![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-miami-valves-2026-feature.jpg\")
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Summary<\/p>\n
Cardiovascular specialists from around the world gathered at Miami Valves 2026, a meeting focused on the fast-evolving field of transcatheter therapies for valvular and structural heart disease. <\/p>\n
Dr. Jeffrey Popma received this year\u2019s Miami Valves Lifetime Achievement Award.<\/p>\n
A number of Miller School faculty members spoke about the role technology and AI play in cardiovascular medicine.<\/p>\n
Cardiovascular specialists from around the world gathered at Miami Valves 2026, a three-day meeting focused on the fast-evolving field of transcatheter therapies for valvular and structural heart disease. Through a mix of keynote lectures, expert panels and collaborative, case-based sessions, leading experts in the field shared new research, procedural strategies and emerging ideas shaping day-to-day practice.<\/p>\n
Hosted by the\u00a0International Medicine Institute<\/a> of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for the 12th year, Miami Valves 2026 continued its longstanding mission of accelerating progress in the field.<\/p>\n \u201cMiami Valves brings together the best minds in the field,\u201d said conference director Eduardo\u00a0De Marchena,\u00a0M.D.,<\/a> professor of cardiovascular medicine<\/a> and associate\u00a0dean for international medicine at the Miller School. \u201cEach year we push the boundaries of what\u2019s possible in transcatheter therapies, and 2026 is no exception. Beyond the science, Miami Valves is about building relationships that drive progress in our field. The collaboration that happens here is truly inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n Key opinion leaders also explored advances in cardiac imaging, coronary interventions, electrophysiology and heart failure care, alongside the growing role of artificial intelligence in pre-procedural planning. The wide-ranging meeting also celebrated this year\u2019s recipient of the conference\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award, Jeffrey Popma, M.D., an interventional cardiologist from Harvard Medical School.<\/p>\n An Emphasis on Valve Therapy Research<\/p>\n True to the conference\u2019s name, valvular intervention topped the agenda, with in-depth sessions on transcatheter aortic, mitral and tricuspid valve therapies. Complex, real-world cases anchored many sessions, giving attendees the opportunity to dissect technique, troubleshoot complications and exchange lessons learned across institutions.<\/p>\n \u201cThis blend of science and community is what brings clinicians back year after year,\u201d said Yiannis Chatzizisis, M.D., Ph.D.,<\/a> professor and chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Miller School. \u201cMiami Valves is a unique opportunity for networking, to come together with old friends and make new friends. We learn the latest in the field of coronary and structural heart disease and surgery, and we become aware of the new techniques and new technologies that are showcased here.\u201d<\/p>\n Miller School faculty moderated sessions that included dozens of presentations on structural heart disease and also addressed heart failure, electrophysiology and promising technologies in development. Fellowship programming drew young learners from across Florida.<\/p>\n Structural Cardiology: The State of the Field<\/p>\n The opening structural cardiology plenary session, moderated by Dr. De Marchena, took stock of what he called structural heart\u2019s \u201cbreakout year.\u201d Framing the session as both a progress report and a preview of the meeting ahead, he said, \u201cI always like to start the meeting with a review of what we\u2019ve learned, where we are now and what moved the field in the last year.\u201d<\/p>\n At the center of the discussion was transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR),<\/a> now the leading approach to aortic valve replacement in the United States. Outcomes have steadily improved, he noted, reflecting better devices, more refined techniques and a patient population that increasingly includes lower-risk candidates.<\/p>\n But with TAVR\u2019s maturity comes a new set of problems, especially reintervention. As more valves are implanted, the reality is that more valves will fail. <\/p>\n \u201cAs TAVR becomes the dominant valve, the valve we are going to see failing is TAVR,\u201d Dr. De Marchena said. <\/p>\n That shift is pushing operators to think further ahead about lifetime management like maintaining coronary access after TAVR, preventing obstruction and deciding when advanced techniques once reserved for rare cases should move closer to routine practice.<\/p>\n Another theme was the gap between intuition and evidence in cerebral embolic protection. While the concept is compelling, the clinical payoff has been difficult to prove. <\/p>\n \u201cThe science for routine use isn\u2019t there,\u201d Dr. de Marchena said, adding that selective use may still be reasonable.<\/p>\n Innovation suffered a setback when a self-expanding aortic valve platform that gained traction internationally failed to meet key thresholds in the U.S., prompting market withdrawal. <\/p>\n \u201cThat was a big loss,\u201d Dr. De Marchena said.<\/p>\n Looking beyond devices, he pointed to early signals suggesting pharmacologic approaches may one day slow calcification progression.<\/p>\n The session also highlighted the expansion of transcatheter therapies beyond the aortic valve. Mitral edge-to-edge repair continues to grow, offering symptom relief and improved quality of life for many patients. And after years of being undertreated, tricuspid disease is moving into the mainstream. These patients tend to be very sick, and intervention can lead to meaningful improvements.<\/p>\n \u201cPutting it all together, 2025 was a spectacular year for structural heart disease,\u201d Dr. De Marchena said.<\/p>\n The SAVR\/TAVR Debate<\/p>\n Juan Pablo Uma\u00f1a, M.D.,<\/a> professor and chief of cardiothoracic surgery<\/a> at the Miller School and UHealth\u2014University of Miami Health System, framed the SAVR (surgical aortic valve replacement)-TAVR decision as a lifetime strategy, not a single episode of care. This is especially true for patients under 65, he said, when durability, reintervention risk and redo complexity can shape outcomes decades later. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have to stop being short-sighted about shorter hospital stays and faster recovery,\u201d Dr. Uma\u00f1a said. \u201cWith younger patients, we really have to play the long game.\u201d<\/p>\n A key part of that long-game thinking, he emphasized, is recognizing how strongly the bioprosthetic valve durability depends on age. <\/p>\n \u201cOver 70, it may last the rest of a patient\u2019s life,\u201d Dr. Uma\u00f1a said. \u201cUnder 60, it often won\u2019t last beyond 10 to 12 years.\u201d<\/p>\n He also urged clinicians to rethink what \u201clow risk\u201d means in 2026. <\/p>\n \u201cSurgery has never been safer,\u201d he said, pointing to recent outcomes with mortality rates near 1 percent in low-risk patients and approaching zero in some series.<\/p>\n Dr. Uma\u00f1a noted that today\u2019s growth in TAVR volume will lead to difficult redo scenarios down the line and offered a cautionary note about what happens when transcatheter valves fail. <\/p>\n \u201cSAVR after TAVR is not an easy operation. What would have been straightforward can become very complex redo,\u201d he said. \u201cTAVR explant is a growing problem, and it carries risk.\u201d <\/p>\n For many patients under 65, he argued, a surgery-first strategy may better preserve future options.<\/p>\n Treating Mitral Regurgitation<\/p>\n In another talk, Dr. Uma\u00f1a argued that minimally invasive surgical mitral valve repair<\/a> should be the preferred first option for treating mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients who are reasonable surgical candidates. Repair, he said, can restore life expectancy (or comes close) compared with untreated MR, offers excellent durability in experienced centers and delivers stronger long-term outcomes than replacement. <\/p>\n It can also be performed minimally invasively, with strong visualization and the ability to \u201cfix everything you see\u201d intraoperatively. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER), he said, should be reserved for patients who are either high surgical risk or inoperable.<\/p>\n Dr. De Marchena offered a rebuttal, agreeing that surgery for degenerative MR has strong outcomes data and is often the best choice, but noting that for functional MR, there is limited evidence supporting surgical repair or replacement. <\/p>\n \u201cPrimary versus functional MR are different animals. In functional MR, TEER should be considered first for many patients,\u201d Dr. De Marchena said.<\/p>\n Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Delivers Featured Talks and Keynote Address<\/p>\n Jeffrey Popma, M.D., an interventional cardiologist from Harvard Medical School, received the conference\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award. <\/p>\n \u201cReceiving a Lifetime Achievement Award is a lifetime honor, particularly from this group of individuals,\u201d Dr. Popma said. \u201cIt\u2019s really very, very meaningful. It means there\u2019s camaraderie, there\u2019s community, there\u2019s respect amongst individuals along the way.\u201d <\/p>\n A longtime Miami Valves participant, Dr. Popma credited the meeting with fostering a professional community that extends well beyond the conference itself.<\/p>\n Over the course of the conference, Dr. Popma delivered several featured presentations, including an update on upcoming TAVR trials and where the field is headed. He emphasized how AI and electronic clinical tools can help address undertreatment of severe aortic stenosis. He shared data that, despite clear benefit, many patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis don\u2019t receive therapy. Dr. Popma highlighted a study where automated notifications to clinicians increased referrals to the heart team and treatment rates, especially among women. He also described emerging AI applications that can detect structural heart disease using tools like ECGs. In addition, Dr. Popma noted rapid innovation in balloon expandable TAVR systems, with several new programs in development.<\/p>\n Dr. Popma also delivered a keynote address tracing the history of cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology through pivotal \u201cfirsts,\u201d influential innovators and reflections from his own training and career.<\/p>\n Optimizing PCI in a Suboptimal, Evolving Landscape<\/p>\n John Lasala, M.D., Ph.D., an interventional cardiology and structural heart disease specialist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, shared a streamlined approach to bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). His team\u2019s jailed stent balloon technique, a method long used in his lab, now has new outcomes data showing it can deliver results comparable to established techniques for bifurcations with a simpler workflow.<\/p>\n The discussion turned to whether the technique translates beyond his expert touch. <\/p>\n \u201cIn your hands, things are different,\u201d Dr. Chatzizisis said. <\/p>\n Dr. Lasala responded, \u201cI think it\u2019s an easy technique to teach people.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Lasala, a regular attendee, said the meeting\u2019s format is part of what keeps him returning year after year. <\/p>\n \u201cI like the fact that Miami Valves is a very small, intimate group of people who are working at the top level, and the communication is free and unencumbered,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Beyond technique, coronary CT and emerging AI tools also are reshaping how doctors approach PCI, shifting key decisions from the cath lab to the planning stage. In a session moderated by Michael Dyal, M.D.,<\/a> assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine and program director of the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at the Miller School, clinicians described how imaging-driven prep now lets operators map anatomy, anticipate challenges and choose equipment with greater precision.<\/p>\n \u201cCT gives you a better understanding of disease burden, the optimal angle, the right guide size and how to prepare the lesion \u2013 as well as the stent size and length you want \u2013 so you don\u2019t waste time in the cath lab,\u201d Dr. Chatzizisis said. \u201cWhen you go into the cath lab prepared, the energy is focused on identifying complications and things that can\u2019t be predicted. Everything that can be predicted is already in place. You\u2019re not wasting time looking for balloons or other equipment that adds noise and delays. Efficiency definitely works in our favor.\u201d<\/p>\n The theme carried into a workshop led by Dr. Chatzizisis and Carlos Collet, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation in New York. The presenters highlighted how advanced imaging, including 3D CT visualization, and emerging AI-assisted planning tools are shifting PCI from real-time decision-making to deliberate pre-procedural strategy.<\/p>\n Calling CT and AI \u201cgamechangers,\u201d the clinicians described the cath lab as a place to execute rather than troubleshoot. <\/p>\n \u201cIf we fail to prepare, we are essentially preparing to fail,\u201d Dr. Chatzizisis said. \u201cWe can use technologies nowadays that allow us to be more precise, more patient-tailored and more successful in our interventions.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Chatzizisis outlined a four-step workflow for CT-based procedural planning. Start with 3D MIP (maximum intensity projection) to assess overall case complexity, he said. Scroll through images to select the guiding catheter and anticipate access needs, then use MPR (multiplanar reconstruction) to assess lesion severity and length. Finally, he said, perform cross-sectional assessment to evaluate plaque composition and tailor lesion preparation.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not the future,\u201d he added. \u201cThis is happening. We are changing the guidelines here. We are changing how we practice, leading to better, more precise care for our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n Presenters also pointed to photon-counting CT as an emerging tool, offering images that are up to five times sharper, with about half the radiation exposure.<\/p>\n Looking ahead, Dr. Chatzizisis predicted increasing automation across coronary and structural heart care. Clinicians won\u2019t disappear, he said, but their role will evolve toward oversight, complex decision-making and managing the unexpected. Computer vision and AI, meantime, will detect disease patterns, support diagnosis and recommend procedural plans. Eventually, robotics will standardize execution, improving consistency and reproducibility.<\/p>\n SOLACI Partnership Strengthens Cross-Regional Exchange<\/p>\n In collaboration with SOLACI (the Society of Latin American Interventional Cardiology), Miami Valves hosted a dedicated session for visiting physicians from Latin America and the Caribbean aimed at strengthening scientific ties across regions. The exchange also gave U.S.-based attendees an early look at devices and technologies already in clinical use abroad, often ahead of U.S. adoption, where the regulatory pathway is usually slower and more deliberate.<\/p>\n For many visiting faculty in the room, it was a homecoming, as they trained at the Miller School, while many of the current faculty share Latin American roots.<\/p>\n Renal Artery Denervation Workshop<\/p>\n Iliana Hurtado Rendon, M.D.,<\/a> assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Miller School, presented on renal denervation<\/a> as an option for severe, uncontrolled hypertension, covering both the evidence behind the procedure and the step-by-step technical workflow. The session included hands-on training with a kidney artery simulator, giving attendees that chance to practice catheter and wire techniques for engaging the renal arteries and navigating branch anatomy.<\/p>\n With blood pressure control still elusive for a large share of U.S. patients, Dr. Hurtado Rendon discussed how renal denervation is gaining traction and is recommended by the American Heart Association as an avenue for hypertension control. <\/p>\n \u201cMany patients take a lot of medications, multiple times a day, and that makes their life more difficult and much more challenging to comply with the medical regimen,\u201d Dr. Hurtado Rendon said. \u201cThese procedures, when done successfully and effectively, can decrease one or two medications in the regimen.\u201d<\/p>\n Wide-Ranging Symposia<\/p>\n Electrophysiologists reviewed best practices and new research on atrial fibrillation<\/a> during two AFib symposia. Topics ranged from evidence-based strategies for stroke prevention to the rise of digital tools in arrhythmia management. <\/p>\n \u2022 Litsa Lambrakos, M.D.,<\/a> associate professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Miller School, discussed how technology is reshaping monitoring and care.<\/p>\n \u2022 Omar Wever-Pinzon, M.D.,<\/a> associate professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Miller School and director of the Advanced Heart Failure Treatment and Recovery Section at UHealth\/Jackson, moderated two heart failure symposia and also discussed new frontiers in the management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. <\/p>\n \u2022 Aditya Bharadwaj, M.D.,<\/a> associate professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Miller School and director of UHealth\u2019s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, gave several presentations, including one on best practices for cardiogenic shock, where he emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. <\/p>\n \u2022 Line Kemeyou, M.D., a cardiologist at University of Utah Health, spoke about how cardiac sarcoidosis is no longer considered a rare entity. <\/p>\n \u2022 Joshua Hare, M.D.,<\/a> the Louis Lemberg Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute<\/a> at the Miller School, presented on cell and gene therapy for heart failure. <\/p>\n \u2022 Hoda Butrous, M.D., staff physician at the Miller School, presented on durable LVAD (left ventricular assist device) innovations and what\u2019s next in mechanical circulatory support.<\/p>\n \u2022 Mrudula Munagala, M.D.,<\/a> assistant professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Miller School, provided an update on pulmonary hypertension.<\/p>\n Another session brought together international cardiologists to dissect structural heart cases from medical centers across the Americas, including several that were unusually complex. Dr. De Marchena said the forum reflected how the meeting\u2019s scope has broadened beyond the Miller School.<\/p>\n Big names from outside the Miller School included Igor Palacios, M.D., an interventional cardiologist from Harvard Medical School, who is a pioneer in PCI for structural heart disease, and international thought leader and former Miller School fellow Antonio Dager, M.D., from Colombia. Both sat on the \u201cGuru Enlightens, Teaches, Inspires and Motivates\u201d panel.<\/p>\n On the final day, a symposium on investigational devices offered a look at coming technologies for treating valvular and coronary disease. <\/p>\n \u201cOne of the areas I\u2019ve been most involved in is innovation and new devices, and this was a preview of technologies and devices not yet approved,\u201d Dr. De Marchena said. \u201cIt\u2019s a menu of devices coming one to three years from now, showing new ways that people are thinking about treating these diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n Trainees and young investigators from institutions including Duke and Harvard submitted 114 abstracts, with selected authors presenting posters and oral presentations to judge\u2019s offering feedback aimed at strengthening projects for publication. For the first time, former Miller School fellows taught an interventional and structural fellows course that drew physicians from training programs across Florida. Bringing back alumni as conference leaders is a priority for Dr. De Marchena. <\/p>\n \u201cThese guys are now major players, and it\u2019s beautiful to see,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Tags: AFib<\/a>, AI<\/a>, artificial intelligence<\/a>, atrial fibrillation<\/a>, cardiovascular<\/a>, Cardiovascular Research<\/a>, Center for Digital Cardiovascular Innovations<\/a>, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine<\/a>, Dr. Aditya Bharadwaj<\/a>, Dr. Eduardo de Marchena<\/a>, Dr. Ilian Hurtado Rendon<\/a>, Dr. Joshua Hare<\/a>, Dr. Juan Pablo Uma\u00f1a<\/a>, Dr. Michael Dyal<\/a>, Dr. Mrudula Munagala<\/a>, Dr. Omar Wever-Pinzon<\/a>, Dr. Yiannis Chatzizisis<\/a>, International Medicine Institute<\/a>, Miami Valves<\/a>, mitral valve surgery<\/a>, structural cardiology<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By: Lauren Comander | February 02, 2026 | 22 min. read\u00a0|\u00a0 Share Summary Cardiovascular specialists from around the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":141159,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[68559,2872,4038,68560,46504,68561,68562,40439,40440,68563,68564,68565,68566,68567,68568,68569,40441,68570,123,125,124,68571,68572,68573],"class_list":["post-141158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-afib","tag-ai","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-atrial-fibrillation","tag-cardiovascular","tag-cardiovascular-research","tag-center-for-digital-cardiovascular-innovations","tag-division-of-cardiovascular-medicine","tag-dr-aditya-bharadwaj","tag-dr-eduardo-de-marchena","tag-dr-ilian-hurtado-rendon","tag-dr-joshua-hare","tag-dr-juan-pablo-umana","tag-dr-michael-dyal","tag-dr-mrudula-munagala","tag-dr-omar-wever-pinzon","tag-dr-yiannis-chatzizisis","tag-international-medicine-institute","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news","tag-miami-valves","tag-mitral-valve-surgery","tag-structural-cardiology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141158"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141158\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"a\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-miami-valves-2026-popma.jpg\")
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dr. Jeffrey Popma (left) shakes hands with Dr. Eduardo De Marchena at Miami Valves 2026.<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-miami-valves-2026-chatzizisisjpg.jpg\")
Dr. Yiannis Chatzizisis describes Miami Valves as \u201ca blend of science and community.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-miami-valves-2026-marchena.jpg\")
Dr. De Marchena (second from left) says it was a \u201cbreakout year\u201d for structural heart programs.<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-juan-pablo-umana-miami-valves-2026.jpg\")
Dr. Juan Pablo Uma\u00f1a addressed the SAVR-TAVR debate at Miami Valves 2026.<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-dr-popma-miami-valves-2026.jpg\")
Dr. Jeffrey Popma<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-miami-valves-2026-posters.jpg\")
Miami Valves 2026 gave cardiovascular medicine physicians and researchers a chance to talk about their work.<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-dr-carlos-collet-miami-valves-2026.jpg\")
Dr. Carlos Collet (pictured) joined the Miller School\u2019s Dr. Yiannis Chatzizisis for a workshop on advanced imaging.<\/p>\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-miami-valves-2026-three-coffee-cups.jpg\")
Dr. Iliana Hurtado Rendon (right), with colleagues at Miami Valves.<\/p>\n