Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography Announces SCCT 2023 Award Recipients and Educational Programming Updates

May 2, 2023 — The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) has announced its selection of award winners ahead of its SCCT 2023 18th Annual Scientific Meeting, being held in Boston, MA, from July 27 - 30, 2023. The Arlington, VA-based organization has also released an update on its wide range of educational programming from which continuing education credits are available, including the second of a 3-part “Cardiovascular CT for Technologists” webinar series, virtual board review and update course, and a virtual cardiovascular disease prevention symposium.

SCCT Award Winners

The SCCT 2023 Gold Medal Award recipient is J. Jeffrey Carr, MD, MSCCT, a Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor in the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. SCCT’s Gold Medal Award, the highest honor bestowed by the organization, is a service award that recognizes SCCT members who have exemplified leadership and a record of commitment and contributions to SCCT’s mission.

According to SCCT, Carr is being recognized for his contributions as president in 2013–2014, his key role and influence on the Board Review course, his longtime service as faculty on TAVR workshops as well as faculty for numerous meetings, and service on the JCCT Editorial Board. SCCT reported that he has also served as an esteemed mentor who paved the way for many of his colleagues to excel and as a champion for always supporting the mission of SCCT throughout different roles in the wider cardiac imaging field.

“This medal recognizes Dr. Carr’s exemplary leadership of SCCT as displayed throughout his decade of service on the Board of Directors,” said SCCT President Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, MSCCT. Ghoshhajra serves as Division Chief, Cardiovascular Imaging in the Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and is Associate Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School. He added, “His incredibly generous contributions have been essential in establishing and maintaining stability for the Society, via his insights, guidance, and his unprecedented philanthropic donations in support of trainees. We offer our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Dr. Carr on behalf of our members and staff for his vision and continued dedication.”

The recipient of the SCCT 2023 Arthur S. Agatston Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Award is Martha Gulati, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASPC, FESC. She serves as Director of Preventive Cardiology, Associate Director of the Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center, and is the Anita Dann Friedman Endowed Chair in Women’s Cardiovascular Medicine and Research at Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai. Gulati was selected by SCCT for this important award in recognition of her extensive contributions to the study of women and cardiac diseases and to efforts to improve women’s cardiovascular healthcare; her leadership of the 2021 chest pain guidelines, and role in several key studies exploring cardiac risk factors and other health initiatives in women. We also honor her role as a mentor who has paved the way for many of her colleagues to excel.

SCCT's 2023 Achenbach Pioneer Award in Cardiovascular CT will be presented to two recipients this year. The first co-recipient is Thomas G. Flohr, PhD. Flohr is Head of CT Physics, Application Predevelopment and Global Clinical Collaborations for Siemens Healthineers, who is also an Adjunct Professor for Medical Physics, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Germany. Flohr is being honored for his contributions to the development of computed tomography that defines CT today, including multi-slice CT, dual source CT and photon counting detector technologies that have changed clinical practice. His career-long inventions have made it possible for cardiac CT to provide wider clinical applications leading to better patient outcomes.

The second co-recipient of the 2023 Achenbach Pioneer Award in Cardiovascular CT is Willi A. Kalender, PhD, who is currently Professor and Chairman of the Institute of Medical Physics at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. Kalender is being honored by SCCT for his contributions to the development of computed tomography, including ECG-gated cardiac imaging, dual source CT and in particular, volumetric spiral computed tomography, leading to significantly reduced exam times, reduced motion artifacts and improved image quality. Kalender's research has also significantly improved patient radiation protection by reducing dose without impairing image quality.

Upcoming SCCT Educational Opportunities

Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide physicians with a range of opportunities to earn continuing education credits, SCCT has updated its programming listing. SCCT’s educational offerings are designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of physicians, technologists and others who interpret cardiovascular CT with courses and workshops which encompass all aspects of cardiovascular CT principles, methodologies and day-to-day clinical practice. The online workshops are hands-on, giving attendees the opportunity to work with experienced and highly competent faculty. Further, SCCT offers On Demand education that allows participants to learn and receive CME credits when most convenient to the physician.

Educational opportunities and events to be presented between May and August include, but are not limited to, the following:

The SCCT Cardiovascular CT for Technologists Webinar Series is being presented as Virtual Symposia, with part 2 of Webinar Series to be held Sat., May 6, 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET.; and part 3 of 3 Webinar Series will be held Sat., Nov. 4, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET as a Virtual Symposium. Earlier sessions are available On Demand to all registrants.

Regarding SCCT 2023 Registration: Early Bird Rates end on Wed., May 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET for those not yet registered for the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, being held in Boston, MA, from July 27 - 30, 2023. A full schedule of sessions on structural heart disease, congenital heart disease, guidelines and trials, AI/Machine learning, technical aspects of cardiac CT, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, debates and games, and early career topics are planned.

Notably, SCCT designates this live educational activity for a maximum of 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Attendees will be given access to the recordings of live activity sessions. This will afford them the opportunity to earn an additional 34.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. SCCT further notes: Credit counts are subject to change. 16 Category A CE credits are available for sessions attended in-person. Sign-in sheets required for each session. No credits will be available for On Demand recordings.

2023 Board Review and Update Course | Virtual will be offered as a virtual course online on the following dates: June 8 - 9, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET; OR August 24 - 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. ET. SCCT notes that its Board Review is a comprehensive exploration of all aspects of cardiovascular CT principles, methodologies, and clinical practice.