Houston Methodist 5th Annual Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention Symposium 2026

The fifth Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Symposium examines how risk assessment can guide preventive care across cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic disease. Directed by Eleonora Avenatti and Kershaw V. Patel, the Houston Methodist program was held on April 11, 2026 with in-person and virtual participation. Sessions address CKM health, blood pressure, renal denervation, obesity, weight-management medicines, and lipid lowering. Presentations also consider blood, imaging, and AI-based biomarkers, with case discussions linking these tools to clinical decisions. The course is relevant to cardiologists, primary care clinicians, endocrinologists, and other professionals involved in managing cardiometabolic risk.

Learning Objectives

• Utilize the new guidelines to identify and mitigate risk factors for heart disease.
• Discuss prevention strategies, including primary and secondary prevention, related to different patient populations.
• Discuss the role of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for prevention and treatment of common cardiovascular diseases as well as their risk factors.

Topics

• 01 Obesity as a Disease – 2026 Updates
• 02 CVD Risk Stratification in 2026
• 03 Obesity Panel Q&A
• 04 Obesity Management Medications in 2026
• 05 Lipid Case and Panel Q&A
• 06 The 2026 ACC AHA Dyslipidemia Guideline – Updates
• 07 What’s New with Non-Statin LDL-C Lowering Therapies
• 08 CVD Risk Panel Q&A
• 09 Use of Blood, Imaging, and AI-based Biomarkers for CV Risk Assessment
• 10 Controlling Blood Pressure – Updated 2025 Guideline for High Blood Pressure
• 11 Therapies Promoting CKM Health – Lifestyle, New Medications, and Role for Procedures
• 12 Role of Renal Denervation in the Management of Hypertension
• 13 CKM Case and Panel Q&A
• 14 Hypertension Case and Panel Q&A
• 15 What is CKM Health, Syndrome, and Stages

Course Directors

Eleonora Avenatti, MD, DABOM

Assistant Professor of Medicine in Cardiology, Academic Institute
Assistant Clinical Member, Research Institute
Houston Methodist

Kershaw V. Patel, MD

Assistant Professor of Cardiology, Academic Institute
Assistant Clinical Member, Research Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

Planning Committee

• Khurram Nasir, MD
• Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD

Faculty and Moderators

Faculty and moderators featured in the scientific program include:

• Eleonora Avenatti, MD, DABOM
• Kershaw Patel, MD
• Martha Gulati, MD, MS, FACC, FAHA, MASPC, FESC, FCCT (Hon), FNIPC (Hon)
• Layla Abushamat, MD, MPH, MS, DABOM
• Alpesh Shah, MD
• Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD
• Deborah Horn, DO, MPH, FOMA
• Ahmed Soliman, MD
• Christie Ballantyne, MD

The original recording-topic sequence is retained above. Conference accreditation, registration, live participation, and provider-platform services are not included with store files.