Education and training programs provide a comprehensive set of opportunities tailored to surgeons, electrophysiologists, advanced practice providers, anesthesia providers, and multidisciplinary care teams. Building on the fundamentals of the Cox-Maze IV procedure and advancing innovative approaches such as the first FDA approved minimally invasive Hybrid AF™ Therapy for long-standing persistent (LSP) atrial fibrillation (Afib), these courses focus on the rationale, efficiency, and efficacy of performing complex arrhythmia surgeries. Each program combine didactic learning, case-based discussions, and hands-on training led by highly experienced surgeons and healthcare professionals, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer exchange. Dedicated offerings also address pain management strategies in thoracic surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgeries, and pectus repair – equipping teams with multimodal approaches to enhance recovery and improve patient experience. Programs span a wide range of focus areas, ensuring participants gain practical skills, evidence-based insights, and program-building tools to expand their clinical practice.
Effective post-operative pain management is a critical component of surgical care and patient recovery. This course provides a multidisciplinary perspective on current standards and evolving strategies in perioperative pain control. Participants will review the sources and burden of surgical pain, examine multimodal approaches for optimizing outcomes, and discuss the role of Cryo Nerve Block Therapy (cryoNB) as an intraoperative strategy that supports post-operative pain relief. Through this program, attendees will gain practical insights into evidence-based techniques and team-based strategies to enhance recovery, improve patient experience, and reduce reliance on opioids.
- Thoracic Surgeons
- Anesthesia Providers
- Physician Assistants (PAs)
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Nursing Staff
- Pain Management Team
- Review the sources and clinical impact of post-operative pain across a range of surgical procedures.
- Explore multimodal strategies that support effective pain control and patient recovery.
- Describe the mechanism and intraoperative role of cryoNB therapy in post-operative pain management.
- Identify surgical specialties and scenarios where cryoNB may add value as part of a multimodal approach.
- Discuss how collaboration among multidisciplinary team members enhances patient-centered pain management.
- Recognize opportunities for innovative perioperative strategies to improve outcomes and reduce opioid reliance.
Course Offerings:
This course is specifically designed for advanced practice providers looking for a deeper understanding of the deleterious effects of atrial fibrillation and the benefits of sinus rhythm, left atrial appendage management and pain management techniques for patients. The courses provide data driven ablation treatment options, preoperative screening techniques, and pain management strategies.
- Cardiac and EP APP’s who work in the OR
- Clinic
- Post-operative setting
- Left atrial appendage
- Concomitant surgical ablation strategies
- Hybrid ablation techniques
- Patient selection
- Enhanced recovery
Course Offerings:
This program is designed for a multidisciplinary audience of healthcare professionals, including cardiac surgeons, thoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists, cardiologists, advanced practice providers, and nurses. The course highlights the clinical value of restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib), emphasizes the role of left atrial appendage management, explores multimodal pain management strategies, reviews case progression, and outlines key elements for building a comprehensive Afib program. Participants can choose from multiple learning pathways with hands-on training tailored to specific clinical interests. Topics include program development, hybrid and surgical ablation techniques, and peri-operative strategies (including pain management) for optimized patient experience, and equipping providers with practical tools to enhance patient care.
- Cardiac surgeons
- Thoracic Surgeons
- APPs
- Nurses
- Electrophysiologists
- Cardiologists
- Review best practices in left atrial appendage management
- Discuss preoperative screening and patient evaluation strategies
- Evaluate peri-operative treatment options and clinical decision-making pathways
- Identify strategies to support enhanced recovery and post-operative pain management
- PPM considerations, address junctional rhythms, and optimize medication management
- Examine concomitant ablation approaches
- Define hybrid ablation options and appropriate patient selection criteria
- Outline the essential components of building and sustaining a successful Afib program
Course Offerings:
This program is designed for fellows and early career cardiothoracic surgeons who are in their final years of training or have been in practice for up to 5 years. The course provides a focused, practical foundation for incorporating the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation into clinical practices. Through case-based learning, expert discussions and program-building insights, participants will examine strategies for achieving sinus rhythm, recognizing its central role in optimizing patient outcomes. Additional topics include surgical approaches to the left atrial appendage, intraoperative pain management, and clinical decision-making pertaining to the risks and benefits of surgical ablation.
- Residents
- Fellows
- Attending Surgeons who are looking to incorporate Afib treatment
- Recognize the essential role of achieving and maintaining sinus rhythm in optimizing outcomes for Afib patients.
- Evaluate surgical Afib ablation strategies and patient selection considerations.
- Assess the role of the left atrial appendage in stroke prevention and long-term outcomes.
- Apply intraoperative pain management strategies to support recovery and enhance patient experience.
- Weigh the risks and benefits of surgical ablation across diverse patient populations.
- Identify key steps to build and sustain a surgical Afib program, including case cadencing and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Course Offerings:
This course gives physicians a comprehensive learning experience focused on the pre, intra, and post-operative workflow for patients undergoing pectus repair. The training provides the opportunity to review procedural tips and tricks, complex cases, Cryo Nerve Block Therapy (cryoNB), and multimodal best practices. This course includes both didactic and a hands-on cadaver lab led by highly experienced pectus surgeons.
The course in February is a comprehensive learning experience focused on the pre, intra, and post-operative workflow for pediatric patients undergoing the Nuss procedure.
- Pediatric surgeons
- Thoracic Surgeons
- Anesthesiologists
- Physician Assistants (PAs)
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Nursing Staff
- Pain Management Team
- Starting a pectus program: clinic visit, testing, expectation setting, insurance peer reviews, and patient selection
- Pre, intra, and post-operative best practices
- Science behind cryoNB, procedural steps, tips and tricks, and what to expect for patients
- Post-procedure FAQ for families
- Hands-on cadaver lab; review of entire Nuss procedure
Course Offerings: The 2026 course has already taken place. Please check back for course offerings next year.
Health Care Providers can also access on-line educational modules that are accredited and offer continuing medical education credits and contact hours.
These can be accessed by following this link:
This program is specifically designed for health care professionals who want to incorporate surgical ablation into their coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) cases. The course will focus on the importance of normal sinus rhythm (NSR), left atrial appendage management, pre-operative atrial fibrillation (Afib) screening, case cadencing, options for off-pump arrhythmia surgery, and peri-operative strategies to optimize outcomes and enhance patient recovery.
Learning Objectives:
- Ablation treatment options in CABG patients
- The importance of NSR
- Pain management, pacemakers, junctional rhythms, drug regimens, etc.
- Left atrial appendage management
Speakers:
Listed are projected faculty of this program.
Chase Brown, MD, MSHP
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Armin Kiankhooy, MD
Cedars Sinai at Huntington Health Hospital, Pasadena, CA
Brett Starr, MD
Frye Regional Medical Center, Hickory, NC
Robert Saeid Farivar, MD PhD
St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise, ID
Course Offering:
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Location: The Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75202
Schedule:
- 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Breakfast & Registration
- 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Course
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
- 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Course & Hands-on Learning
