2025 Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Cardiovascular Conference
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Speaker Bios
Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN
Chief Nurse Executive, Senior Vice President, Cardiac Services, Mount Sinai Health System, Edgar M. Cullman, Sr., Chair Department of Nursing, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives in 2024, is a transformational healthcare leader with over 30 years of experience. As Senior Vice President of Cardiac Services and Chief Nurse Executive for the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS), she advances evidence-based, patient-centered care and seamless healthcare transitions.
Dr. Oliver aligns nursing excellence with strategic goals to optimize clinical outcomes, enhance engagement, and elevate patient experience. A former President of the American Heart Association’s NYC Board of Directors, she has expanded cardiovascular health initiatives citywide. Honored by Becker’s and the American Academy of Nursing, she was appointed to the New York Academy of Medicine’s Board of Trustees in 2023. A respected speaker and author, she continues to drive healthcare innovation, improving patient outcomes and strengthening the nursing profession.
Topic: Thinking Differently About AI and the Future of Cardiovascular Care
Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, FACC, FAHA, FESC, MSCAI
Director, The Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, Dr. Valentin Fuster Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA is the Director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and the Dr. Valentin Fuster Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Bhatt received his Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the Harvard, his medical degree (MD) from Cornell, and his executive MBA from Oxford. Prior to his arrival at Mount Sinai, Dr. Bhatt was Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Executive Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Bhatt’s research focuses on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, including the use of novel therapies and interventions. He has published over 1,000 research articles in prestigious medical journals and has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the American College of Cardiology’s Distinguished Mentor Award and the American Heart Association’s Distinguished Scientist Award.
Topic: Emerging Trends in Cardiology
Samin K. Sharma, MD, FACC, MSCAI
Senior Vice President, Operations and Quality, Mount Sinai Heart; Director, Clinical and Interventional Cardiology, Mount Sinai Health System; President, Mount Sinai Heart Network, Dean of Interventional Clinical Affiliation; Director of Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Samin K. Sharma, MD, the Director of the Cardiac Clinical Institute at The Mount Sinai Health System, is a renowned interventional cardiology expert well known for performing high-risk complex coronary interventions (more than 1,500 interventions per year) with an extremely high success rate (greater than 99 percent) while achieving an extremely low major complication rate (less than 0.2 percent). He has received the prestigious twostar designation (significantly lower than expected mortality) numerous times by the New York State Department of Health.
Topic: Top Ten Advances of Interventional Cardiology
Annapoorna S. Kini, MD, MRCP, FACC
Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory; Director, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program; Interventional Director, Structural Heart Program, Professor of Medicine and Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Dr. Annapoorna S. Kini is the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at The Mount Sinai Hospital and a renowned expert in percutaneous coronary interventions. Her research focuses on coronary atherosclerosis, utilizing advanced invasive imaging techniques such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess complex coronary artery disease. Notably, Dr. Kini led the YELLOW I, II, and III studies, which employed imaging modalities and transcriptomics to understand the impact of aggressive lipid-lowering therapies on coronary plaque composition and stability. Her work has significantly advanced our understanding of atherosclerosis progression and regression.
Dr. Kini has developed and launched 14 free educational apps, available to the public via CardiologyApps.com, the Apple App Store, and Google Play. Among them, STEMIcathAID streamlines STEMI care by enhancing communication, patient tracking, and automating performance metrics. With GPS tracking, EKG uploads, and realtime coordination, it facilitates rapid assessment, early shock recognition, and efficient patient transfers, ultimately improving outcomes.
These innovative tools empower healthcare professionals and advance medical education. In early 2025, Dr. Kini and her team further transformed patient communication with SOFIYA, an AI-driven virtual assistant designed to streamline pre-procedure verifications. By automating patient outreach, SOFIYA saves nursing staff 5-6 hours daily, significantly improving efficiency and workflow.
Through her pioneering work in digital healthcare, Dr. Kini continues to drive innovation in patient care and medical technology.
Topic: Practical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in the Cath Lab
Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP, FESC, FAHA, MSCAI
Director, The Women’s Heart and Vascular Center at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart, Director, Center for Interventional Cardiovascular Research and Clinical Trials, Endowed Mount Sinai Professor in Cardiovascular Clinical Research and Outcomes, Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), Professor of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Dr. Roxana Mehran is an internationally renowned interventional cardiologist and clinical research expert in the field of cardiovascular disease. She developed individual risk scores for bleeding and acute kidney injury, developed clinical guidelines, and has authored over 1,800 peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Mehran currently serves as member and 2025-2026 Vice President on the Board of Trustees of The American College of Cardiology. For a decade, Dr. Mehran is listed as Clarivate Analytics Most Cited Researchers – Top 1%, and Thomson Reuters list of The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds.
Dr. Mehran founded the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) and leads the Lancet Women and CVD Commission, addressing research gaps in women’s cardiovascular health. Additionally, she established Women as One to empower women in medicine. On March of 2024, she was honored with the prestigious Jacobi Medal from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Topic: Women and Cardiovascular Health: A Gender-Specific Approach to Cardiovascular Care
Susan Colpoys, DNP, AGACNP-BC, RN
Mount Sinai West, Division of Cardiology, Heart Failure, Mount Sinai West, New York, NY
Susan Colpoys is a dedicated DNP and Registered Nurse at Mount Sinai West, specializing in cardiovascular care. With experience in the Cardiac Telemetry Inpatient Unit and Cardiac Surgery ICU, she manages complex cases, including heart failure, transplants, and post-surgical recovery. Passionate about patient-centered care, Susan is committed to advancing cardiovascular health through evidence-based practice.
Topic: Salt: The Silent Killer – Empowering Patients to Reduce Sodium and Protect Their Hearts
Marc Miller, MD
Associate Professor, Cardiac Arrhythmia Services, Mount Sinai Hospital, Division of Cardiology, New York, NY
Dr. Marc Miller is an Associate Professor of Cardiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, specializing in Cardiac Electrophysiology. He serves as the Director of Quality Assurance for Cardiac Electrophysiology at Mount Sinai, focusing on arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and the management of pacemakers and defibrillators. Dr. Miller earned his medical degree from Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine, followed by fellowships in cardiovascular disease and clinical cardiac electrophysiology at Mount Sinai Hospital. He is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and clinical cardiac electrophysiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Topic: The Heart-Brain Connection: Understanding Atrial Fibrillation’s Impact
Samantha Zakow
Program Coordinator, Department of Cardiology, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY
Samantha Zakow is the Program Coordinator for the Hypertension Prevention Program for First Responders at Mount Sinai, where she focuses on early detection and prevention of hypertension among those who serve our communities. She also plays a key role in streamlining administrative processes within Mount Sinai West’s Cardiology Department, enhancing efficiency and practice capacity. With experience in healthcare administration, clinical management, and her work at the Department of Health and Human Services, she continues to contribute to improving patient care and optimizing healthcare operations within the health system.
Topic: Addressing Hypertension in Firefighters: Strategies for Prevention, Early Detection, and Community Engagement
Dakota Denielle Lawtum, MSN, RN, CCRN, CSSGB
Senior Director Patient Care Services, Mount Sinai West – Cardiovascular Institute/Cardiac Imaging, Mount Sinai Morningside – Cardiovascular Institute
Denielle joined Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital leadership in 2021. She earned her Master’s in Nursing Administration and Clinical Informatics and maintains certifications in both Critical Care Nursing (AACN) and Six Sigma Methodology. Denielle’s leadership experience has focused on the care of the critically ill patient in complex inpatient, procedural and ambulatory care settings including Cardiac Catheterization (Adult and Pediatric), EPS, Interventional Radiology, Stroke, ICU, Nuclear Cardiology, Cardiac Imaging and Ambulatory Cardiology services. In 2023, Denielle and team earned the AACN Beacon Silver Award for exceptional patient outcomes and teamwork in Interventional Procedures (Cardiac Catheterization, EPS and Interventional Radiology). Denielle is a currently a Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy DNP student at Yale University. She has also presented original research at local, national, and international conferences including the ANCC Magnet Conference.
Topic: Addressing Hypertension in Firefighters: Strategies for Prevention, Early Detection, and Community Engagement
Hui Lin, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist – Critical Care, Mount Sinai Hospital, Assistant Professor, Touro College of Pharmacy, New York, NY
Hui Lin, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist specializing in cardiovascular critical care at Mount Sinai Hospital. With a strong background in anticoagulation management, she plays a vital role in optimizing treatment strategies for patients at high risk of thromboembolic events. Her expertise extends to sepsis and septic shock, pain management in critically ill populations, and alcohol withdrawal protocols. She is committed to advancing patient care through evidence-based practices and continuous learning in the evolving field of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy.
Topic: New Anticoagulants and Antithrombotics: Tailored Approaches to Managing Thromboembolic Risk
Jenna Ingram, PharmD, BCACP
Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Manager, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Dr. Jenna Ingram, PharmD, BCACP, serves as the Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Manager in Cardiology at Mount Sinai Health System. As a Board-Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, she focuses on optimizing medication management and improving patient outcomes. She is primarily involved in the management of cardio-renal metabolic conditions including heart failure, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and obesity. Dr. Ingram also supports transitions of care for patients on anticoagulants. She sees patients from throughout the health system in the Virtual Medication Management Clinic and is embedded at GP1C Cardiology clinic. She also serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents within the Mount Sinai Health System.
Topic: SGLTi and Heart Failure: A Paradigm Shift in Treatment
Raymond L. Benza, MD, FACC, FAHA, FACP
System Director of Pulmonary Hypertension, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Raymond L. Benza, MD is a Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist and Director of Pulmonary Hypertension Cardiology Health Systems at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American College of Cardiology. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine with certification in the subspecialties of cardiovascular diseases and advanced heart failure and transplantation. Dr. Benza currently holds administrative positions in the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute and the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation and is the former treasurer of that society. He served on President Barak Obama’s Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation (ACOT) in the Health Resources and Services Administration for 4 years and was knighted in 2015 by his Royal Highness Vittorio Emanuele of Italy for his philanthropic work in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and was admitted to the Association of University Cardiologists. He sits on multiple journal editorial committees and is the Steering Committee Chair for several industry trial in PAH. His primary clinical interests are the evaluation and treatment of advanced congestive heart failure, cardiac transplantation, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. He participates in major clinical studies of new therapies for the treatment of heart failure, mechanical support, and pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Benza is a funded investigator for the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association for his work in pulmonary arterial hypertension focusing on risk stratification, pharmacogenomics, and new device therapies for this disease state.
Topic: Remote Monitoring and Pulmonary Hypertension: Revolutionizing Management Through Precision Care
Mackenzy Scott, MBA, RN
Associate Program Director for Quality and Safety, Cardiac Services, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY
Mackenzy Scott, MBA, RN is the Associate Program Director for Quality and Safety for Cardiac Services at the Mount Sinai Health System. He is a dedicated leader focused on improving patient outcomes through innovation, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to excellence in cardiovascular care.
Topic: Optimizing Outcomes: Evaluating ERAS and Recovery Pathways After Cardiac Surgery
Timothy Brennan, MD, MPH
Chief, Clinical Services in Addiction, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY
Timothy Brennan, MD, MPH is the Chief of Clinical Services for the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, overseeing addiction care across all Mount Sinai campuses. He also directs the Fellowship in Addiction Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Board-certified in Addiction Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Brennan trained at Harvard Medical School, Weill Cornell, and Georgetown University. A nationally recognized expert in addiction education, pharmacotherapy, and policy, he has spoken widely on addiction-related issues and co-edited Essentials of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Brennan serves on multiple boards, including the National Association for Children of Addiction, and frequently contributes to media outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal , and NPR.
Topic: Alcohol and Heart Health: Unveiling the Risks and Impacts on Your Cardiovascular System
Bruce Darrow, MD, PhD
Senior VP, Digital and Technology Partners, Professor, Cardiology/Medicine, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Bruce Darrow, MD, PhD is the Chief Information Officer and Chief Medical Information Officer at Mount Sinai Health System. Board-certified in Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Informatics, Dr. Darrow specializes in the treatment of a wide range of cardiac conditions, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and valvular heart disease. He has also led innovative healthcare technology initiatives to improve patient care through the integration of clinical informatics.
A Castle Connolly Top Doctor from 2016 to 2024, Dr. Darrow is an award-winning clinician and educator, recognized for his leadership in both clinical practice and healthcare technology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Heart Association. Through his work, Dr. Darrow continues to advance the field of cardiology while improving patient outcomes across the Mount Sinai Health System.
Topic: Wearables as Medicine: Empowering Patients with Technology to Transform Cardiovascular Care
Andriy Vengrenyuk, MS
Data Analyst II, Cardiac Cath Lab – Nursing, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Andriy Vengrenyuk, MS, has contributed to the development of digital tools aimed at enhancing cardiac care, including the STEMIcathAID mobile application, which streamlines communication and coordination for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). His work focuses on integrating technology to improve patient outcomes in interventional cardiology as well as helping develop educational tools and applications for cardiologists worldwide.
Topic: Cardiac Cath Apps: Innovating Intervention with Digital Precision
Amy Kontorovich, MD, PhD
Director, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Amy Rosen Kontorovich, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Medicine in Cardiology and Genomic Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and is the Director of the Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases. She also serves as Medical Director of Adult Cardiovascular Genetics in the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and as core faculty in the Cardiovascular Research Institute. Dr. Kontorovich received a B.S.E in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and MD and PhD degrees through the Medical Scientist Training Program of the National Institutes of Health at Stony Brook University. She completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, during which she received specialized training in genetics of cardiovascular diseases.
Topic: Personalized Cardiology: Advances in Tailoring Therapies Based on Genetic Profiles
Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Cardiovascular Health and Wellness, Mount Sinai Heart, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Associate Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Dr. McLaughlin received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She completed her Medical Residency at the New York Hospital/ Cornell Medical Center, her fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and her master’s in public health degree at Columbia University School of Public Health. She is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Currently she is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiology and Medical Director of Cardiovascular Health and Wellness Program. She was the President, American Heart Association, New York City Board of Directors for two terms. Dr. McLaughlin is the recipient of Federally funded and Foundation Research grants. She has investigated effects of the World Trade Center on cardio-metabolic health. Dr. McLaughlin is an advocate for research in Women’s Health and a collaborator in a study evaluating pre-term birth as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease and heart failure in women. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Jacobi Medallion Award from the Icahn School of Medicine and the Heart of Gold Award from the American Heart Association.
Topic: Cardiac Rehabilitation: Advancing Early Ambulation and Mobility for Optimal Recovery
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