Presented by: Wendy K. Cawley, BSN, RN, CCRP; Melissa Lyle, MD, FACC, FHFSA

Description: This webinar will provide an overview of current practices and advancements in heart failure and heart transplantation, and how to best serve these specific patient populations to maximize health outcomes. The practical management of these patients within the cardiac rehab setting will be discussed, including assessment, exercise, nutrition, psychosocial needs, medication management, blood glucose monitoring, infection control, rejection, and long-term self-monitoring. 

Learning Objectives:  

1. Discuss the various treatment options for patients with advanced heart failure and recognize the importance of pre-rehabilitation prior to those advanced therapies.

2. Describe how CP Rehab staff can help patients with LVADs optimize their health with lifestyle adjustments.

3. Recognize the special considerations needed in managing heart recipients and how those considerations can be applied in the CP Rehab setting.

Presented by Tracey H. Taveira, Pharm.D., CDOE, CVDOE

Description: This continuing education program focuses on advancing the understanding and management of obesity and associated cardiovascular risks. Participants will review the latest literature, emphasizing the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The program will also explore the comparative effectiveness of novel obesity treatments, such as GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists, against traditional weight loss medications. Additionally, attendees will gain practical insights into improving medication adherence by addressing common barriers, fostering effective patient provider communication, and implementing strategies to manage side effects and optimize medication tolerance. This overarching goal is to enhance clinical outcomes and support evidence-based practice in obesity care.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Review current guidelines and literature on the management of obesity and cardiovascular risk, with a focus on the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
2. Compare outcomes of novel obesity treatments, including GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists, against previously available medications for weight loss.
3. Develop strategies to improve medication adherence by understanding common barriers, promoting patient-provider communication, and implementing tips to manage side effects and optimize medication tolerance.

Recordings will be made available within 10 business days following each webinar. There is a 60-day viewing window for the recordings. This presentation series is sponsored by Novo Nordisk Inc. No credits (CEUs) are available for this free webinar series. 

This free webinar series, sponsored by Novo Nordisk Inc., is tailored to multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation professionals, and will consist of three, 60-minute live webinar presentations addressing weight management and guideline directed care in cardiovascular disease. Each live webinar will be recorded and offered on-demand in the AACVPR Learning Center. 

By participating in this webinar series, attendees will be able to:

1. Describe the pathophysiological link between cardiometabolic disease and obesity.
2. Apply evidence-based strategies for enhancing cardiac rehabilitation adherence and reducing hospital readmissions.
3. Summarize the guideline-directed medical therapy in reducing and preventing major cardiovascular events and hospital readmissions.
4. Identify potential adverse effects of cardiovascular guideline-directed medical therapy.

Webinar Series Schedule: 

May 8, 2025 | Noon-1:00 p.m. CT | #1: Uncovering the Connection Between Cardiovascular Disease and Obesity | Carl J. Lavie Jr., MD
June 17, 2025 | Noon-1:00 p.m. CT | #2: Empowering Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients for Cardiovascular Health | Megan Hays, PhD
July 14, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 p.m. CT | #3: Guideline Directed Therapy on the Reduction of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events | Tracey Taveira, Pharm.D., CDOE, CVDOE

Recordings will be made available within 10 business days following each webinar. There is a 60-day viewing window for the recordings. This presentation series is sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Inc. This presentation is not offered for credits (CEUs).

Presented by Brenna VanFrank, MD, MPH
No relevant disclosures. 

1.0 AACVPR CEUs.

Description: The emergence of e-cigarettes in the tobacco product landscape has shifted clinical and public health approaches to tobacco prevention and control. While much is known about e-cigarettes, many questions remain about their health and public health implications. In this webinar, released as a recorded webinar in 2020, participants will gain an understanding about what e-cigarettes are, who is using e-cigarettes and why, and what current evidence we have regarding the health impact of e-cigarette use. Clinical and public health approaches to e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products will additionally be discussed.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify the types of e-cigarettes and the substances they contain
2. Describe e-cigarette use patterns and the potential health impacts of e-cigarette use
3. Discuss clinical and public health approaches to emerging tobacco products

Viewing window: 60 days from date of purchase

Presented by Ana Mola, PhD, RN, ANP C, MAACVPR; Quinn R. Pack, MD, MSc, FAACVPR; Shelley S. Hammond, MMC
No relevant disclosures.

1.0 AACVPR CEUs

Description: Tobacco use, especially cigarette smoking, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and pulmonary morbidity and mortality. Comprehensive tobacco treatment is a critical component of the clinical care for individuals with or at risk for cardio/pulmonary disease, as well as peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This session, released as a recorded webinar in 2020, will provide an overview of tobacco treatment within the rehab setting, and discuss how to utilizes tools and resources developed from the Tips From Former Smokers® campaign.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review nicotine addiction physiology and how this impacts clinical treatment
2. Summarize the tobacco cessation evidence based medication therapy and brief counseling interventions
3. Discuss the key components of operationalizing a tobacco treatment program, within a variety of rehabilitation settings.
4. Explore approaches for CR

Viewing window: 60 days from date of purchase

Presented by Virend K. Somers, MD, PhD; Naima Covassin, PhD

No relevant disclosures. 

1.00 AACVPR CEUs, 1.00 ANCC CEUs 

Description: The presenters will provide an overview of sleep apnea epidemiology, clinical presentation and cardiovascular implications. Additionally, they will also discuss how sleep disorders may impact cardiac rehabilitation outcomes. 

Learning Objectives:  

1. To review the prevalence and cardiovascular implications of sleep apnea. 
2. To explore the effects of sleep apnea therapy on cardiovascular outcomes.
3. To examine how sleep disorders may impact patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. 

Presented by: Michael See, MS, CDCES, ACSM-CEP, NBC-HWC

No relevant disclosures. 

1.00 AACVPR CEUs, 1.00 ANCC CEUs 

Description: Diabetes is a complex and prevalent condition in populations eligible for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CR). A significant disparity exists in the uptake and adherence of CR programs between people with and without diabetes. This webinar, recorded in May 2025, will update CR practitioners to factors associated with increased cardiovascular risk, patient assessment strategies, advances in diabetes-related technology, and recommendations for improving participation outcomes and optimizing glycemic control around exercise. 

Learning Objectives: 

The learner will be able to describe the different types of diabetes and summarize different approaches to patient evaluation and assessment. 
The learner will explain the challenges and opportunities that people living with diabetes experience when participating in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
The learner will explain the seven diabetes self-care behaviors and how they can help their patients improve their self-management. 
The learner will discuss various diabetes-related technologies and their use in optimizing glycemic control in the CR settings.

Presented by Dr. Carl J. Lavie, MD

Description: During this presentation, recorded as a live webinar in May 2025, Dr. Lavie will review the adverse effects of obesity and cardiovascular disease risk factors and to increase the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. He will discuss the main factors that increase obesity in the first place, including fast foods, sugary beverages, but especially the progressive fall in physical activity over 5 decades. This presentation will define the obesity paradox and how this is impacted by physical activity and fitness and will describe the increase in cardiometabolic diseases associated with obesity and potential benefits of cardiac rehabilitation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the adverse effects of obesity to increase CVD risk factors and prevalence of CVD.
2. Summarize the obesity paradox and how this is impacted by physical activity and fitness.
3. Describe the increase in cardiometabolic diseases and potential benefits of cardiac rehabilitation.

Viewing Window: There is a 60-day viewing window for the recordings. 

This presentation series is sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Inc. This presentation is not offered for credits (CEUs).

Presented by Laura Suarez Pardo, MD

This session, recorded in April 2025,  explores the evolution and impact of psychocardiology, highlighting its emergence as a critical field addressing the intersection of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and psychological distress. Participants will gain insights into key psychosocial stressors affecting CVD patients and learn how to apply screening tools and both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the session will emphasize the integration of psychosocial care into cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, underscoring its essential role in the early detection and management of mental health conditions to enhance overall cardiovascular and pulmonary health.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Explore the historical development of psychocardiology and its role in addressing psychological distress in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).  
2. Recognize and Manage Psychosocial Distress in CVD – Identify key areas of psychological distress in patients with CVD and review available screening tools, pharmacologic, and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies.  
3. Integrate Psychosocial Care into Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation (CPR) – Examine the core components of psychosocial management in CPR and its critical role in the early detection and intervention of mental health conditions.  

Viewing window: 60 days from date of purchase. 

Presented by: Carmen M. Terzic, MD, PhD

1.00 AACVPR CEUs; 1.00 ANCC CEUs 

Description: In this session, released as a webinar in March 2025, discusses frailty, presented by Dr. Carmen Terzic. Frailty is a biological syndrome that reflects a state of decreased physiological reserve, function and increased vulnerability to stressors. Frailty is associated with higher mortality, disability, and hospitalization in the cardiac population. It is critical to identify frail and vulnerable patients and adapt their assessment and intervention plan within the frame of primary and secondary prevention of CVDs. Cardiac rehab is well positioned to counteract frailty and its consequences.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Define frailty
2. Discuss available tools to assess frailty 
3. Describe frailty and its relationship with cardiovascular diseases
4. Discuss the management of frailty in cardiac rehabilitation (CR)

Viewing window: 60 days from date of purchase.