The Congenital Heart Course

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Stay at the forefront of congenital heart care at the Congenital Heart Course focused on the latest advances shaping the future of congenital and pediatric cardiovascular care.

Join leading experts, innovators, and multidisciplinary care teams at the Texas Cardiovascular Innovations Conference for a dedicated Congenital Heart Course focused on the latest advances shaping the future of congenital and pediatric cardiovascular care. This specialized program brings together physicians, surgeons, intensivists, nurses, researchers, and allied professionals to explore emerging technologies, evidence-based therapies, and collaborative approaches that are improving outcomes for patients across every stage of life.

Attendees will gain insight into cutting-edge developments in perinatal and fetal cardiology, evolving strategies for single ventricle and heart failure management, and the latest innovations in interventional, electrophysiology, and surgical care. The summit will also highlight critical care advancements designed to support the complex needs of congenital heart patients in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment.

Through expert-led sessions, interactive discussions, and opportunities for collaboration, the Congenital Heart Course offers a dynamic forum for advancing knowledge, sharing best practices, and shaping the next generation of congenital heart care.

Featured Topics

Perinatal and Fetal Cardiology Innovations
Advances in Single Ventricle and Heart Failure Management
Interventions, Arrhythmias & Surgical Innovation
Critical Care of the Congenital Heart Patient

Congenital Heart Agenda

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Congenital Heart Session I:
Perinatal Cardiovascular Challenges and Dilemmas

7:00 – 7:55 Am

Registration & Breakfast

7:55 – 8:00 Am

Welcome Remarks and Introductions
Mahesh Sharma, MD

8:00 – 8:20 Am

Perinatal and Delivery Management of the Newborn with CHD: Is Timing Everything?
Veronica Gonzales-Brown, MD

8:20 – 8:40 Am

Managing the “Ductal Dependent” Preterm Neonate: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Jennifer Johnson, DO

8:40 – 9:00 Am

Neonatal Care in Babies with Critical Congenital Heart Disease: Things We Wish We Knew from a Neonatal Cardiologist
Victor Levy, MD

9:00 – 9:20 Am

Controversies in Complete Stage 1 Hybrid Palliation for HLHS
Shyam Santhanandam, MD

9:20 – 9:30 Am

BREAK/VISIT EXHIBITS

9:30 – 9:50 Am

Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia: Strategies for Complex Neonatal Repairs
Timothy Hudson, DO

9:50 – 10:10 Am

Considerations for Effective Neonatal Perfusion
Kristie Steffens, CCP, LP, FPP

10:10 – 10:30 Am

“How Small is Too Small?” Cardiac Surgery in Preterm & Low-Birth-Weight Infants
Mahesh Sharma, MD, FACS

10:30 – 10:40 Am

Panel Discussion & Q&A

Congenital Heart Session II:
Challenges and Opportunities in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care

10:40 – 11:00 Am

Managing the High-Acuity Post-Op Neonate in the PCICU
Jai Udassi, MD

11:00 – 11:20 Am

Neurodevelopmental Interventions in the CICU: Why Some Things are Not Optional
Kimberly DiMaria, DNP, CPNP-AC, CCRN

11:20 – 11:40 Am

Acute Kidney Injury After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: Strategies to Mitigate and Manage Renal Failure
Daniel Ranch, MD, MBA

11:40 AM – 12:00 Pm

Critical Care Controversies: Timing of Extubation and Mobilization
Jenn Gauntt, MD

12:00 – 12:10 Pm

BREAK/VISIT EXHIBITS

12:10 – 12:30 Pm

Personalized Surgical Planning for Aortic Valve-Sparing Operations
Justin T. Tretter, MD

12:30 – 12:50 Pm

Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement in Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease
Sameh M. Said, MD

12:50 – 1:10 Pm

Transcatheter Valve Options in Native RVOT: Long-term Durability and Outcomes
Yousef M. Arar, MD

1:10 – 1:20 Pm

Panel Discussion & Q&A

1:20 – 2:20 Pm

Lunch Break

Congenital Heart Session III:
The Modern Congenital Heart Patient (Adults & Heart Failure)

2:20 – 2:40 Pm

The 2025 ACHD Guidelines: Implementation in Daily Practice
Pooja Kashyap, MD

2:40 – 3:00 Pm

Pediatric Heart Failure: SGLT2 Inhibitors and New Medical Therapies
Jai Udassi, MD

3:00 – 3:20 Pm

Mechanical Circulatory Support in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Sunil P. Malhotra, MD

3:20 – 3:30 Pm

Panel Discussion & Q&A

3:30 Pm

Closing Remarks