The Heart of Prevention

The Heart of Prevention is a podcast that helps clinicians stay up to date on preventive cardiology. Hosted by Cardiovascular Disease Fellow Keerthana Pakanati, MD, each episode features leading experts discussing real-world strategies to prevent heart disease, from lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to medical treatments, including new therapies. This podcast explores emerging research, innovative technologies, and patient-centered approaches, giving listeners actionable tools for their practice. We bring in experts actively shaping the field, ensuring the latest, most practical insights. Whether you're a medical student, resident, or practicing clinician, this podcast challenges, informs, and enhances your approach to cardiovascular prevention.

Get in touch: HeartofPrevention@aspconline.org

Episodes

Episode 14 May 10, 2026

The 2026 Dyslipidemia Guidelines Playbook: From Evidence to Action

Join host Dr. Keerthana Pakanati for an in-depth discussion with two leaders in preventive cardiology, Dr. Roger Blumenthal and Dr. Ty Gluckman, as they break down the highly anticipated 2026 ACC/AHA/Multisociety Dyslipidemia Guidelines.

Episode 13 April 22, 2026

ACC 2026 Prevention Recap: Trainee Perspectives from the Frontlines

Yara Jelwan, Second-year preventive cardiology fellow and ASPC cardiometabolic fellow at Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. Matched at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals

NIkita Jhawar, Second-year cardiology fellow at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey

Ivan Figueroa, PGY-2 Internal Medicine at San Juan City Hospital, Puerto Rico

Episode 12 March 18, 2026

Seeing Atherosclerosis: How Coronary Calcium Transforms Risk Assessment

Dr. Michael Blaha, Professor of Cardiology and Epidemiology, Director of Clinical Research for the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Director of the Cardiometabolic Clinic, Program Director for the Preventive Cardiology Fellowship

Dr. Khurram Nasir, Chief of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Wellness, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, William A. Zoghbi Centennial Chair in Cardiovascular Health at Houston Methodist. Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College. Professor of Cardiology, Houston Methodist Academic Institute. Co-Director, Houston Methodist-Rice University Digital Health Institute. Director, Center for Cardiovascular Computational & Precision Health. Program Director, Preventive Cardiology Fellowship, Houston Methodist. Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Episode 11 February 25, 2026

The Menopause Transition: A Critical Window for Cardiovascular Prevention

Dr. Lily Dastmalchi, Inova Schar Heart and Vascular Preventive Cardiology, Women’s Cardiovascular, Health and Cardio-Obstetric Physician, Leads the menopause program at Inova Schar, Assistant professor of clinical education at UVA Medical School, co-director of the Nutrition curriculum

Dr. Emily Lau, Co-Director, Mass General Brigham Women’s Heart Health Program, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Episode 10 February 11, 2026

Before the Breaking Point: Preventing Heart Failure in the Modern Era

Dr. Martha Gulati, Director, Davis Women’s Heart Center; Professor of Cardiology; Davis Women’s Heart Endowed Chair; Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center; Immediate Past President, ASPC

Dr. Anuradha Lala-Trindade, Professor of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Professor of Population Health Science & Policy; Director of Heart Failure Research; Program Director, Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Fellowship; Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Cardiac Failure (official journal of HFSA)

Episode 9 January 28, 2026

Women's Cardiovascular Health - The Pregnancy Connection

Dr. Kardie Tobb, Medical Director Women Heart Health & Cardio-Obstetrics at Cone Health HeartCare, Clinical Integration Officer – Cone Health Center for Health Equity

Dr. Monika Sanghavi, Director, Women's Cardiovascular Health, Pennsylvania Hospital, Associate Program Director, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)

Episode 8 January 14, 2026

Sports Cardiology: A Conversation About Performance and Prevention

Dr. Brad Petek, Director of Sports Cardiology, Oregon Health & Science University

Dr. Nate Moulson, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine. Medical director of Vascular Health and Prevention at Vancouver General Hospital and the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute

Episode 7 December 17, 2025

Beyond the Score - a Discussion of Cardiac Risk Scores and Risk Assessment

Dr. Sadiya Khan

Dr. Chiadi Ndumele

Episode 6 November 19, 2025

Building a Career in Prevention: Lessons from the Next Generation

Dr. Ramzi Dudum

Dr. Suvasini Lakshmanan

Dr. Priyanka Satish

Episode 5 September 24, 2025

From Data to Diagnosis: Digital Health's Impact on Preventive Cardiology

Dr. Seth Martin

Dr. Ami Bhatt

Dr. Mintu Turakhia

Episode 4 August 15, 2025

Exploring ASPC 2025: Innovations in Preventive Cardiology

Carlos Andrés Vergara Sánchez, MD (Chief Cardiovascular Diseases Fellow, Mayo Clinic)

Yara Jelwan, MD (Preventive Cardiology Fellow, Ciccarone Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital)

Frank Qian, MD, MPH (Cardiology Fellow, Boston Medical Center)

Episode 3 July 16, 2025

Tailoring Dietary Recommendations for Better Health

Dr. Robert Ostfeld

Dr. Danielle Belardo

Dr. Nate Wood

Episode 2 June 18, 2025

Building a Preventive Cardiology Program from Scratch

Dr. Laurence Sperling

Dr. Roger Blumenthal

Episode 1 May, 21, 2026

The Case for Prevention: A Conversation with ASPC Presidents Current & Past

Dr. Michael D. Shapiro, DO, MCR, FACC, FAHA, FASPC – ASPC President
Dr. Martha Gulati, MD, MS, MASPC – Immediate Past President 
Dr. Amit Khera, MD, MSc, FACC, FAHA, FASPC – Past President

The Heart of Prevention