Frye Regional Medical Center Hosts Annual Cardiac Care Symposium

Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital and Duke Health Affiliate in Heart, hosted its annual Cardiac Care Symposium on Thursday, Feb. 26, at Moretz Mills in Hickory. The event brought together physicians, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, students and other health care professionals from across the region to discuss the latest advancements in cardiovascular care.

More than 225 attendees participated in expert-led lectures, interactive discussions and exhibitor experiences focused on improving patient outcomes. Presentations explored emerging screening tools, prevention strategies and innovative interventions in heart care. A key focus of the symposium was educating both practicing clinicians and college students on the latest research and treatment options for cardiovascular disease, offering real-world case studies, evidence-based guidelines and advanced clinical approaches. Frye Regional and Duke Health addressed critical topics such as electrophysiology, structural heart disease and advanced heart failure management.

The symposium aligns with American Heart Month, observed every February to raise awareness of heart disease prevention and the importance of monitoring key health indicators. Educational events like the Cardiac Care Symposium also support priorities outlined in Frye Regional’s Community Health Needs Assessment, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to advancing heart health and making communities healthier.

“Frye Regional’s Cardiac Care Symposium is an excellent opportunity for health care professionals to enhance their knowledge and explore advances in cardiac medicine delivered close to home,” said Lindy White, chief executive officer of Frye Regional Medical Center. “The symposium fosters collaboration, shared learning and innovation, helping ensure our patients continue to receive the highest level of cardiac care.”

The conference featured six educational presentations:

• Heart Failure Care: Why Is It So Complicated? – Lisa Kotyra, MSBA, ACNP-BC, RN, acute care nurse practitioner, Duke Health
• Cases in Cardiology: The 3 Cs (Chest Pain, Cath and Complications) – John Morrison, MD, FACC, interventional cardiologist, Frye Regional Medical Center
• Cardiothoracic Surgery: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly – Brett Starr, MD, FACS, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Frye Regional Medical Center
• Updates in Electrophysiology – Ankur Tiwari, MD, FACC, FHRS, electrophysiologist, Frye Regional Medical Center
• State of the Heart: Aortic Stenosis – Jonathan Mayl, MD, FACC, interventional cardiologist, Frye Regional Medical Center
• Multidisciplinary Care of the Complex Cardiac Patient – Deb Cagle, RN, CCRN, CMC, nurse educator, Frye Regional Medical Center

In support of continued professional development, the Duke University Health System Department of Clinical Education and Professional Development is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), to provide continuing education for the health care team.

The Frye Regional Heart Center offers a range of advanced cardiac services, including mitral and tricuspid valve repair, surgical aortic valve replacement and other structural heart interventions. As a Duke Health Affiliate in Heart, the center benefits from the most current training and staff education when it comes to heart care.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a Frye Regional heart specialist, visit FryeMedCtr.com/heart-care or call 828.261.0009.

###