Cedars-Sinai Cardiac Surgery Chair Leads Scientific Program at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026
Joanna Chikwe, MD, FRCS, FAHA, and Other Experts From the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Are Available To Comment on New Research, Clinical Advances
Joanna Chikwe, MD, FRCS, FAHA, chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, is leading programming at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026, Nov. 6-9 in Chicago. Together with other experts from Cedars-Sinai, Chikwe is available to comment on the latest medical advances to be presented at #ScientificSessions26.
As volunteer chair of the Scientific Sessions 2026 Program Committee, Chikwe led nearly 100 cardiovacular disease subject matter experts from around the world to create a robust program of educational, research and clinical practice content at the meeting.
Cedars-Sinai Experts
Several other Cedars-Sinai experts will be available for media interviews throughout the meeting, including:
C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, FAHA, director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, who can discuss preventive care and sex differences in cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association will honor Bairey Merz with the Laennec Clinician-Educator Award & Lecture on Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m. CST.
Sumeet Chugh, MD, FAHA, vice dean and chief artificial intelligence health research officer, who can comment on AI-related research and clinical advances.
Joseph Ebinger, MD, associate professor of Cardiology and director of the Coronary Intensive Care Unit and Clinical Analytics, who can discuss hypertension care and research.
Christopher Lee, MD, staff physician, who is available to comment on research related to lipoprotein(a), familial hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia.
Michael Shehata, MD, director of the Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, who can comment on research related to arrhythmia care.
Janet Wei, MD, FAHA, the Erika J. Glazer Chair in Women's Cardiovascular Research, Education and Innovation, who is available to discuss conditions that predominantly affect women, including myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA).
Media Contact
To arrange media interviews, contact Stephanie Cajigal—who will be on-site at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026—at [email protected] or via mobile and What’s App: (United States) +1-347-806-2938.