Special Services
If you require special assistance to attend this event, please call Natasha Crain at (859) 218-5747 or natasha.crain@uky.edu.
An Equal Opportunity University.
Speakers
Ayesha Ather, Thomas Avritt, James Bacon, Jason Bowman, Jin Woo Chung, Natasha Crain, Jasdeep Dhaliwal, Vedant Gupta, John Gurley, Aaron Harris, Kevin Hatton, Maya Ignaszewski, Masashi Kawabori, Matthias Loebe, Carly Metz, Hassan Reda, Nicholas Severyn, Jeremy Sites, Melissa Soper, Habib Srour, Ashley Vannatta, Derrick Warfield, Brad Withers, Joseph Zwischenberger
Ayesha Ather, PharmD, BCCP
Clinical Pharmacist, Cardiothoracic Surgery
University of Kentucky Healthcare
Assistant Adjunct Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Science
University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Ather earned a PharmD from the University of Montana. She completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at UPMC Presbyterian and a Cardiology Specialty Residency at the University of Maryland. She joined UK HealthCare in 2016 and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Clinical and Translational Science program at the University of Kentucky.
Her primary practice is in the cardiothoracic intensive care area. Her research interests focus on optimizing anticoagulation management in patients requiring mechanical circulatory support, including those on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), ventricular assist devices (VADs), and Impella. She is particularly interested in developing strategies to balance the risks of thrombosis and bleeding in these critically ill patients. Additionally, her research explores sedation and analgesia management in ECMO patients, as well as the management of cardiogenic shock and right heart failure, aiming to improve clinical outcomes through evidence-based interventions and personalized care approaches.
Thomas Avritt, MD
Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr Avritt completed his medical education at the University of Kentucky After medical school he completed his anesthesiology residency and critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine
James Bacon, MD
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Bacon completed his medical education, anesthesiology residency, and critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Kentucky.
Jason Bowman, MD
Critical Care Medicine Physician
Ephraim McDowell Health
Danville, Kentucky
Dr. Jason Paul Bowman is a critical care medicine physician who provides care to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center patients who are hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit.
Natasha Crain, MSN RN CCRN CESA
ECMO Operations Manager
University of Kentucky Healthcare
Lexington, Kentucky
Natasha earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Leadership and Administration in 2023 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Executive Leadership at the University of Kentucky. With 11 years of nursing experience, she has spent the past seven years in the Cardiovascular ICU at UK Healthcare. Starting as a staff ICU nurse, she later advanced to the role of ECMO Specialist, and in January 2023, she became the ECMO Operations Manager. In this role, she oversees the quality and safety of ECMO patient care, manages departmental resources and efficiency, provides ECLS education to staff both on-site at UK Healthcare and off-site to regional partners, facilitates monthly ECLS Steering Committee meetings, and leads preparations for the triannual ELSO Center of Excellence certification. Throughout her career, Natasha's dedication to nursing has been recognized with numerous honors, including being named Nurse of the Year in her department at CHI St. Joseph Main in 2017, DAISY Award nominations, and a nomination for the MJ Dickson Quality Nursing Award. In her current role, she continues her commitment to quality care through research and quality improvement initiatives in the MCS department. Over the past year, she has presented conference abstracts showcasing the accomplishments of their high-volume ECLS program, recognized by ELSO as a Gold Center of Excellence. Most recently, she was acknowledged as a top abstract presenter at the SEECMO Conference, hosted by the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where she presented on “Efficiency in Action: Dressing Change Policies Tailored for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Patients, Enhancing Quality Care and Cost Management.”
Jasdeep Dhaliwal, MD
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Jasdeep S. Dhaliwal is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and the Medical Director of the Adult ECMO program at the University of Kentucky since 2022. After graduating medical school from Tulane University in 2012, he completed his anesthesiology residency and MBA from Tulane University as well. He continued his post graduate training at the University of Kentucky where he completed a critical care medicine fellowship.
Specializing in anesthesiology, critical care medicine and neurocritical care, Dr. Dhaliwal spreads his clinical time between the cardiac intensive care unit and neuro critical care units. Under his leadership, UK Healthcare was awarded a Gold Center of Excellence from the ELSO Organization in 2023. He is affiliated with the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
Vedant Gupta, MD
Associate Professor, Internal Medicine
Associate Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Gupta earned an MD from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio. He completed an Internal Medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, serving as chief resident, followed by a fellowship in Internal Medicine Cardiology and Advanced Cardiac Imaging at the University of Kentucky Hospital.
He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease.
John Gurley, MD
Director, Structural Heart Program
UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute
UK HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Gurley is a visionary leader in the medical field who has devoted his career to saving and improving lives. Dr. Gurley has developed a busy interventional cardiology practice within the University of Kentucky’s Gill Heart & Vascular Institute and has a reputation for successfully overcoming clinical challenges and giving patients years of life when their prognosis was otherwise very dim.
Over the years, Dr. Gurley has been awarded special recognition as a “Health Hero” for his volunteer healthcare involvement in the community. His commitment to improving healthcare is so much a part of his identity that he founded a company, Therix Medical, specifically focused on leveraging the innovation within the University of Kentucky to create new life-saving medical products/techniques.
Dr. Gurley earned an MD from the Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health in Columbus, Ohio. He completed a residency in internal medicine at NE Ohio University and a fellowship in cardiology at the University of Kentucky.
He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology.
Dr. Gurley is an elected board member to the American Heart Association and has been an invited speaker for numerous national and international scientific meetings.
Clinical interests include Cardiovascular Interventions, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Procedures, Patent Foramen Ovale/Atrial Septal Defect (PFO/ASD) Closures, and Valvuloplasty.
Aaron Harris, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CCRN
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Department of Cardiology
UK Healthcare
Lexington, Kentucky
Aaron earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. His DNP research, titled "The Value of COPE Therapy in the Perioperative Care of Heart Failure Patients Receiving LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) Implantation: A Single Center Experience," has been published in the Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. With over a decade of experience in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at the University of Kentucky, he has served as both a staff ICU nurse and an ECMO Specialist and was a member of the adult ECMO transport team.
Aaron has received multiple Daisy Award nominations, the M.J. Dickson Quality in Nursing Award at UK Healthcare, and the prestigious UK Healthcare Blue Jacket. In his current pioneering role, which he helped create, he works as a psychiatric nurse practitioner within the Department of Cardiology. This position involves a new, integrative collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry to enhance access to mental health services for cardiology patients.
Kevin Hatton, MD, FCCM
Chief, Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine
UK HealthCare
Clinical Professor, Anesthesiology and Surgery
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Hatton earned a BA at Transylvania University and earned an MD from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, Kentucky. His post-graduate medical training includes an Anesthesiology Residency at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center where he also served as anesthesiology chief resident and a Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at the University of Florida Shands Medical Center.
He is the author of more than 40 published articles and book chapters and frequently speaks at national and regional critical care meetings on topics such as neurocritical care, advanced therapies for severe respiratory failure and sepsis, and post-graduate education.
Dr. Hatton is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology, the American Board of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine.
Clinical interests include Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Transplantation Anesthesiology.
He has recently been tasked with writing and collating the clinical guidelines for the COVID-19 response at the UK Chandler Medical Center.
Maya Ignaszewski, MD
Assistant Professor Medicine
Gill Heart & Vascular Institute
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Masashi Kawabori, MD
Surgical Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support
Division of Cardiac surgery
UK HealthCare
Clinical Associate Professor of,Surgery
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Kawabori is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
He earned his medical degree and licensure from the University of Kobe, Japan, where he also completed extensive training in renowned medical programs across the country. Further advancing his expertise, Dr. Kawabori pursued an advanced fellowship in adult general cardiac surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, in Boston. He then specialized in thoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) surgery during a fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He later served as an attending cardiac surgeon at Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, in Boston.
A prolific contributor to the field, Dr. Kawabori has authored over 100 published articles and book chapters. He is a sought-after speaker at national and regional conferences on cardiac surgery, transplantation, and artificial organ technology, frequently presenting on heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, and cardiogenic shock. His research is focused on the development of next-generation mechanical circulatory devices, and he has also served as a surgical consultant for Abiomed, a leader in heart pump technology.
Dr. Kawabori’s clinical interests encompass heart and lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, cardiogenic shock, general cardiac surgery, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). With his extensive experience, he remains dedicated to advancing both the science and practice of cardiothoracic surgery to improve patient outcomes.
Matthias Loebe, MD PhD FACC FCCP
Director of Heart and Lung Transplantation
Gill Heart and Vascular Institute
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Matthias Loebe was born and raised in the northern part of Germany. After social service as an ambulance driver, he started medical school at Free University Berlin in (then) West Berlin.
During medical school he spent 6 months with Drs. Michael DeBakey and George P. Noon at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and 4 months with Dr. Ake Senning in Zurich, Switzerland. His surgical residency started in Hanover, Germany, with Dr. Hans Georg Borst, followed by the Jewish Hospital in Berlin and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the German Heart Institute Berlin with Dr. Roland Hetzer, where he stayed on as a faculty and became vice-chairman of Department of Surgery.
In 2000 he was recruited to Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas to develop the Mechanical Support Program. He served as Director of Thoracic Transplant at BCM, Houston Methodist Hospital, and later at Weill Cornell Medical College. Under his leadership, the lung transplant program at Houston Methodist Hospital grew to be the largest in the world. IN 2015 he was recruited to the University of Miami as Chief of Thoracic Transplant and Mechanical Support.
During his extensive career, he has performed many firsts: First continuous flow pump implant, first total continuous flow pump artificial heart, first pediatric VAD, first Impella in USA, first Cardiomems in USA, etc. He is a busy clinician and has edited 6 textbook and published over 300 peer-reviewed articles. His H index is over 50.
He has served in leadership positions in national and international societies. He is presently the president of the Roland Hetzer International Cardiovascular Surgery Society.
His clinical focus is on surgical therapies for advanced heart and lung diseases and the expansion of access to those therapies for disadvantaged communities.
Dr. Loebe has built multiple large programs in Berlin, Houston, and Miami. He is presently the Director of Heart and Lung Transplantation, Gill Heart and Vascular Institute at the University of Kentucky since Spring of 2024.
Hassan Reda, MD
Professor, Surgery
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Reda earned an MD from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon where he was on the Dean’s Honor List for four years and also earned a Doctor of Medicine with Distinction award. Dr. Reda served as Chief Resident at Stony Brook Veterans Affairs Hospital at Northport, Winthrop University Hospital. He then served as Chief resident at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Reda is a nationally known and respected cardiac surgeon. His scope of practices includes aortic root surgery, transcatheter aortic valve replacements, Valvular heart disease including mitral valve surgery and repair, coronary artery bypass surgery, atrial fibrillation surgery, and aortic aneurysm surgeries and dissection repairs.
Dr. Reda was an Assistant Professor of the Department of Surgery faculty at the University of Kentucky from 2007-2017. He has returned to UK as a Professor of Surgery. Dr. Reda served as Surgical Director of the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Program at UK from 2012-2017. He was very active in mentoring cardiothoracic surgery residents during his time at the University.
Dr. Reda brings nearly 15 years of Cardiac surgery experience to UK. He has returned to serve on the UK Healthcare Adult Cardiac Surgery team as well as the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Program.
For the last 2 years, Dr. Reda was in private practice as a cardiovascular surgeon with the MidMichigan Physicians Group in Midland, Michigan.
He practiced at the Laredo Medical Center in Galveston, Texas, as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon for a couple of years before joining the University of Kentucky’s cardiothoracic team.
Dr. Reda is a fellow of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American College of Chest Physicians, and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Reda enjoys teaching medical students, residents, and fellows and hopes he can help contribute to their knowledge. He is thrilled to be back and providing quality surgical care to adult cardiac patients and those with heart disease in Kentucky and UK's surrounding service area.
Nicholas Severyn, DO
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
University of Kentucky Children's Hospital
Lexington, Kentucky
Melissa Soper, APRN
Health Professional Staff
Anesthesiology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Melissa Soper, ANCC board-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, completed her BSN at Eastern Kentucky University in 2006 and her MSN at the University of Kentucky in 2011. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Executive Healthcare Leadership at the University of Kentucky, with an anticipated graduation in Spring 2026.
Melissa began her bedside nursing career in the Medical ICU at the University of Kentucky in 2006. From 2011 to 2012, she served as a nephrology nurse practitioner, managing acute kidney injury (AKI) and coordinating renal replacement therapies for critically ill adults. From 2012 to 2023, she practiced as an intensivist in the Medical ICU at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Concurrently, from 2018 to 2023, she worked as an ICU Recovery Clinic nurse practitioner, facilitating interdisciplinary transitions of care for patients following prolonged ICU stays. Currently, Melissa serves as an intensivist and Advanced Practice Provider (APP) supervisor in the Cardiovascular ICU at the University of Kentucky.
Her research focuses on long-COVID and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). She has authored several research articles, delivered presentations, and contributed a book chapter on these subjects. Her clinical interests include the management of intermittent and durable mechanical support devices for cardiac and respiratory support, implementing A to F Bundles for ICU liberation, and improving care transitions for ICU survivors.
Melissa’s professional interests lie in advancing workplace well-being, developing an APP mentorship program, and promoting the professional development of APPs. Her dedication to clinical excellence, education, and leadership continues to have a positive impact on patient care and the APP community.
Habib Srour, MD
Associate Professor
Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
UK HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Srour earned his medical doctorate from the University of Toledo College of Medicine. He began his post-graduate training with a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Kentucky, where he also served as chief resident. He further advanced his expertise with a fellowship in critical care medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Dr. Srour is board-certified in anesthesiology and critical care medicine, and he is a testamur in critical care ultrasonography. As a dedicated educator, he teaches critical care ultrasound for the Society of Critical Care Medicine at various venues.
His professional interests include lactate physiology, cardiopulmonary physiology, and acid-base physiology. Dr. Srour is also deeply committed to education, the integration of information technology in healthcare, and promoting work-life balance and resilience among medical professionals.
Ashley Vannatta, RN BSN CCRN
Critical Care Nurse
Cardiovascular ICU
UK Healthcare
Lexington, Kentucky
Ashley Vannatta is a Critical Care Certified Nurse (CCRN) who earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing in 2012. With 13 years of experience in the Cardiovascular ICU at UK HealthCare, Ashley began her career as a bedside nurse, providing direct patient care for seven years.
Driven by a passion for advancing patient care, she played a pivotal role in spearheading the creation of the ECMO Specialist position at UK HealthCare. As one of the original six ECMO Specialists selected to launch the program, she has been instrumental in its growth and development. Over the past six years, Ashley has continued to serve as an ECMO Specialist, actively supporting the Adult ECMO Transport program.
In addition to her specialist role, she is deeply involved in education, providing training and support for nurses and providers. She is also a key member of the ECMO Steering Committee, where she collaborates to improve and streamline ECMO patient care at UK HealthCare. Her dedication to excellence and continuous improvement has made her a vital contributor to the ECMO program's success.
Brad Withers, MD
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Bradley R. Withers is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 2017 and subsequently completed both his anesthesiology residency and critical care medicine fellowship at the same institution, where he also served as chief resident.
Dr. Withers is board-certified in anesthesiology and critical care medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology. His clinical focus includes providing anesthesia and critical care services, and he is affiliated with the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. He has a special interest in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) patient population, reflecting his commitment to advancing care for critically ill patients.
In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Withers is actively involved in medical education and contributes to the training of medical students and residents in anesthesiology and critical care medicine.
Joseph Zwischenberger, MD, FACS
Johnston-Wright Professor
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
UK HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Zwischenberger earned a BS and an MD Cum Laude at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, Kentucky. He completed a general surgery residency and cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He also completed a Clinical Associate, NHLBI–Cardiac Division at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)/Critical Care fellowship in the section of General Surgery at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Prior to returning to the University of Kentucky, Dr. Zwischenberger was a faculty member at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB).
He is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, the American Board of Surgery, and the American Board of Surgery–Surgical Critical Care.
Research interests are largely focused on the development of the artificial lung and he holds two patents in relation to its development.
