient's perspective -- and will be a special guest at the eighth annual "Controversies and Advances in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease (http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/2334.html)," which draws heart specialists from around the world to Beverly Hills.

The two-day symposium is one of the few that brings together both heart doctors (http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/1006.html) and heart surgeons and encourages debate as well as education. It will be held Sept. 4 and 5 at the Beverly Hills Hotel and is sponsored by the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in conjunction with the California Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and the California Chapter of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

This year's keynote speakers include:

? James T. Dove, M.D., of Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants in Springfield, Ill, and president-elect of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Dove has been involved in clinical research throughout his career and was awarded Mastership in the American College of Physicians in 2002. Topic:"Cardiovascular Health Care Policy: Charting the Future."

? Spencer B. King, III, M.D., of Saint Joseph's Heart and Vascular Institute in Atlanta. Dr. King is a pioneer in cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography who co-developed the multipurpose technique of coronary arteriography. Topic: "A Tribute to Andreas Gruentzig: A 30-year Odyssey and His Legacy of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention."

? Eduardo Marbán, M.D., Ph.D., director of theCedars-Sinai Heart Institute (http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/2266.html). Dr. Marbán is a renowned expert in molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying heart problems and serves as editor-in-chief of Circulation Research. Topic: "Biologic Pacemakers: From Bench to Bedside?"

? Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform. Dr. McClellan is a physician and economist, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Topic: "Health Care Policy in an Election Year."

? Eric J. Topol, M.D., of Scripps Health, the Scripps Research Institute and Scripps Clinic. Dr. Topol is an internationally renowned researcher involved in the discovery of dysfunctional gene variants "MEF2A" and "FLAP" and their role in markedly increasing a person's risk of heart attack. Topic:"PharmacoGenomics: Is it the Future of Medicine?"

Emmy-award winning Carvey, who was a member of the Saturday Night Live cast for seven seasons and is well-known for his characters and impressions, is a patient of Prediman Krishan (P.K.) Shah, M.D., director of the Division of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai.

Shah will present a state-of-the art lecture on ongoing research for the development of a vaccine for atherosclerosis. Other state-of-the art lecturers will be:

? Eberhard Grube, M.D., of Heart Center Siegburg in Siegburg, Germany. Topic:"Next Generation of Drug Eluting Stents: Is it the Solution?"

? Jagat Narula, M.D., Ph. D., of the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center. Topic: "Cardiac Imaging" (http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/736.html): Next Opportunities and Challenges."

? W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr., M.D., of East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine and president of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/1159.html). Topic: "American College of Cardiology and Society of Thoracic Surgeons: A Timely Collaboration."

? Ann F. Bolger, M.D., University of California, San Francisco. Topic: "Endocarditis Prophylaxis: Current Standards and Remaining Controversies."

? Alfred A. Bove, M.D., Ph.D., Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. Topic: "Exercise and the Heart: The Risk/Benefit Ratio."

In addition to the lectures, eight "Cross Fires" will feature panelists and group conversations, and 10 debates will address controversial medical and surgical issues.

This year's program directors are Gregory P. Fontana, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon and vice chairman of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai; Raj Makkar, M.D., cardiologist and director of Interventional Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai; Shah; Alfredo Trento, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai; John G. Harold, M.D., cardiologist and chair-elect, American College of Cardiology Board of Governors, and past Chief of Staff of Cedars- Sinai; and Gordon L. Fung, M.D., Ph.D., cardiologist and director of the Cardiology Consultation Service, the Cardiac Noninvasive Laboratory and the Enhanced External Counterpulsation Unit.

Registration fees to attend the symposium range from $195 to $795, depending on profession and affiliation with the American College of Cardiology. Registration information is available from Promedica International CME at 760-720-2263.

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