For Immediate Release
Contact: mktgcomm@tams.com

JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE TO HOST THIRD ANNUAL CARDIAC CT: TODAY AND THE FUTURE MEETING/CME PROGRAM

This event is not part of the official ACC Annual Scientific Session Program Committee (ASSPC.)

CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
For Saturday, March 11, 2006

WHAT:  Cardiologist João Lima, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Radiology and Director, Cardiovascular Imaging in Cardiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will direct the third annual meeting and continuing medical education (CME) program addressing the current state and future advances in cardiac CT.  The meeting is scheduled during the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Sessions to be held March 11-14, 2006 in Atlanta.  The course is aimed at educating clinicians about using the latest multislice cardiac CT technology and interpreting these images in an effort to accurately diagnose heart disease at its earliest stages.  Optional hands-on workstations will be offered.

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 4.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

WHEN/WHERE: The event will take place on Saturday, March 11, 2006 from 8:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center, 100 CNN Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.  Clinicians interested in attending the presentation may register by calling 410/955-2959 or online at www.hopkinscme.net.  There is no registration fee to attend, but space is limited. 

MEDIA INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY:  To request additional background about cardiac CT technology, please contact Leslie Bryant at 949/809-6782.

WHY: Several recent studies have indicated that the sensitivity, specificity, cost effectiveness and patient comfort associated with new CT procedures are superior to existing procedures commonly used in the cardiovascular workup.  However, most cardiologists do not have experience with multislice helical CT.  In order to make this new technology available to our patients, it is imperative that cardiologists understand the advantages, limitations and practical considerations in CT imaging.

WHO: This activity is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.