We are pleased to announce that Peter S. Rahko, MD, FASE, who has contributed his time and expertise to the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (JASE) for many years, officially began his role as the publication’s Deputy Editor on July 1, 2023. Dr. Rahko has a deep appreciation for where JASE has been, where it is currently, and where it can go.

Dr. Rahko is the successor of Victor Mor-Avi, PhD, FASE, who spent the last 14 and a half years as the Deputy Editor of JASE before retiring from the position in June 2023. During his tenure, Dr. Mor-Avi worked with three JASE Editors-in-Chief and played an integral role in building JASE into a powerful force in the international cardiovascular ultrasound community. ASE expresses our sincere appreciation and admiration for Dr. Mov-Avi for his many years of dedication to the Journal!

ASE 2023 may have recently ended, but we are already looking ahead to next year’s Scientific Sessions! ASE is seeking session proposals for our 35^th Annual Scientific Sessions, which will be held June 14-16, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. Your session proposals enable us to provide cutting-edge content to meeting attendees. Sessions should:

• Highlight innovation and advances in Cardiovascular Ultrasound in clinical, educational, and research applications
• Promote current and new ASE guidelines to advance quality in Cardiovascular Ultrasound to enhance clinical decision-making
• Facilitate the acquisition of practical knowledge, skills, and experience by attendees
• Provide balanced content for physicians, sonographers, cardiovascular care team members, and emerging/early-career faculty
• Address perceived skills and knowledge gaps across all levels of expertise
• Include a variety of presentation and learning formats to enhance educational engagement and address different learning styles

Deadline for all submissions: August 31, 2023

Notification of selected sessions: November 30, 2023

2024 marks the 10th year ASE members have contributed their images to the ASE Echo Image Calendar which has become a very popular member renewal gift. Members are encouraged to upload cardiovascular images for the 2024 Image Calendar Contest by Wednesday, August 9. Please include a brief description of your image. Voting for the favorite images to be included in the colorful, 12-month calendar will close on Wednesday, September 13. All members who renew by December 31, 2023, will receive the 2024 calendar in the mail*.

To upload your images, visit the ASE 2024 Calendar Contest Library on Connect@ASE:

1. Log in to Connect@ASE using your ASE username (email address) and password.
2. Using the left navigation, scroll to Libraries.
3. Click on Image Library.
4. Click on the folder called ASE 2024 Calendar Contest.
5. Click “Upload Resource” under Folder Contents and upload your image. Image file size cannot exceed 30 MB.
6. Upload as many images as you would like.
7. Please include a title and brief description of your image.

Please note that this competition is open to members only. If you have any questions, please contact Kayla Van Ormer at KVanOrmer@ASEcho.org.

*Not including members who live in locations that are not served by the USPS.

The July issue of JASE includes “Guidelines and Recommendations for Performance of the Fetal Echocardiogram: An Update from the American Society of Echocardiography.” Co-Chair Mary T. Donofrio, MD, FASE, remarks, “It has been almost two decades since ASE released its last guidelines on fetal echocardiography. Since then, advances in the field and increased collaboration have improved imaging and increased our understanding of fetal cardiac physiology and disease progression. These guidelines will provide updated information on indications for referral as well as recommendations on timing of initial and serial follow-up studies for patients with CHD to best care for babies in utero and at delivery. The document also addresses assessment of arrhythmias, cardiac function, and CHD that progresses in utero, and gives instruction on the approach to imaging single ventricles and CHD with AV valve, outflow, or arch abnormalities. This document is the first to offer detailed guidelines for imaging of the fetal heart beyond describing normal, but also to include recommendations when fetal cardiovascular disease is present.”

Clinical investigations in this issue include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in rheumatic heart disease screening by novices, prognostic stratification of clinically stable patients with heart failure by an echocardiographic pressure/volume loop model, and features of infective endocarditis and bicuspid aortic valve through the lens of valve morphology. This issue further explores the focus topic of AI and echocardiography with articles on fully automated artificial intelligence assessment of aortic stenosis, unsupervised time-series clustering of left atrial strain for cardiovascular risk assessment, and a test-retest study on improved precision and reproducibility of LV strain. Readers can also look forward to an editorial discussing necessary changes to data design for echocardiography’s big data age.

In his inaugural President’s Message, Benjamin W. Eidem, MD, FASE, expands on the three membership-focused initiatives he will embark upon in this upcoming year.

Clarivate has released the 2022 Impact Factors, which for JASE is 6.5. JASE maintains its rank of 27 out of 142 cardiology journals, placing it in the top quartile.

Join us for ASE’s 11th Annual Echo Florida course that will take place October 7-9, 2023, at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This course offers a comprehensive review of cardiovascular ultrasound and includes dedicated sessions on cardiomyopathies, coronary artery disease (including stress testing), valvular heart disease, pericardial disease, heart failure, emerging technologies, complex congenital heart disease and case-based demonstrations on the role of 2D, and real time 3D/4D echocardiography, as well as strain imaging. Attendees can earn up to 23.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Deadline to Apply is July 1, 2023

The deadline to apply for the ASE and the ASE Foundation’s Early-Career Development Grant for Echo Scientists (EDGES) is quickly approaching! Early-career echo scientists in cardiovascular imaging can submit their application until 5:00 PM ET on July 1, 2023.

This funding opportunity will award three grants worth up to $25,000 USD to early-career clinical, basic science, or engineering investigators who are conducting research projects that address a clinical gap in cardiovascular ultrasound imaging.

There are no specific research themes that will be prioritized, and clinical gaps may include, but are not limited to: new imaging technologies, novel approaches or populations for diagnostic imaging, ultrasound therapy, workflow automation, or patient/practitioner safety. Physicians, PhDs, veterinarians, sonographers, and other healthcare professionals who are within seven years from having completed training are eligible to apply. The principal investigator must be an active ASE member.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: July 1, 2023, by 5:00 PM EST
• Scientific Review (anticipated): September 2023
• Earliest Start Date: October 1, 2023

The June 2023 Echo Magazine is now online! This issue contains interesting articles written by ASE members, including:

• Reflection, Preparation, and Gratitude, page 4
• Sonographer Volunteer of the Month – June, Congratulations Megan Kraushaar, BS, RCS, FASE, page 7
• Become a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation with ASE’s New Online Review Course, page 9
• Viewpoint in Structural Echocardiography: Junior Faculty Spotlight, page 11
• Putting the Puzzle together: Reflections From a Master Teacher, page 13
• Pilot: The ASE Mentor Match Program, page 18

ASE members can write and submit articles to Echo magazine for publication. The article submission deadline for the September 2023 issue is July 15. Visit ASE’s website to review the author submission guideline requirements on formatting, word length, etc. Contact Echo@ASEcho.org with questions and view past issues at ASEcho.org/EchoMagazine.

The ASE 2023 Scientific Sessions just wrapped up in National Harbor, Maryland, and it was a tremendous success. Chaired by James Kirkpatrick, MD, FASE, and Co-Chair, Madeline Jankowski, BS, RDCS, ACS, FASE, over 2,000 attendees from 38 countries enjoyed four days of learning in person that were also packed with exciting networking events. Over 500 people attended virtually and were able to participate in the Q&A sessions through the Whova app. The online library of the sessions presented in National Harbor will be available for purchase on ASELearningHub.org later this summer.

ASE 2023 also welcomed nearly 400 investigators from around the world who presented their original science during the meeting. Congratulations to the two investigator award competition winners on their excellent achievements.

• 2023 Arthur E. Weyman Young Investigator’s Award Competition Winner, Jeremy Slivnick, MD, FASE, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
• 2023 Brian Haluska Sonographer Research Award Competition Winner, Nicole Guerrera, RT(R), RDCS, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Thank you to all the investigators who contributed to this year’s scientific program! We hope to see your cutting-edge science at next year’s Scientific Sessions. Abstract submissions will open on October 5, 2023.

Plan now to join us for a more condensed Scientific Sessions in Portland, Oregon, next year Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 16, 2024.  

Gemstones or “gems” are highly valuable, and similar to their namesake, ASE GEMs recognize valued members who Go the Extra Mile.

Join ASE in celebrating members who are making the world a better place by submitting a GEM nomination. Nominate a colleague for their dedication to the field of cardiovascular ultrasound, outstanding mentorship to students or fellows, commitment to quality patient care, or congratulate them on a major accomplishment or milestone service anniversary.

The deadline for submission is the 25th of each month to allow time for recognition the following month. View past ASE GEM recipients here.