Cedars-Sinai Cardiac Surgery Chair Leads Scientific Program at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026

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.