2025 Letter from the President
Dear NASCI Members,
As the days grow longer and the weather brings renewed energy and optimism, I hope this message finds you well. With the year well underway, I’d like to take a moment to share a mid-year update on our society’s activities since our very successful Annual Meeting last September in Boston, Massachusetts.
Committee Appointments
I’m pleased to report that all members who volunteered to serve on a committee have now received appointments. NASCI remains committed to fostering leadership and engagement among our members. If you’re interested in getting involved, we encourage you to volunteer—your contribution is valued, and we’ll do our best to find a place for you.
Program Committee
Our Program Chair, Dr. Cristina Fuss, Co-Chair, Dr. Patricia Mergo, and Vice-Chair, Dr. Jonathan Revels—together with Congenital Program Committee Chairs Dr. Kaproth-Joslin and Dr. Merves—have finalized an exciting agenda for our upcoming Annual Meeting in Minneapolis this September. We’re looking forward to an outstanding event. Some highlights include a keynote lecture by Dr. Nicole Seiberlich, Co-Director of the Michigan Institute for Imaging Technology and Translation (MIITT), who will speak on recent advances in cardiovascular CMR. Our society is unique in featuring expert discussions on adult and pediatric cardiac and vascular imaging across a spectrum of modalities, including CT and MRI. Don’t miss the opportunity to register early and take advantage of discounted pricing!
Research & Awards Committee
Under the leadership of Dr. Akos Varga-Szemes, the newly appointed Chair of the Research & Awards Committee, preparations are underway to review both scientific and educational abstract submissions. The committee will also select finalists for the Young Investigator Award, evaluate grant proposals, and assess candidates for the Rising Star Fellow position. We received a record-breaking 130 abstract submissions this year—thank you for your continued enthusiasm and engagement!
Our 2024 recipients are:
- Rising Star Fellow: Dr. Milan Vecsey-Nagy
Recognized for his promising work on photon-counting detector technology and its clinical application in cardiovascular imaging. Dr. Vecsey-Nagy will also join the Research Committee. - Scientific Seed Grant: Dr. Camila Urzua Fresno
Her project investigates 4D-Flow CMR of the right ventricular/pulmonary artery axis before and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) in CTEPH patients. This innovative research uses advanced cardiac MRI techniques, including wave-intensity analysis, wall shear stress, and RV flow dynamics, to improve patient selection for PTE. Dr. Urzua will submit her first progress report by May 1. - Educational Grant: Dr. Seyed Ali Nabipoorashrafi
Dr. Nabipoorashrafi is developing CardioVisioEd, a mobile application designed to enhance cardiovascular imaging education globally, with a special focus on low-resource settings through collaborative case-based learning.
NASCI Education
Led by Dr. Revels, the NASCI Education Committee has had a productive and impactful year. Highlights include:
- Case of the Month
Relaunched and rebranded, this initiative has published 11 cases and is now featured as a “Collection” in the International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging (IJCVI). The integration with Springer’s SNAPP platform has streamlined submission, peer review, and publication processes. - Curious Cases Webinar
Successfully relaunched in September 2024 in collaboration with the Electronic Communications Committee. We’ve hosted six engaging sessions that spotlight both established and emerging experts. Feedback continues to shape the future of this growing series. - NASCI Teaching Corner
Continues to offer valuable, regularly updated educational content. A new sorting function improves usability, especially for trainees and those preparing for board exams. Looking ahead, we aim to strengthen collaboration with the NASCI Trainee Committee and continue to develop resources for learners at every stage of their careers.
Social Media
We thank Dr. Carlo De Cecco for his service as Chair of the Electronic Communications Committee and welcome Dr. Carlotta Onnis as the new Chair!
NASCI is embracing new avenues to connect with professionals, share insights, and collaborate on advancements in cardiovascular imaging. Join us on BlueSky to stay updated on the latest developments, participate in meaningful discussions, and be part of a growing network dedicated to excellence in cardiovascular imaging.
@nascisociety.bsky.social
Intersociety Liaison Committee
We thank Dr. Dan Ocazionez for his leadership of the Intersociety Liaison Committee for the past six years and welcome Dr. Carlo De Cecco as the new chair! Through the Friends of NASCI global outreach initiative, we continue to offer free access to bootcamps and educational resources to societies in Latin America and other regions. Webinars with ESCR have been well attended, and we maintain strong reciprocal relationships with international societies such as ESCR (European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology), ASCI (Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging), CIVICS (Cardiovascular Imaging CT Summit), and KOSCI (Korean Society of Cardiovascular Imaging). We’re especially excited about our newest collaboration with the Indian Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (IACI) and look forward to welcoming a broader international presence at our next meeting.
To support participation from developing countries, NASCI has introduced a sliding scale virtual registration model to make cardiac education more accessible. Please visit our registration page to see the rates for your region.
Publications Committee
The committee has been actively working on multiple projects including vascular imaging for structural heart disease, imaging in patients undergoing Fontan palliation, assessing cardiac chamber size as well as collaborating with other societies on joint publications. We thank Dr. Kate Hanneman, Chair, and Dr. Bradley Allen, Vice chair for their leadership and vision.
Thank you for being a part of the NASCI community. We look forward to continued collaboration and a fantastic Annual Meeting in Minneapolis!
Warm regards,
Prachi Agarwal, MD, MD, FNASCI, FACR
President, NASCI