"If you're not using an intravascular imaging modality, the PCI is not optimal," explained Haroon Faraz, MD, from Hackensack University Medical Center. Faraz is hopeful new and improved technologies will help these modalities become more popular among interventional cardiologists.
“Physical AI agents being able to actually deliver some of these services—all the way into robotic surgery—this is where we're going to see this next chapter of medicine be written,” said Kimberly Powell, vice president and general manager of healthcare at Nvidia.
Cardiology has largely shifted to hospital-employed models, driven by reimbursement compression and evolving physician priorities. This has created challenges as well as opportunities.
ASE President David Wiener detailed some of the many ways imaging societies need to adapt now that so many imagers are specializing in multiple modalities. It may be time to change how annual conferences are scheduled, for example, so that the costs of travel are easier to manage.
As of January 2026, there will only be two CPT category 1 payment codes for newer AI, despite there being hundreds of FDA-cleared medical imaging algorithms.
Harlan Krumholz, MD, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), explains changes in how the journals will be reviewing articles and disseminating information.
"A significant part of burnout stems from the overwhelming administrative burden," explains Elizabeth Ann Ignacio, MD, FSIR, FACR, chair of the SIR Small and Rural Practices Committee.
Kathleen Campbell Walker, JD, immigration practice group chair at the law firm Dickinson Wright, explains how outdated immigration policy is exacerbating the healthcare staffing shortage.
Pedro Martinez-Clark, MD, an interventional cardiologist and founder of Amavita Heart and Vascular Health, explains the health disparities he encounters that block the delivery of care in certain parts of Miami.
Dana Smetherman, MD, CEO of the American College of Radiology, explains resources available through its Data Science Institute to evaluate and validate the quality of imaging algorithms.
Elizabeth Ann Ignacio, MD, FSIR, FACR, chair of SIR Small and Rural Practices Committee, and an ACR board member, outlines ways to make these positions outside of major cities more attractive.
Cardio-rheumatology clinics use a heart team-like approach to enhance care for patients with chronic conditions such as lupus, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. "It's not just about cardiology," the director of one clinic explains. "We work closely with rheumatologists, dermatologists and even primary care physicians to provide comprehensive care."
Brittany Nicole Weber, MD, PhD, detailed new research into the benefits of screening for cardiovascular disease in CT scans not specifically ordered for that purpose. The rise of AI has helped make opportunistic screening a huge trend in both cardiology and radiology.
