Division of Cardiovascular Medicine Research and Educational Update - June 2025

Message from Dr. Christopher Kramer, Division Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine

The Cardiovascular Division is presently comprised of 44 clinical and six research faculty, and we are continuing to grow rapidly, as nine new faculty have been hired to start this summer/fall (see listing below). The Division is extremely busy clinically, with $23 million in clinical revenue (up nearly 10% over 2024) and over 300,000 work RVUs (up 13% over 2024) in fiscal year 2025. Interventional procedures have increased by 5%, primarily due to a significant increase in coronary and valve procedures. Continued growth has been seen in advanced cardiac imaging procedures over the same time period (11% increase in cardiac MRI, 12% for cardiac CTA, and 31% for stress echo). Outpatients are seen at the UVA Main Hospital, Fontaine Research Park, and outreach clinic locations, including Fishersville, Zion’s Crossroads, and Culpepper. Over 57,000 outpatients are projected to be seen in FY ‘25 at these locations, representing an increase of 9% over FY ‘24.

Vice Chief for Research, Jonathan Lindner MD, provides an update on the research activities within the CV Division under a separate cover in this document. Grant expenditures have increased from $7.3 in 2023 to $8.8 million in 2025 (a 21% increase). Victor Soukoulis MD, PhD will also provide an update on educational activities in the Division.

The Cardiovascular Division had a remarkable and record year on the philanthropic front.

•Marcia Lipson, Lewis Lipson, MD’s former wife, endowed the Lewis C. Lipson Cardiology Fellowship Fund as part of an interventional fellowship.
•The Gib and Lynn Stevenson Professorship in Cardiovascular Research Fund ($3 million) was endowed by the Stevenson Family in honor of Antonio Abbate MD, PhD.
•Stephen Stowers MD granted Todd Villines MD a $400K gift for AI analysis of coronary artery calcium on non-gated CT scans.
•The Mary Chadwick Sutton Cardiovascular Research Endowment ($500K) was created to honor Jim Bergin MD.
•Michael Mangrum MD received two major pledges: Bert Goodwin MD – $7 million for afib research and another estate gift of $1 million.
•Oliver Monfredi MD, received a gift of 50K over two years from a grateful patient.
•Michael Ayers MD received a Charitable Gift Annuity of $20K yearly from a grateful patient.

Faculty highlights of the past year include the following awards:

•Amit Patel MD – Education Award from the Society for Magnetic Resonance
•Patricia Rodriguez-Lozano MD – Department of Medicine Excellence in Teaching
•Stefano Toldo PhD – Department of Medicine Excellence in Research
•Kelly Wingerter MD – Department of Medicine Excellence in Clinical Care
•Patient Experience Awards – 29 faculty members in the Cardiovascular Division were named.
•Newsweek ranked UVA as the 40th top cardiac hospital in the U.S.
•Press Ganey awarded the Heart and Vascular Center the Pinnacle of Excellence Award for outpatient care experience.
•The Marfan Foundation recognized the Heritable Aneurysm and Arteriopathy program (Randy Ramcharitar MD). It is the only such program in the state of Virginia.

GRANTS

•Antonio Abbate MD, PhD and Stefano Toldo PhD received an MPI grant from the NHLBI along with Jeffrey Saucerman PhD. The study will use modeling to dissect the role of the LRP1 receptor in the different cell types during the inflammatory response after an acute myocardial infarction.
•Amit Patel MD received an 8% on a MPI NHLBI grant along with Fred Epstein PhD of BME on characterizing epicardial adipose tissue in HFpEF as well as an iPRIME grant for evaluating venous thromboembolism in amyloid patients.
•Jonathan Lindner MD – R01 on ultrasound cavitation for AAV delivery and a BioMarin grant for ultrasound-mediated gene therapy.
•Patricia Rodriguez-Lozano MD – K01 funded on Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Women and a grant from the ACC’s Clinical Trials Research Award Program.
•Kenneth Walsh PhD received a NASA award; Space Radiation Exposure and Risk Mediated Clonal Hematopoiesis.

PROMOTIONS

•Michael Ayers MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine.
•Matthew Wolf MD, PhD was promoted to Professor of Medicine.

COMMITTEES

•Michael Ayers MD – was named to the Membership Committee of the AHA Council on Genomic and Precision Medicine and Educational Chair for the HCM Society.
•Raj Patel MD was appointed Track Director for the Coronary Track for the SCAI 2026 Annual Scientific Sessions in Montreal.
•Patricia Rodriguez-Lozano MD was named to the CMR Board Writing Committee and the AHA Cardiac Imaging and Intervention Committee and was selected for the Nishimura/O’Gara ACC Emerging Faculty Leadership Academy.
•Victor Soukoulis, MD, PhD, was named vice chair of the ACC Educator: Advanced Concepts Program and was on the ACC ‘26 program committee for Ischemic Heart Disease.

STUDY SECTION APPOINTMENTS

•Ken Bilchick MD to the Clinical Cardiovascular and Hematology Sciences SS.
•Jonathan Lindner MD to the NHLBI T32 SS and NIH IGIS SS.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

•The EP team completed a mission trip to the Dominican Republic for ICD and CRT placement.

New faculty that began this academic year included:

•Rajan Patel MD, Professor, Director of Interventional Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
•Oliver Monfredi MD, Associate Professor, Electrophysiology and Director, Cardiac Lead Extraction Center
•Joseph Chung MD, Assistant Professor, General Cardiology
•Nisha Hosadurg MD, Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Imaging and Women’s Heart Disease
•Patrick Stafford MD, Assistant Professor, Interventional Cardiology

New faculty hired to begin in the summer/fall of 2025 include:

•Nick Ashur MD, Assistant Professor, Heart Failure/Transplant, Pulmonary Hypertension
•Dominik Beer DO, Assistant Professor, Electrophysiology and Director, VT Service
•Mirnela Byku MD, Associate Professor, Director, Heart Failure/Transplant Section
•LeAnn Denlinger MD, Assistant Professor, General Cardiology and Women’s Heart Disease
•Sumeet Kheterpal MD PhD, Assistant Professor, co-hire with Cardiovascular Research Center, basic lipid biology and Preventive Cardiology
•Inga Melvinsdottir MD, Assistant Professor, Structural Echocardiography
•James MacNamara MD, Assistant Professor, CV Imaging and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
•Francesco Moroni MD, Assistant Professor, Critical Care Cardiology
•Jonathan Pan MD, Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Imaging and HfpEF

HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Christopher Kramer Selected as Next Leader of the American College of Cardiology

Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC, recently assumed the role of president of the American College of Cardiology, an almost 60,000-member global cardiovascular organization working to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for all.

“I see significant challenges and opportunities for the field of cardiology in the coming years, including workforce issues, health equity, diversity and inclusion, and AI-driven solutions, that need to be addressed to achieve ACC’s mission of transforming cardiovascular care for all,” Kramer said. “I am looking forward to using my term as president to help ACC be a leader on these issues while getting to know more of our inspiring, diverse membership and hearing their concerns and achievements across the U.S. and throughout the world.”

Kramer, whose interest in cardiology began during a summer scholarship program in high school, received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He completed his residency and chief residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His first faculty appointment was at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, then MCP/Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, where he directed the cardiology fellowship before moving in 1999 to the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he became chief of the Cardiovascular Division in 2019.

Kramer’s principal research interest has been applying cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to the cardiovascular system in translational and clinical studies. In recognition of his work, he received the Gold Medal from the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in 2015, reinforcing the impact of his contributions to the field of CMR over his career.

His dedication to the College over a 35-year membership is reflected in his various leadership roles, including vice president, treasurer, and chair of ACC’s Imaging Council. Kramer was also an associate editor for imaging at JACC and executive editor of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. In 2021, the ACC named Kramer a Distinguished Mentor, which he has described as “an incredible honor.”

Chris is the fourth ACC President from University of Virginia Cardiology, joining Tim Garson MD (1999), George Beller MD (2000), and Mike Valentine MD (2018) Read Kramer’s full ACC.25 Convocation Incoming President’s Address

Christopher Kramer MD, FACC Appears Before Congress to Advocate For HEARTS Act Implementation Funding

UVA Division of Cardiovascular Medicine Christopher Kramer MD, FACC, Cardiovascular Division Chief and American College of Cardiology (ACC) President, testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on April 9, urging lawmakers to allocate full funding for the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act.

Kramer also took this opportunity to reemphasize the value of investment in NIH research, describing the impact that NIH-funded projects have had in advancing the prevention, treatment and management of heart conditions. Considering the HEARTS Act “a worthy and impactful addition” to the country’s leadership in medical research and progress, he called on lawmakers to provide the funding needed to make the resources promised by this law a reality.

“The HEARTS Act was passed by Congress with the unity and urgency this issue deserves,” Kramer said. “Now, with your support, we can ensure effective nationwide implementation, protecting and investing in the health and safety of our communities.” Read Kramer’s full testimony

RESEARCH

By Jonathan Lindner MD

The University of Virginia Cardiovascular Division is dedicated to advancing patient care through science. The Division’s strong commitment to our basic, translational, and clinical research programs and its efforts to support physician-scientists are essential in the current uncertainty regarding federal support for research initiatives. Supporting established and future scientists is key to continuing the Division’s 100-year history of making key scientific discoveries and accomplishments that have transformed healthcare.

A recent highlight from the Cardiovascular Research Oversight Committee has been establishing comprehensive research content for the Division’s website. This portal (Research – Division of Cardiovascular Medicine) features some of the Division’s recent scientific achievements and the scientists who continue to engage in impactful research. It also provides a descriptive list and contact information for the enrolling subjects of the>60 cardiovascular clinical trials. It also serves as a resource for early career scientists interested in the Division’s research activities, including complete information on the NIH T-32 Fellowship training programs.

The Cardiovascular Division continues to play a pre-eminent role in science nationally and internationally. In the last academic year, the total research funding for the Division was $10.8M, of which $5.6M was from NIH and other federal grants. These grants fund basic research programs such as the genetic basis for cardiovascular disease, mechanisms of aggressive coronary artery disease and heart failure, novel forms of imaging, and clinical research where discoveries made at UVA are being implemented in first-in-human trials. This year, we will welcome three new research-oriented faculty members. Sumeet Khetarpal, MD, trained at Harvard/MGH and is an internationally recognized expert in lipid metabolism and molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis. James MacNamara MD is a physician-scientist who trained at UTSW and has research and clinical interests in exercise performance, heart failure, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies. Jonathan Pan, MD, who trained at UVA and is completing his T32 Research Fellowship, is an expert at applying advanced forms of cardiac imaging better to understand mechanisms of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. These researchers will add to the already outstanding team of creative and collaborative physician-scientists in the Division.

CLINICAL RESEARCH

From left back row: Joshua Egan, Tevin Jefferson Front: Linda Bryceland, Niki Sprouse, Lauren Preston, Nadia Ventura-Abbas, Mary Knisley, Melanie Dean, Annika King, Erin Orr, Rahel Askari, Katie Sullivan Not pictured: Cathy Roy, Rachael Coleman, Emily Planas, Kelly Parker, Morgan Hamilton and Caroline Flournoy

The Cardiology Clinical Research Program at the University of Virginia is a dynamic and growing initiative that coordinates and supports various clinical trials across multiple investigators and subspecialties. The program consists of a dedicated team of 19 research coordinators strategically organized into specialized teams to support the division’s research needs.

Our program involves diverse clinical research efforts, including device and pharmaceutical treatment trials, industry and NIH-sponsored studies, and investigator-initiated projects. The team coordinates over 125 clinical trials spanning straightforward data collection registries to highly complex early feasibility (EFS) trials, demonstrating the capacity to manage routine and cutting-edge cardiovascular research.

With a robust and continually expanding infrastructure, the UVA Cardiology Research Program remains committed to advancing cardiovascular care through excellence in clinical research.

Our mission statement: The Cardiology Clinical Research team is committed to advancing cardiovascular care through exceptional research coordination. We recognize and value the unique strengths of each team member, fostering a collaborative effort to drive meaningful progress. With a steadfast commitment to integrity, accountability, and trust, we work efficiently to streamline processes while prioritizing the safety and well-being of our research subjects. Guided by a shared purpose, we partner with clinicians, patients, sponsors, and community stakeholders to uphold the highest ethical standards and achieve transformative outcomes. Together, we strive to innovate, excel, and improve lives through groundbreaking research and compassionate care.

EDUCATION

By Victor Soukoulis MD PhD

The Cardiovascular Disease fellowship programs are proud to include a remarkable group of outstanding general and subspecialty fellows. Following a great match, we are thrilled to welcome our newest class of talented fellows to the team soon!

Our cardiology fellows deliver excellent clinical care while significantly contributing to research and quality improvement—special kudos to Drs. Maddie Smoot (general cardiology) and Dr. George Prousi (EP) who were nominated for the 2025 Exemplary Resident/Fellow Physician Nursing Excellence Award for their exceptional professionalism and interdisciplinary collaboration. Our Jeopardy team, composed of Drs. Jamey Cutts, Anish Desai, and Scott Warner who extended the multi-year streak of UVA being crowned state champion and represented Virginia admirably on the national stage at ACC.25 in Chicago.

We are also very excited that several of our fellows will be staying on as faculty this summer! Dr. Nick Ashur will join the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant group. Dr. Jonathan Pan (quad Hoo) will become one of the Advanced Cardiac Imaging faculty.

On the education front, we continue to enhance the cardiovascular fellowship to meet our trainees’ needs in the rapidly changing cardiology landscape. This past year, under the leadership of Dr. Patricia Rodriguez-Lozano, we instituted a formal mentorship program for first-year fellows. Through focused meetings with dedicated mentors and interactive sessions with mentorship experts, we aimed to support participants in their transition to fellowship while equipping them with lifelong mentorship skills. Additionally, we enhanced the CT and MRI training experiences during fellowship to align with the growing significance of these imaging modalities in cardiovascular care.

Among some of our subspecialty fellowships, we would like to highlight the Electrophysiology (EP) fellowship’s exceptional international collaboration with the Dominican Republic. Dr. Sami Ibrahim, accompanied by a team of EP attending physicians, visited the country to deliver vital education and arrhythmia care to a population in need. Back at UVA, EP fellows receive hands-on training in some of the most advanced procedures, including pulsed-field ablation and extravascular ICD placement.

We would also like to note two changes to subspecialty fellowship leadership. Dr. Raj Patel took over as program director of the Interventional Cardiology fellowship program, following Dr. Mike Ragosta’s stewardship for many years. In addition to traditional training in interventional cardiology, the program also offers the opportunity to gain experience in the rapidly expanding field of structural heart disease. Additionally, the Vascular Medicine fellowship recently underwent a leadership transition, with Dr. Randy Ramcharitar taking over as program director. The fellowship continues to deliver a comprehensive education on the diagnosis and management of both common and rare diseases affecting the arteries, veins, and lymphatic system. The program includes vascular imaging education, multidisciplinary rotations in vascular surgery, interventional radiology, vascular neurology, and hematology, and active involvement in the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team.

In conclusion, we are incredibly proud of all our trainees and faculty have achieved across the fellowship programs, and we look forward to even more exciting accomplishments in the upcoming academic year!

American College of Cardiology Conference

Yaqub Betz, Jamey Cutts, and Anish Desai participated in ACC’s version of Jeopardy. (Pictured above)
Yaqub Betz, Jamey Cutts also presented an Imaging case poster.
Anish Desai, Scott Warner, Olivia Ondigi, Emilie Fortman all presented posters.
Jonathan Pan, Bishow Paudel presented posters in Imaging, and Shiavax Rao presented a poster in Vascular.

UVA Cardiovascular Medicine