2022 HFSA AHFTC Board Review

2022 HFSA AHFTC Board Review

Introduction

The 2022 HFSA AHFTC Board Review is a comprehensive advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology educational program developed by the Heart Failure Society of America. The curriculum is specifically tailored to the American Board of Internal Medicine Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology (AHFTC) examination blueprint.

This intensive board-focused review program combines:

• 🎥 On-demand expert presentations
• 📄 Comprehensive reading list
• 🫀 Advanced heart failure education
• 🧠 Interactive LIVE Q&A sessions
• 📚 Board-oriented curriculum review

into a rigorous and clinically practical learning experience.

The course emphasizes:

• Advanced heart failure management
• Cardiac transplantation
• Mechanical circulatory support (MCS)
• Cardiogenic shock
• Hemodynamics
• HF pharmacotherapy
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Arrhythmias in HF
• Device therapy
• Infiltrative and inherited cardiomyopathies
• Comorbidity management
• Adult congenital heart disease
• Heart failure imaging and physiology

while integrating evidence-based medicine with real-world clinical application.

The live virtual program was held August 12–14, 2022.

Course Overview

The HFSA Virtual AHFTC Board Certification Review 2022 delivers a comprehensive review of modern advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.

Included Content

• 🎥 On-demand expert presentations
• 📄 Comprehensive reading list
• 🧠 LIVE faculty Q&A sessions
• 📚 Board-focused curriculum
• 🫀 Advanced HF and transplant cardiology review

Educational Focus

• AHFTC board preparation
• Advanced heart failure
• Cardiac transplantation
• Mechanical circulatory support
• Hemodynamics
• HFpEF and HFrEF
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Arrhythmia management
• Device therapies
• Shock management
• Structural and infiltrative cardiomyopathies

The curriculum was developed directly from the ABIM AHFTC examination blueprint and emphasizes clinically relevant, evidence-based cardiovascular medicine.

Heart Failure Fundamentals

The course begins with foundational principles essential for advanced HF specialists.

Topics include:

• Heart failure epidemiology and risk factors
• Cellular and energetic pathophysiology
• Hemodynamic and neurohormonal mechanisms
• Diagnosis and clinical assessment
• Cardio-oncology
• Clinico-pathologic correlations
• Imaging interpretation for HF boards
• Statistics and evidence-based medicine

These sessions establish the physiologic and clinical framework for the remainder of the course.

Cardiac Transplantation

A major section of the curriculum focuses on transplant cardiology.

Advanced HF & Patient Selection

Presented by Nancy Sweitzer

Educational focus includes:

• Defining advanced HF phenotypes
• Patient selection for advanced therapies
• Timing of transplant referral
• Advanced HF progression

Immunology & Sensitization

Presented by Sean Pinney

Topics include:

• PRA testing
• Sensitization
• Crossmatching
• Transplant immunology
• Antibody-mediated considerations

Immunosuppression & Post-Transplant Care

Presented by Michelle Kittleson

Educational sessions include:

• Immunosuppressive therapy management
• Rejection surveillance
• Clinical outcomes after transplantation
• Long-term transplant complications

Key Issues in Heart Failure Management

Hemodynamics in Heart Failure

Presented by James Fang

Topics include:

• Invasive hemodynamics
• Pressure interpretation
• Cardiac output assessment
• Filling pressures
• Hemodynamic-guided HF management

Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy

HFrEF Therapies

Presented by Mark Drazner

Comprehensive review includes:

• ACE inhibitors and ARNI therapy
• Beta blockers
• MRAs
• SGLT2 inhibitors
• Contemporary HFrEF treatment algorithms
• Board-focused pharmacology pearls

HFpEF

Presented by Sanjiv Shah

Educational topics include:

• Epidemiology and risk factors
• Diagnostic criteria
• Hemodynamic considerations
• Evidence-based HFpEF management

Pulmonary Hypertension

Presented by Jonathan Rich

Topics include:

• Pulmonary vascular disease classification
• Hemodynamic evaluation
• Pulmonary hypertension therapies
• RV dysfunction

Arrhythmias & Device Therapy

Atrial Fibrillation & Flutter

Presented by Roderick Tung

Focus includes:

• Rhythm management strategies
• Anticoagulation considerations
• Arrhythmias in advanced HF
• Ablation-related principles

Device Therapy in Heart Failure

Presented by Wendy Tzou

Topics include:

• Sudden cardiac death prevention
• ICD indications
• CRT optimization
• Device-based HF management

Hospitalized HF & Comorbidity Management

Acute HF Management

Presented by Maria Rosa Costanzo

Educational content includes:

• Hospitalized HF treatment strategies
• Volume management
• Acute decompensated HF
• Inpatient optimization

Cardio-Renal Syndrome

Presented by Jeff Testani

Topics include:

• Renal dysfunction in HF
• Diuretic resistance
• Cardio-renal interactions
• Kidney injury management

Comorbidities in HF

Sessions include management of:

• Diabetes
• COPD
• Sleep disorders
• Iron deficiency and anemia

with emphasis on integrated multidisciplinary care.

Specific Heart Failure Syndromes

Common HF Etiologies

Presented by Akshay Desai

Topics include:

• CAD-related HF
• Alcohol-related cardiomyopathy
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Myocarditis

Inherited Cardiomyopathies

Presented by Jane Wilcox

Educational topics include:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
• ARVC
• LV non-compaction (LVNC)
• Genetic cardiomyopathies

Infiltrative & Restrictive Cardiomyopathies

Presented by Sanjiv Shah

Topics include:

• Amyloidosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Hemochromatosis
• Fabry disease

Cardiogenic Shock & Mechanical Circulatory Support

Cardiogenic Shock

Presented by Nancy Sweitzer

Focus includes:

• Shock physiology
• Hemodynamic stabilization
• Vasopressor management
• Escalation strategies

Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS)

Durable MCS Devices

Presented by Joseph Rogers

Topics include:

• LVAD therapies
• Outcomes and complications
• Patient selection

Temporary Support & ECMO

Presented by Jennifer Cowger

Educational sessions include:

• ECMO management
• Temporary MCS devices
• Acute shock support strategies

Special Topics in Heart Failure

Functional Capacity & CPET

Presented by Gregory Lewis

Topics include:

• Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
• Prognostic assessment
• Functional capacity evaluation

Healthcare Disparities in HF

Presented by Khadijah Breathett

Focus includes:

• Equity in HF care
• Social determinants of health
• Disparities in outcomes and access

Chronic HF Disease Management

Presented by Akshay Desai

Educational content includes:

• Biomarkers
• Remote monitoring
• Lifestyle interventions
• Longitudinal HF management

Valvular Heart Disease in HF

Presented by Jane Wilcox

Topics include:

• Functional mitral regurgitation
• Low-gradient aortic stenosis
• Structural valve disease in HF

Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Presented by Eric Krieger

Educational focus includes:

• Adult congenital HF management
• Congenital structural complications
• Specialized HF considerations

Teaching Style & Educational Experience

The HFSA AHFTC Board Review combines:

• Board-focused education
• Expert faculty lectures
• Interactive LIVE Q&A
• Advanced cardiovascular physiology
• Case-based learning
• Evidence-based management strategies
• Practical transplant and MCS education

The curriculum emphasizes real-world application while remaining tightly aligned with AHFTC board expectations.

Why This Course Stands Out

Direct Alignment with ABIM AHFTC Blueprint

Curriculum specifically designed for AHFTC board preparation.

Exceptional HF Faculty

Features internationally recognized leaders in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.

Comprehensive Advanced HF Coverage

Extensive review of transplant, MCS, shock, and advanced HF syndromes.

Modern Evidence-Based Therapies

Includes current guideline-directed medical therapies and emerging HF strategies.

Strong Clinical Integration

Combines physiology, pharmacology, imaging, and procedural management into practical cardiovascular care.

Clinical Value

2022 HFSA AHFTC Board Review delivers a highly advanced cardiovascular curriculum by integrating:

• Advanced heart failure medicine
• Cardiac transplantation
• Mechanical circulatory support
• Hemodynamics
• Guideline-directed therapy
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Arrhythmia management
• Device therapy
• Cardiogenic shock
• Cardiomyopathies
• Cardio-oncology
• Adult congenital heart disease
• Biomarkers and remote monitoring

into a comprehensive and clinically practical educational resource.

For clinicians seeking:

• AHFTC board preparation
• Advanced HF education
• Transplant cardiology review
• LVAD and ECMO training
• Cardiogenic shock management
• Modern HF pharmacology updates
• Comprehensive advanced heart failure review

this course remains an outstanding educational program in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.