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 track is designed for the multidisciplinary team including cardiac and thoracic surgeons, anesthesia providers, advanced practice providers, and nurses seeking to optimize peri-operative patient care through enhanced recovery strategies. Participants will explore a comprehensive, team-based approach to pain management and recovery — from pre-operative patient preparation and prehabilitation through intraoperative nerve block techniques and post-operative pathway design. The course emphasizes practical, protocol-driven strategies to reduce opioid dependence, improve patient experience, and support early mobilization and discharge.
Who should attend:
- Thoracic Surgeons
- Anesthesia Providers
- Physician Assistants/Physician Associates
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Nursing Staff
- Pain Management Team
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the goals and clinical rationale for Enhanced Recovery Programs (ERP) in cardiothoracic surgery
- Evaluate multimodal anesthesia planning and the role of anesthesia partnerships in peri-operative pain management
- Describe intraoperative techniques including regional nerve blocks, local infiltration, and surgeon-directed intercostal blocks
- Apply Cryo Nerve Block (cryoNB) therapy across thoracic surgical approaches, including thoracotomy, VATS/RATS, sternotomy, and rib fixation
- Design post-operative pathways incorporating chest tube management, early ambulation, and opioid-minimization protocols
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.
The Advanced Hybrid Ablation Course builds on the reported positive results of Hybrid AF™ Therapy procedures and the FDA approval of the EPi-Sense® device for long-standing persistent (LSP) atrial fibrillation (Afib) patients. This program focuses on the rationale, efficiency and efficacy of performing Hybrid AF Therapy.
This course is delivered by a qualified faculty of electrophysiologists (EPs), cardiac surgeons, advanced practice practitioners, and anesthesia providers, many of whom were active in the CONVERGE IDE Trial. Attendee interaction and group discussion is encouraged, especially the sharing of anecdotal experience and observations. This program is designed for EPs, cardiac surgeons and advanced practice providers interested in the collaborative hybrid approach to treating LSP Afib patients.
- Cardiac surgeons
- Thoracic Surgeons
- APPs
- Nurses
- Electrophysiologists
- Cardiologists
- Contemporary overview of Afib
- Afib pathogenesis
- Evolution of ablation strategies
- Patient identification
- Management of the left atrial appendage
- Collaborative approaches between cardiac surgery and electrophysiology
- Identify strategies to support enhanced recovery and post-operative pain management
Course Offerings:
This program is designed for a multidisciplinary audience of healthcare professionals including cardiac 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.
- Cardiac surgeons
- APPs
- Nurses
- Electrophysiologists
- Cardiologists
- Review best practices in left atrial appendage management
- Discuss pre-operative 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
- Permanent Pacemaker considerations, address junctional rhythms, and optimize medication management
- Examine concomitant ablation approaches
- Outline the essential components of building and sustaining a successful Afib program
Course Offerings:
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:
