Inaugural Medical symposium
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
TIME: 0800-1700
Registration: 0800-0830
Location: Bluefin Conference Room
Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Audience: Physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, residents, medical students, and medical representatives involved in cardiovascular care
Fee: $50 (Coffee and Lunch included)
Host: Hawaii Heart Associates
Faculty:
Ryan Smith, DO, FACC – Cardiologist, Chief Executive Officer, Hawaii Heart Associates
Marc Hunt, MD, FACC – Cardiologist, Chief Medical Officer, Hawaii Heart Associates
Michael Firstenberg, MD, FACS – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Hawaii Heart Associates, Maui Memorial Medical Center
Turgut Berkmen, MD – Interventional Radiologist, Hawaii Advanced Vascular Center
Cecily Wang, MD, FACS, DipABLM – Trauma/Critical Care Surgeon, Lifestyle Medicine
Rayji Tsutsui, MD, FACC – Structural Cardiologist, Hawaii Pacific Health
Save the date for our inaugural full-day cardiovascular symposium
bringing Hawaii's cardiovascular community together to learn, connect, and grow in the spirit of aloha.
About the Symposium
Hawaii Heart Associates is proud to host its inaugural cardiovascular symposium, "Hawaii Heart Associates Cardiovascular Initiative: Prevention, Innovation, Evolution." This one-day, in-person event in Honolulu is not about earning credits — it is about rediscovering something that has quietly faded in our busy professional lives: community.
We believe that Hawaii's medical professionals deserve a dedicated space to come together, share knowledge, and reconnect with the colleagues who are fighting the same battles against cardiovascular disease across our islands every day. This symposium is designed to be a meaningful gathering where physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, fellows, residents, students and industry partners can engage openly, learn from one another, and leave inspired.
The program will feature expert-led sessions on emerging cardiovascular technologies, updated clinical guidelines, and evolving standards of care — all with a focus on what is relevant and actionable for Hawaii's unique and diverse patient population. Our goal is not simply to check a box, but to spark conversations, build relationships, and strengthen the cardiovascular care community across our islands.
Who should Attend
This symposium is designed for anyone involved in cardiovascular care across Hawaii who values connection, learning, and community:
Cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists
Primary care physicians and internists
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
Registered nurses and cardiac care teams
Residents and medical students with an interest in cardiovascular medicine
Medical and industry representatives supporting cardiovascular care
Whether you are on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, or Kauaʻi — this is your invitation to be part of something bigger than your individual practice. If you are involved in preventing, diagnosing, or managing cardiovascular disease in Hawaii, this event is for you.
Why Attend
This is NOT a CME event. The Hawaii Heart Associates Cardiovascular Initiative is about rebuilding the kind of professional community that makes all of us better clinicians and better advocates for our patients.
Here is what you can expect:
Reconnect with your community. Engage face-to-face with fellow cardiovascular professionals from across Hawaii in an environment built for genuine dialogue and collaboration.
Stay current on what matters. Learn about new and emerging cardiovascular technologies, updated clinical guidelines, and innovations that are reshaping how we prevent and treat heart disease.
Go beyond the credits. Our focus is not on fulfilling CME requirements — it is on delivering education that is genuinely meaningful, clinically relevant, and directly applicable to the patients we serve in Hawaii.
Engage in real conversations. Through case-based discussions and interactive sessions, you will have the opportunity to share perspectives, challenge assumptions, and learn from colleagues across disciplines.
Represent your island. Whether you are a primary care physician, a cardiologist or a first-year medical student, your voice and perspective matter. This symposium belongs to Hawaii's entire cardiovascular community — not just one specialty or one island.
Agenda
0800 - 0830: REGISTRATION and WELCOME
0830 - 0900: Pastor Alan Tamashiro “A Second Chance at Life” – A Heart Transplant Patient’s Journey
0900–0940: Rayji Tsutsui, MD, FACC – Structural Cardiologist, Hawaii Pacific Health
Top Structural Interventional Updates: TAVR, Tricuspid intervention and LAA closure updates. Patient case study
0945–1025: Marc Hunt, MD, FACC – Cardiologist, Chief Medical Officer, Hawaii Heart Associates
Cardiac CT Calcium Scoring: When to Order, How to Read, and What to Do Next
1030–1040 ADULT RECESS – Stretch, Reset, and Coffee Break
1040–1120: Ryan Smith, DO, FACC – Cardiologist, Chief Executive Officer, Hawaii Heart Associates
Practical Dyslipidemia Management and When to Use Apheresis
1125–1200: Turgut Berkmen, MD – Interventional Radiologist, Hawaii Advanced Vascular Center
Outpatient Interventional Radiology Options for Peripheral Artery Disease
1200–1245: LUNCH BREAK
1245–1315 Introduction: Innovation Walk – Hands‑On Time with Industry Partners: New Devices and Tools You Can Use on Monday Morning
1315–1355 Ryan Smith, DO, FACC – Cardiologist, Chief Executive Officer, Hawaii Heart Associates
What Left Bundle Pacing Means for Your Patients
1400–1440 Michael Firstenberg, MD, FACS – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Hawaii Heart Associates, MMMC
Advanced Mechanical Circulatory Support: Clinical Applications of ECMO and Impella in 2026
1445–1525 Cecily Wang, MD, FACS, DipABLM – Trauma/Critical Care Surgeon; Lifestyle Medicine
From Treatment to Prevention: What Actually Improves Healthspan
1530-1600: Panel Roundtable, Questions, Conclusion
1600–1630: Conclusion: Innovation Walk – Hands‑On Time with Industry Partners: New Devices and Tools You Can Use on Monday Morning
Seating is LimiteD!
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Industry Representative display
Note From Hawaii HEart Associates
We started planning this symposium with a simple question: WHEN DID WE STOP GATHERING?
In the years following the pandemic, much of our professional community has moved to virtual platforms, isolated workflows, and individual continuing education. We have gained efficiency but lost something important — the energy, mentorship, and camaraderie that come from being in the same room with people who share your mission.
The Hawaii Heart Associates Cardiovascular Initiative was born out of a desire to bring that back. We want to create a space where a cardiologist from Honolulu or a cardiothoracic surgeon from Maui can connect with a nurse practitioner from Hilo, where a medical student can ask a question of a seasoned specialist, and where all of us can walk away feeling more informed, more supported, and more connected to the work we do every day.
We hope you will join us.
Ryan Smith & June Belvis, Hawaii Heart Associates