The annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium is the world's preeminent forum for interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and vascular medicine specialists. Attendees gather to hear the latest data from key clinical trials and to observe live cases focusing on coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and structural heart disease. At the 23rd annual TCT conference, held in San Francisco, November 7-11, 2011, numerous practice-changing results were presented across a broad range of cardiovascular topics.

Last month's CRF Women's Heart Health Summit: In Pursuit of Excellence: Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes in Women brought together top national experts in research, academia, and health policy to examine the importance of gender in cardiovascular disease research. The program, led by Summit Chair Roxana Mehran, MD, took place on December 9, 2011, at the Princeton Club in New York City.

The Summit featured a keynote address on the current state of heart disease in women by Cindy L. Grines, MD, Vice President of Academic and Clinical Affairs of the Heart and Vascular Institute at the Detroit Medical Center. The panel also discussed the lack of awareness surrounding women's heart health and the general belief among the public that other diseases, such as breast cancer, pose a greater threat to women's health. Participants noted that the stereotype of older men having high rates of heart disease has caused many women to delay treatment because they do not recognize their symptoms.

Michio Kaku, PhD, describes a world, in the not too distant future, where the stuff of today’s science fiction becomes reality.

The interventional cardiologists attending TCT 2011 were treated to a trip into the future during the meeting’s keynote lecture, “The Future of Humankind,” delivered by the noted quantum physicist and futurist. Dr. Kaku is currently the Henry Semat Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Through descriptions and videos, Dr. Kaku provided TCT attendees with a glimpse into what he believes medicine will evolve into over the next several decades based on current trends in research, software and intelligence systems.

Michio Kaku, PhD, describes a world, in the not too distant future, where the stuff of today’s science fiction becomes reality.

The 2011 Pulse of the City Gala was held December 9 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. The evening honored Elizabeth G. Nabel, MD, and Mehmet C. Oz, MD, for championing women’s heart health.

Nearly 400 guests gathered to pay tribute to these two distinguished heart health advocates. Their tireless efforts to raise awareness and encourage women to take positive action to reduce their risk factors have helped improve the survival and quality of life for millions of people living with heart disease