2026 Scientific Sessions

Mind the Gap: PFO, Stroke, and the Brain-Heart Connection

This session explores the evolving understanding of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and its role in stroke, migraine, and brain-heart interactions. Experts will examine imaging techniques, closure strategies, and interdisciplinary perspectives to guide clinical decision-making.
Introductory Remarks
Stroke of Genius? Revisiting the PFO Closure Debate
Dr. Andrew Michael Goldsweig, MD, MS, FSCAI, University of Massachusetts - Baystate Medical Center, West Hartford, CT
Echoes of Trouble: Imaging the PFO Right (and Wrong)
R. Jay Jay Widmer, M.D., Ph.D., FSCAI, Baylor Scott and White The Heart Group, Fairview, TX
How I Do It: A Contemporary Approach to PFO Closure
Jacqueline Saw, M.D., FSCAI, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Panel Discussion: PFO Closure in 2025: More, Less, or Smarter?
Frederick G. P. Welt, M.D., FSCAI, The University of Utah Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT