The June issue of JASE includes, “Obstruction in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Many Faces.” Author Jeffrey B. Geske, MD, FASE, remarks, “Echocardiographic assessment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be challenging due to vast phenotypic heterogeneity, complex hemodynamics, and variable findings dependent on loading conditions. However, accurate diagnostic assessment is needed for guidance of medical management, determination of septal reduction therapy candidacy, and intraprocedural assessment. In this JASE article, we present a visual Doppler atlas with many high-quality examples to guide interpretation and understanding of the many ways that obstruction can present in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.”

In addition to the HCM report, readers can look forward to two other state-of-the-art reviews. Both center on the role of 3D echocardiography—in the perioperative assessment of the hemodynamic ventriculoarterial junction of the aortic root and in RV volume analysis in pediatric heart disease. This issue also hosts a variety of clinical investigations on topics ranging from left ventricular trabeculations in athletes to 3D echocardiography’s role in mitral regurgitation to congenital heart disease. Two editorial comments, five brief research communications, and two letters to the editor round out this issue.

In his final President’s Message, Dr. Eidem reflects on this past year as ASE President and the progress of his three key initiatives: ASE Matters, ASE Mentors, and ASE Educates. Be sure to check out June’s Author Spotlight to learn more from author Giuseppe Di Gioia, MD, on his recent paper, Left Ventricular Trabeculation: Arrhythmogenic and Clinical Significance in Elite Athletes.

Please see the June ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.

As a benefit of ASE membership, you have access to over 25 free CME/MOC activities in the ASE Learning Hub (ALH)! The latest JASE CME article available in the ALH is titled, Pulmonary Vein Flow Morphology After Transcatheter Mitral Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair as Predictor of Survival. Members can access this article for free in the ALH and earn up to 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

The ASE 2024 Schedule Details is now available! Already registered? Use the Whova app to begin planning your schedule. Not yet registered? View the Schedule Details to see the many education and networking opportunities offered at ASE 2024, and register today (on site prices rise by $125)!

• Joint sessions with 17 partnering multimodality organizations.
• Four featured special lectures.
• Sonographer Career Day on Saturday where sonographer students are encouraged to attend and learn for the day.
• Six Science & Technology Theater presentations by industry in the Echo Expo.
• Eleven Poster Sessions and three Rapid Fire Abstract Presentations.
• Exhibit Floor with over 50 booths, Bark Park sponsored by Siemens Healthineers, Coffee Carts, Charging Lounges, and Research Posters.
• And more!

ASE is committed to providing our members with the tools and resources they need to ensure coding accuracy and compliancy, and to maximize appropriate revenue. Log in to the ASE Member Portal and access the 2024 Coding Connection document under the “Advocacy” tab.

This free resource provides answers to echocardiography specific billing and assists you in coding accurately for the services you provide, especially in today’s environment of declining reimbursement and increased scrutiny. This newsletter includes information on recent coding updates for echocardiography services, evaluation and management services, Medicare split/shared visit changes, and ASE’s top 10 coding questions and answers.

ASE provides member-only access to coding information and a coding expert who is available to answer individual coding questions free of charge.

ASE is an organization that is open to all echo enthusiasts, and a diverse and active membership not only makes ASE stronger, but also the field of cardiovascular ultrasound. As a free member benefit, members can choose to join one (or more) of ASE’s six Councils or four Specialty Interest Groups (SIGs).

ASE’s Councils provide members with an opportunity to be involved with one or more subspecialty group to enhance their careers and knowledge, and Council membership is free. The 2024 Scientific Sessions in Portland, Oregon, offers multiple opportunities to engage with Council members, including Council Business Meetings (see Whova App for schedule).

• Cardiovascular Sonography
• Circulation & Vascular Ultrasound
• Critical Care Echocardiography
• Interventional Echocardiography
• Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease
• Perioperative Echocardiography

SIGs support members who have a common interest in specialized areas with growth potential in cardiovascular ultrasound. There are currently four SIGs that members can join for free. Meet members of SIG leadership at a Networking Event on Friday, June 14 during the President’s Welcome Reception.

• Cardio-Oncology
• Emerging Echo Enthusiasts
• Neonatal Hemodynamics TnECHO
• Veterinary

Join an ASE Council or SIG, by logging in to your ASE Member Portal. Contact Suzanne Morris at smorris@ASEcho.org with questions about Councils, and email SIGs@ASEcho.org with questions about joining a SIG.

Did you miss Echo Hawaii or State-of-the-Art Echocardiography (SOTA) earlier this year? Or maybe you are looking for unlimited on-demand access to the latest education on established and emerging cardiovascular ultrasound technologies? Register for ASE’s Advanced Echo 2024 online course and access 28 presentations compiled from the 2024 Echo Hawaii and SOTA courses. Expert faculty discuss the latest technologies with a particular focus on how they can be effectively applied in a clinical setting.

Registration includes access to course materials until April 16, 2025; up to 13.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, and ASE members receive reduced registration fees as a benefit of membership.

Deadline to Apply: May 31, 2024

ASE is seeking applications for a new volunteer opportunity—Echo magazine Physician Co-Editor! Echo magazine is a highly regarded publication that has featured hundreds of unique and interesting articles from ASE members over the past several years.

The selected individual will start on July 1 and serve a three-year term. The main responsibilities include proofreading each issue, suggesting article content, reviewing submitted articles, among other duties. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity and the criteria to apply!

The May issue of JASE includes, “Coronary Artery Tortuosity and Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Association With Echocardiography and Global Longitudinal Strain, Fibromuscular Dysplasia, and Outcomes.” Author Marysia S. Tweet, MD, MS, remarks, “Our recent publication describes detailed echocardiography findings of 116 patients after spontaneous coronary artery dissection.  Left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain were of normal range in the majority of patients, although approximately half of the patients had persistent left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities. While coronary artery tortuosity (TCA) was not associated with specific echocardiographic parameters, TCA was associated with older age, fibromuscular dysplasia and a trend towards larger mid-ascending aortic size.”

This issue emphasizes precision imaging in echocardiography and includes various novel applications of echocardiography to guide patient care. Clinical investigation topics range from stress echocardiographic markers of ischemia, echo vs. CMR for prediction of wedge pressure, and diastolic phenotypes in pediatric HCM, to spontaneous coronary artery dissection, pulmonary vein flow in the assessment of mitral regurgitation severity, and endurance training and LV mechanics in children. An editorial comment complements a clinical investigation on right atrial remodeling and outcome in patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation. Readers can also look forward to a state-of-the-art review on the advances in the application of artificial intelligence in fetal echocardiography. Two letters to the editor and five brief research communications round out this issue.

Dr. Eidem’s President’s Message highlights ASE’s international efforts and impact as the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound. Be sure to check out May’s Author Spotlight to learn more from author Minh B. Nguyen, MD, on his recent paper, Modeling the Relationship Between Diastolic Phenotype and Outcomes in Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Please see the May ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.

Content Available: Next Monday, May 6

Now is the perfect time to register for ASE’s 25^th Annual ASCeXAM Review Course: Virtual Experience. Starting Monday, May 6, you’ll have online access to more than 40 pre-recorded presentations to help you prepare for the National Board of Echocardiography’s ASCeXAM. Additionally, these varied presentations offer a comprehensive review of cardiovascular ultrasound information.

Topics covered in this virtual course include:

• TTE, TEE, right and left ventricular hemodynamics, endocarditis, chamber quantitation, systolic function, and hand-held echo
• Spectral Doppler, deformation, stress echo, mitral stenosis, mitral valve disease, and mitral regurgitation
• Mitral valve prostheses, aortic stenosis, HCM, systemic disease, and formulas
• Physics, knobology, artifacts, right ventricular function, and tricuspid and pulmonary valve disease
• Aortic regurgitation, aortic prosthesis, cardiac masses, myocardial infarction, and interventional echocardiography
• Contrast, congenital heart disease, diastolic function, pericardial disease, diseases of the aorta, heart failure, and LVADs

Registration also includes a virtual live component on Saturday, June 22. Expert faculty will host two live question and answer sessions online from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET and 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM ET to answer your specific questions, review course material, and dive deeper into certain subjects. These sessions will be recorded and added to the online content for on-demand viewing through August 12, 2024. Registrants can earn up to 28.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.