Ninth annual meeting hosted by the Division of Research and The Permanente Medical Group drew participants from throughout Kaiser Permanente
Leading experts and researchers in cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health convened on May 9 for the 9th Annual Kaiser Permanente Northern California Cardiovascular Research Symposium, co-hosted by the Division of Research (DOR) Cardiovascular, Kidney, and Metabolic Health section and The Permanente Medical Group Cardiac Service Line.
The 2025 meeting, held for the first time at the Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, showcased cutting-edge research, highlighted the work of KPNC cardiology fellows and internal medicine residents, and featured an easy-to-adopt example of lifestyle medicine.
“The ultimate goal of the symposium is to foster collaboration within Kaiser Permanente Northern California,” said co-chair Alan Go, MD, a DOR research scientist and the associate director of the DOR Cardiovascular and Metabolic Conditions section. “By holding the symposium in different service areas as well as offering a virtual option for attending, we are able to draw attention to the expertise and experience that exists throughout our region as well as create new opportunities for collaboration.”
Sadiya S. Khan, MD, a professor of cardiovascular epidemiology at Northwestern University, kicked off the symposium with a keynote address that examined advancements in the accuracy of cardiovascular risk prediction tools. Khan also introduced the American Heart Association (AHA) Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health (CKM) framework — a holistic model designed to enhance comprehensive preventive care.
Next, Go and Howard Dinh, MD, TPMG chair of cardiology chiefs, discussed the comparable accuracy of the Kaiser Permanente ASCVD Risk Estimator (KPARE) and the new AHA PREVENT calculator in assessing 10-year ASCVD risk in KPNC members. Their session also highlighted the clinical decision support tools available within TPMG to optimize lipid management for both primary and secondary prevention.
The presentations that followed showcased key regional programs and studies. Samir Thadhani, MD, a TPMG cardiologist in South San Francisco, presented preliminary findings from the KP CHEMO study on cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction, work supported by the TPMG Delivery Science and Applied Research (DARE) program. Dustin Mark, MD, a TPMG emergency medicine physician in Oakland, outlined research carried out by the CREST Network on the implementation and impact of KPNC’s high-sensitivity troponin-based algorithm to improve risk stratification for suspected acute coronary syndrome.
David Ouyang, MD, a DOR research scientist and TPMG cardiologist in Santa Clara, detailed how artificial intelligence-based computer vision has the potential to accelerate real-time analysis of echocardiograms, enhancing the value of cardiovascular imaging and streamlining patient care. Lastly, Taylor Liu, MD, a TPMG cardiac electrophysiologist in Santa Clara, provided insights into the expansion of electrophysiology care within TPMG and emerging trends across different patient subgroups in catheter ablation outcomes for atrial fibrillation.
“With a focus on discovery, education, and clinical excellence, the symposium underscored the significant contributions of TPMG researchers in shaping the future of cardiovascular health in KP and the broader community,” said symposium co-chair Eric Au, MD, TPMG regional director of the Cardiac Service Line.
A highly engaging session led by Joan Lo, MD, a DOR research scientist, and Linda Shiue, MD, a TPMG internist and the director of culinary medicine in San Francisco, encouraged attendees to explore practical lifestyle medicine-based approaches to cardiovascular risk reduction. Their presentation included a hands-on demonstration of heart-healthy salad dressings that attendees could share with patients and colleagues.
The afternoon session started with KPNC cardiology fellows and internal medicine residents from our training programs in the East Bay, Santa Clara, and San Francisco presenting on innovative projects across a wide range of topics.
This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Dinh, Khan, and Andrew Ambrosy, MD, a DOR research scientist and TPMG cardiologist in San Francisco, Landis Coughlan, MD, TPMG chief of adult and family medicine in Santa Clara, and Mehreen Khan, MD, TPMG regional medical director for population care and an endocrinologist in Santa Clara. The panel discussed current challenges in cardiovascular prevention, emerging areas of research, and different strategies for addressing the worsening obesity epidemic.
“The panel’s insights reinforced the symposium’s overarching theme — advancing cardiovascular science and care through collaborative innovation and research,” said Go. “They also laid the groundwork for the topics we will want to pursue when we celebrate the 10th annual symposium in 2026.”
Watch highlights from the Cardiovascular Research Symposium:
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