The April issue of JASE includes a brief research communication titled, “Role of Quantitative Assessment of Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation.” Lead author Jwan A. Naser, MBBS, remarks, “Atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) is now a well-established entity associated with atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The present study shows that while the categorical presence of AFMR was associated with increased mortality, the degree of AFMR across the range of effective orifice area values did not appear to confer additional risk. In contrast, variables reflecting atrial myopathy and diastolic dysfunction including E/e’ ratio and left atrial volume were linearly associated with increased mortality.”

Three other brief research communications accompany this one, addressing limited concordance of LV ejection fraction and chamber dimensions with automated assessments in HCM, the valid role of height-based pediatric echocardiographic Z-scores, and normal fetal ventricular strain in a pilot study. This issue’s original investigations incorporate a variety of topics including phenotypes and outcomes in aortic valve disease, echo-based machine learning and ICU outcomes, and congenital heart disease. An editorial comment accompanies a pilot study on how acute maternal hyperoxygenation can predict hypoxia and the need for emergency intervention in fetuses with transposition of the great arteries. Rounding out this issue are letters to the editor regarding blood pressure and echocardiographic interpretation as well as the mitral annular disjunction phenotype.

This month’s President’s Message written by Allyson Boyle, MHA, ACS, RDCS, FASE, and Ashlee Davis, ACS, RDCS, RCCS, FASE, discusses the musculoskeletal impact on those in cardiovascular ultrasound careers. This issue also features a special article on tailoring sonographer career paths with guidance from the ASE Sonographer Career Ladder Workgroup.

A new call for papers is now open! A focus issue on chamber quantification is set for publication in 2026. Papers that address any aspect of echocardiography in quantitative assessment of the cardiac chambers should be submitted by August 1, 2025. Please direct questions to JASE managing editor Debbie Meyer at DMeyer@ASEcho.org.

Tune into our Author Spotlight page for interviews between JASE Editor-in-Chief Patricia Pellikka, MD, FASE, and authors of recently published papers. March’s interview features Monica Mukherjee, MD, MPH, FASE, discussing ASE’s newest guideline, “Guidelines for the Echocardiographic Assessment of the Right Heart in Adults and Special Considerations in Pulmonary Hypertension: Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography.”

Please see the April ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.

The latest issue of CASE is now available with intriguing reports, including “Ticking Time Bomb: Embolic Risks and Complex Management of an Exceptionally Large Papillary Fibroelastoma.” CASE Editor-in-Chief Vincent Sorrell, MD, FASE, remarked, “Although echocardiography (and cardiovascular imaging in general) can never provide a definitive diagnosis, there are many characteristic features of cardiac masses that guide us toward the correct tissue diagnosis. We are lucky to have a Journal that provides robust descriptions, multimodal correlations, and surgical or pathologic confirmation, compiling these CASEs in a growing archive of the common and uncommon presentations of both rare and common masses/tumors. In this month’s issue, we once again have several robust CASE reports that provide incrementally unique aspects of previously reported cardiac masses. Vincent et al. managed a patient with a large LA mass which was hemodynamically significant and associated with multiple strokes. The pre-operative diagnosis from echocardiography was confidently a cardiac myxoma, but proven by histopathology to be a very impressive, papillary fibroelastoma. We are reminded that echo is unable to provide a definitive diagnosis; but readers can now expand their preoperative differential diagnosis.”

Also included in the Cardiac and Pseudotumors category, Khaleel et al. utilize TTE, TEE, CT, and ICE to report on a rarity readers will want to note in their patient with multiple tricuspid valve blood cysts. In the Just Another Day in the Echo Lab category, Nguyen et al. share TTE images and correlative intraoperative findings of a young man with an untreated subarterial VSD and the progression to a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. Kawabe et al. demonstrate a unique approach of using emergent aortic cross-clamping and the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit in their case of an LV thrombus that was dislodged and moving freely during intraoperative TEE.

Notably, this issue features two reports selected from our recent Sonographer Challenge—a report on a premature neonate with acute respiratory distress found to have an occlusive pulmonary embolus, as well as a 10-year-old with infective endocarditis and periannular extension of infection in an autograft diagnoses after undergoing the Ross procedure for congenital aortic valve disease.

Readers can look forward to Dr. Sorrell’s editorial, which discusses the etymology of “artifacts” and how to navigate the noise in your daily echo practice. Be sure to check out the latest Unlock the CASE on the CASE homepage, which was the winning entry from the Cardio-oncology SIG Case Competition.

SUBMIT your case report to us! Whether it will be your first time submitting a case or your 50^th, we are here to make it a great experience. Email us with questions or submit your report today!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Natalie Costantino
919-297-7170
NCostantino@ASEcho.org  

American Society of Echocardiography Announces
Accelerator Program to Drive Discovery Through Connection

(DURHAM, NC, March 12, 2025)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is proud to announce the launch of the ASE Accelerator Program, an initiative designed to support breakthroughs in the field of cardiovascular ultrasound. This innovative program provides participants with early and ongoing product development feedback, access to research validation opportunities, regulatory guidance and strategies for market commercialization.

The ASE Accelerator Program is designed for early-stage companies developing technologies that enhance echocardiographic imaging, streamline workflows and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Whether through AI-driven diagnostics, cutting-edge robotics, or portable imaging solutions, startups selected for the program gain access to ASE’s network, fostering collaborations that might otherwise take years to develop. ASE is pleased to introduce UltraSight™, a company transforming cardiac clinical workflows through machine learning by empowering minimally trained clinicians to capture high quality cardiac ultrasound images in any care setting, as the first ASE Accelerator Partner, marking a significant milestone in this new initiative.

“Innovation in healthcare technology is often driven by startups—lean, agile, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. However, these young companies frequently face significant hurdles, including regulatory challenges, funding limitations, and access to clinical data for validation,” said ASE Board of Directors President Theodore Abraham, MD, FASE. “The ASE Accelerator Program provides a lifeline to these promising ventures, offering mentorship, market fit validation, possible industry partnerships, and the opportunity to engage with key opinion leaders who can help refine their solutions. As the world’s largest cardiac subspecialty organization, an ASE partnership carries immense value. UltraSight is the perfect organization to be ASE’s first Accelerator Partner.”

For UltraSight, participation in the ASE Accelerator Program presents a pivotal opportunity. Andrew Goldsmith, MD, MBA, Medical Director at UltraSight shared, “UltraSight is revolutionizing cardiac care by empowering any healthcare professional to capture diagnostic-quality cardiac images at the bedside. This addresses critical limitations in access to cardiac imaging by providing reliable and predictable image capture that integrates efficiently within existing clinical workflows. Participation in the ASE Accelerator Program, as the first participant, presents a significant opportunity to contribute to evidence-based decision-making in cardiac care. This collaboration with leading experts will enable us to optimize the implementation of this technology and improve patient access to essential cardiac diagnostics.” 

ASE looks forward to welcoming additional Accelerator Partners in the future and driving advancements that will shape the next generation of cardiovascular ultrasound technology. In alignment with this commitment, ASE’s 2025 Scientific Sessions in Nashville, Tenn., will feature a special “Shark Tank” session on Saturday, September 6, to connect innovators with key stakeholders and showcase groundbreaking ideas and cutting-edge advancements in cardiovascular ultrasound. 

Learn more about ASE’s Accelerator Program at ASEcho.org/AcceleratorProgram.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. In 2025, ASE is celebrating its milestone 50^th anniversary.  For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Bluesky.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Natalie Costantino
919-297-7170
NCostantino@ASEcho.org

ASE Releases New Guidelines on Echocardiographic Assessment of the Right Heart in Adults

(DURHAM, NC, March 6, 2025)—A new guideline from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) offers updated recommendations for clinicians evaluating right heart function in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a condition that significantly affects patient outcomes, morbidity, and mortality.

Guidelines for Echocardiographic Assessment of the Right Heart in Adults and Special Considerations in Pulmonary Hypertension: Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography is published in the March 2025 Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography and supersedes ASE’s right heart guideline published in 2010. This new document emphasizes the critical importance of accurate right heart assessment in the management of PH, which is a key factor in determining clinical prognosis and guiding treatment strategies.

The guideline’s Chair Dr. Monica Mukherjee, who is a cardiologist and the Medical Director of Johns Hopkins Bayview Echocardiography Lab in Baltimore, Md., said this document represents a crucial step forward in the echocardiographic assessment of the right heart in PH. It ensures clinicians and sonographers have the most precise and validated parameters to improve screening and early detection in patients.

“These guidelines have the potential to significantly impact patient care by standardizing and refining echocardiographic assessment of the right heart by focusing on screening and early detection, and improved risk stratification and monitoring of therapeutic response,” said Dr. Mukherjee. “By integrating comprehensive echocardiography techniques and employing updated diagnostic thresholds, we hope to enhance the accuracy of PH evaluation and ultimately guide more precise therapeutic decisions to improve patient outcomes.”

The World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension recently redefined PH as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure >20 mmHg, based on epidemiologic evidence highlighting the significant impact of even mildly elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure on morbidity and mortality. The implementation of these new standards will enhance clinical decision-making and foster greater consistency in clinical research applications.

An international multidisciplinary team assisted in developing the guidelines, including expert sonographers and other leading authorities in echocardiography, multimodality imaging, cardiology and PH. The writing group brings expertise in right heart physiology and pulmonary vascular disease, and defines key imaging metrics. This ensures that the document is comprehensive, evidence-based, and clinically impactful.

“By leveraging our collaborative expertise across these specialties, we hoped to provide a unified, physiologically informed framework for assessing right heart function and refining risk stratification based on reproducible echocardiographic parameters that align with disease pathophysiology,” said Guideline Co-Chair, Dr. Lawrence Rudski, the Director of the Azrieli Heart Centre at Jewish General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The complete guideline document and all guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. In 2025, ASE is celebrating its milestone 50^th anniversary.  For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Bluesky.

###

The latest issue of CASE is now available with intriguing reports, including “Patent Foramen Ovale With Asymmetric Pulmonary Venous Flow Reversal.”

CASE Editor-in-Chief Vincent Sorrell, MD, FASE, remarked, “Every issue of CASE offers readers an opportunity to discover novel insights into commonly seen echo-truths that in fact, turn out to be less specific than initially thought. Take for example the report from Wright et al., which discusses their finding of reversal of the systolic pulmonary vein flow seen with pulsed wave Doppler. The patient did not have mitral regurgitation as the mechanism for this finding, but instead, had an intermittently significant shunt across a PFO. The authors describe their Doppler finding, the literature surrounding the underlying proposed mechanisms, and the clinical correlations. Within their descriptions, they include the possibility that significant left to right shunts may cause a similar systolic flow reversal in the pulmonary vein. In their patient, the PFO flow was minimal at baseline but increased dramatically during deep inspiration. This phasic PFO flow was noted to directly coincide with the phasic pulmonary vein systolic reversal, leading to these authors’ conclusion and helping CASE readers build their differential diagnosis of this finding. They suspect that intermittent increases in LA volume and pressure, similar to previous reports with ASD, were driving this Doppler phenomenon. It is exciting to ponder what our amazing Journal readers will see tomorrow that will inform us to be better stewards of echocardiography.”

In addition to this Hemodynamic Corner report, this issue features some cases in the Rare But Deadly Findings and Sonographer Spotlight categories. Menon et al. highlight the importance of serial echo in their report on an infant with Kawasaki Disease, whose condition rapidly progresses in wake of early detection and available treatment. Aleem et al. utilize targeted neonatal echo in a critically ill neonate, evaluating cardiac function, ECMO cannulation, and development of a deadly coronary thrombus. Notably, this issue features two reports selected from our recent Sonographer Challenge—a report on caval valve implantation as an innovative approach for treating severe tricuspid regurgitation, and a report of preliminary findings on the use of an agitated saline delivery device in daily clinical practice.

Readers can look forward to Dr. Sorrell’s editorial, which dissects the vital role of contrast in diagnostic imaging. Be sure to check out the latest Unlock the CASE on the CASE homepage, which was the winning entry from the Cardio-oncology SIG Case Competition.

SUBMIT your case report to us! Whether it will be your first time submitting a case or your 50^th, we are here to make it a great experience. Email us with questions or submit your report today!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Natalie Costantino
919-297-7170
NCostantino@ASEcho.org

ASE Publishes Updated Guideline Offering Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Recommendations on Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access Procedures

(DURHAM, NC, February 6, 2025)—A new guideline from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) aims to provide more detail for clinicians performing ultrasound-guided vascular cannulation, an essential skill utilized across various cardiovascular ultrasound specialties during diagnostic and medical procedures.

Guidelines for Performing Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation: Recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography is published in the February 2025 Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography and replaces the original guideline published by the Society on this topic in 2011. This new document provides expert consensus on the best practices and techniques for using ultrasound in vascular access procedures.

“Ultrasound guidance is currently not a standard of care for all vascular access, but it is becoming increasingly common in daily clinical practice due to its ability to enhance success rates and reduce complications,” says lead Co-author Dr. Annette Vegas, an anesthesiologist and director of Perioperative Echocardiography at Toronto General Hospital in Ontario, Canada. “Adopting the recommendations in this guideline will help clinicians better minimize risks, maximize technical competencies and ultimately, improve patient outcomes.

The guideline uses descriptions, diagrams and ultrasound images to explain the general aspects of anatomic and ultrasound imaging of vessels, ultrasound-guided vascular cannulation techniques, and the identification of local vascular cannulation complications. Additionally, it emphasizes the fundamental roles of ultrasound during vascular access, including:

1. Precannulation Vessel Assessment
2. Dynamic Ultrasound Guidance
3. Identification of Local Complications

The authors say this guideline will serve as a valuable resource for new and experienced clinicians, helping them deliver safer, more effective care. This document and all guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. In 2025, ASE is celebrating its milestone 50^th anniversary.  For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Bluesky.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Natalie Costantino
919-297-7170
NCostantino@ASEcho.org

American Society of Echocardiography and its Foundation Award $100,000 in Grant Funding to Early Career Investigators in Cardiovascular Imaging

(DURHAM, NC, Jan. 30, 2025)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and the ASE Foundation have awarded grant funding totaling $100,000 to fund four innovative cardiovascular ultrasound research projects led by early career investigators.

The Society’s EDGES (Early-Career Development Grant for Echo Scientists) program funds projects that address clinical gaps in cardiovascular ultrasound through research directed by an early career scientist or investigator.

The four 2024 EDGES recipients, each awarded a $25,000 grant, will conduct studies addressing a wide range of research projects.

• Sae Jang, MD, a clinical instructor and National Institutes of Health T32 research fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Department of Cardiology in Pennsylvania, will investigate if microbubbles and ultrasound can be developed as a diagnostic tool for early capillary structural changes in patients with microvascular disease.
• James MacNamara, MD, MSCS, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, will utilize the grant to better understand the limitations to exercise in patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and how these patients respond to therapies.
• David McNamara, MD, MPH, a non-invasive, board-certified cardiologist at Corewell Health in Grand Rapids, Mich., will research radiation safety during structural heart procedures and the role of radiation protection devices in clinical practice, specifically for interventional echocardiographers.
• Minh Nguyen, MD, FASE, a pediatric cardiologist and assistant professor of pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, secured the funding to develop a foundation model on pediatric echocardiograms to predict adverse events in pediatric HCM.

ASE Past President and Chair of the Society’s Research Committee Jonathan Lindner, MD, FASE, shared why this funding is important for the field.

“The EDGES program represents a tremendous investment by ASE in the future of imaging research. These grants fill a major gap by supporting early career imaging scientists during a critical stage of their development by providing resources to pursue their own idea,” said Dr. Lindner. “We look forward to seeing how the EDGES recipients leverage their grants to obtain further national funding and hearing about the impact of EDGES on the upward trajectory of tomorrow’s research leaders.”

ASE developed the EDGES research program in 2023 to create an avenue for the continued evolution of cardiovascular ultrasound. The program’s initial three recipients were each awarded $25,000 to fund artificial intelligence and technology-focused research projects. ASE plans to offer its EDGES grants annually to support technical advancements and new applications of echocardiography.

Learn more about these grants and the recipients at ASEFoundation.org/Research.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. In 2025, ASE is celebrating its milestone 50^th anniversary. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, or Bluesky.

About American Society of Echocardiography Foundation
The ASE Foundation (ASEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation created in 2003 as ASE’s charitable arm. The Foundation helps to assure the viability and visibility of cardiovascular ultrasound. Dependent upon donor giving not supported by membership dues, ASEF funds initiatives such as training scholarships, guidelines-based projects, research, patient engagement, and global health outreach. For more information, visit the ASEF website ASEFoundation.org.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Natalie Costantino
919-297-7170
NCostantino@ASEcho.org

American Society of Echocardiography Launches New Strategic Plan, Highlighting Innovation and Excellence in Cardiovascular Ultrasound

(DURHAM, NC, Jan. 8, 2025)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is introducing a new strategic plan, which aims to enhance the field of cardiovascular ultrasound through innovation, education, quality patient care and professional support. The plan, approved by ASE’s Board of Directors in November 2024, will guide the work of the Society and expand its impact on the field.

Cardiovascular ultrasound is one of the largest cardiac imaging subspecialties in the world. ASE is the professional home to nearly 18,000 physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, scientists, industry professionals and students around the globe. Since 1975, the Society has been dedicated to building the foundations of echocardiography into the leading diagnostic tool in cardiac care.

The start of ASE’s new three-year plan coincides with its milestone 50^th Anniversary, which will be celebrated throughout 2025 and during ASE’s 36^th Annual Scientific Sessions taking place September 5-7, 2025, at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville, Tenn.

“2025 marks a significant year for ASE. The Society is celebrating its rich 50-year history, while also beginning to implement its new strategic plan,” says ASE President Theodore Abraham, MD, FASE. “The four goals outlined in the 2025-2028 strategic plan focus on empowering ASE members—and all cardiovascular ultrasound professionals, partners, and enthusiasts—to navigate the current state of the field and consider its future advancements, emerging trends and potential challenges. These goals will guide ASE in continuing to set the standard in cardiovascular ultrasound imaging.”

The strategic plan outlines four key goals:

Goal 1: Innovation
ASE is integrated into the development, application, and implementation of new technologies in cardiovascular ultrasound.

Goal 2: Learning
ASE’s educational efforts focus on applications of cutting-edge technology and improving quality and performance. They are a model for learning in the field of cardiovascular ultrasound.

Goal 3: Leading Quality Patient Care
ASE sets the standards and advocates for cardiovascular ultrasound to deliver the highest quality patient care.

Goal 4: Professional Support
Professionals in cardiovascular ultrasound rely on ASE to guide, mentor, and support them in their professional journey and growth.

A variety of strategies and tactics will be implemented in the coming years to accomplish each goal and better secure the future of cardiovascular ultrasound professionals and advancements in patient care. ASE’s Board plans to nurture the “Future 50” and assure that this medical specialty continues to evolve and grow.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, or Bluesky.

###

Download PDF 2025-2028 ASE Strategic Goals

Submissions are due in Editorial Manager by August 1, 2025

The Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (JASE) is pleased to announce a Call for Papers for a Focus Issue on Chamber Quantification for publication in 2026. The issue will include ASE’s new guidelines on chamber quantification.

We invite submission of original research studies, reviews, letters, and brief research communications that address any aspect of echocardiography in quantitative assessment of the cardiac chambers. This may include

• Technical tips and illustrations
• Current challenges
• Ethnic, racial, and sex differences in measurements
• Effects of growth and aging
• Functional/structural interdependence
• Correlation with other imaging methods
• Impact of new technologies
• Impact of artificial intelligence
• Relationship to outcomes
• Future research goals

The guidelines document will include normal range values; additional work documenting such ranges is of less interest. In line with our core values at JASE, we welcome multi-disciplinary collaborations (e.g., sonographers, nurses, physicians, scientists) from all users of echocardiography.

Submissions are due in Editorial Manager by August 1, 2025: https://www.editorialmanager.com/jasecho/default1.aspx.
Please note in your cover letter that the submission is for the Chamber Quantification Issue.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

American Society of Echocardiography Announces 2024-2026 Leadership Academy Cohort

The cohort will develop leadership skills to advance their careers and the cardiovascular ultrasound field

(DURHAM, NC, October 30, 2024)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is pleased to announce the 15 participants who will make up the fourth ASE Leadership Academy cohort. The 2024-2026 cohort was selected from a large pool of highly qualified candidates looking to grow and advance their careers in ASE and the field of cardiovascular ultrasound.

The cohort, which will have its first meeting on November 8-9 in Washington, D.C., will spend nearly two years training to develop their leadership skills. Members will be matched with a senior adviser and receive access to high-quality online tutorials on leadership topics orchestrated by Kathy Pearson, PhD—a strategist, systems thinking expert and authority in decision making. Additionally, participants will closely interact with fellow classmates, and meet face-to-face with ASE leaders and staff three times throughout the 20-month program.

The ASE Leadership Academy Oversight Committee, led by Program Director and ASE Past President Madhav Swaminathan, MD, MMCi, FASE, selected a diverse group made up of 12 physicians and three sonographers from 10 states. The individuals were chosen through an extensive peer review process by a panel of ASE leaders and are representative of the diverse population of ASE members.

“The ASE Leadership Academy is a remarkable program designed to build leadership capacity within the cardiovascular ultrasound community. The newly selected members will acquire essential leadership skills that will not only advance their careers but also elevate the field of cardiovascular ultrasound through their commitment to the specialty,” said Dr. Swaminathan, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“Ultimately, this program benefits the patients we all serve. Since its inception in 2018, 44 ASE members have graduated from the Leadership Academy and have already made significant contributions, gaining national and international recognition as experts in cardiovascular ultrasound,” he added.

2024-2026 ASE Leadership Academy Cohort 4:

• Vidhu Anand, MBBS, FASE, Mayo Clinic Health System – Eau Claire, WI, and Mayo Clinic – Rochester, WI
• Clara I. Angulo, BS, RDCS, MBA, ACS, FASE, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center – Houston, TX
• Alicia Armour, BS, MA, ACS, RDCS, FASE, Duke Triangle Health Associates, Health Center – Durham, NC
• Sowmya Balasubramanian, MD, MSc, FASE, C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital – Ann Arbor, MI
• Anisiia Crowley, MD, FASE, University of Cincinnati Medical Center/UC Health – Cincinnati, OH
• Ingrid Moreno Duarte, MD, FASE, UT Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas, TX
• Lynsy Friend, BS, ACS, RCS, FASE, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center – Lebanon, NH
• Joyce Johnson, MD, MS, FASE, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital – Saint Petersburg, FL
• Kyle Lehenbauer, MD, FASE, Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City – Kansas City, MO
• Andrew Peters, MD, FASE, Sidney Kimmel School of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University – Philadelphia, PA
• Nishath Quader, MD, FASE, Washington University School of Medicine – St. Louis, MO
• Karl Richardson, MD, FASE, Wake Forest School of Medicine – Winston-Salem, NC
• Jeremy Slivnick, MD, FASE, The University of Chicago Medicine – Chicago, IL
• Parag Tipnis, MD, FASE, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health – Madison, WI
• Betul Yilmaz, MD, FASE, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine – Houston, TX

The ASE Leadership Academy program creates a pipeline of emerging leaders with specific talents to help them succeed as ASE leaders and volunteers, and in roles with other organizations and institutions. Their leadership skills will propel the future of the Society, which celebrates its milestone 50^th Anniversary in 2025. Learn more at ASEcho.org/LeadershipAcademy.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, or Instagram.

###