March/April 2026

The Cath Lab Cliff: A Warning Sign of a System in Fracture

Workforce shortages, complex demographics, and shrinking volumes signal a pivotal moment for the interventional cardiology workforce pipeline and an opportunity to redefine its future.

By Joel Sauer, MBA, and Ana A. Mercurio-Pinto, MHM

January/February 2026

An Interview With Babar Basir, DO, FACC, FSCAI

Dr. Basir discusses his work in modern cardiogenic shock care, from the National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative and CERAMICS trial to shaping multidisciplinary shock systems, as well as his approach to research, mentorship, and building programs that advance patient care.

September/October 2025

An Interview With Stephane Manzo-Silberman, MD, MPH

Dr. Manzo-Silberman discusses her core interests of coronary artery disease in women and cardiogenic shock, her role as Chair of the EAPCI Patient Advocacy Committee, barriers deterring women entering the interventional cardiology field, and more.

July/August 2025

An Interview With Wayne Batchelor, MD, MHS, MBA

Dr. Batchelor discusses how his experience as an interventional cardiologist provides insight into his role as President of the Medicine Service Line at Inova Health System, the role of administration in promoting innovation and evidence-based care, his passion for health disparity research, the importance of sustainability in the cath lab, and more.

March/April 2025

An Interview With Felix Mahfoud, MD, MA

Prof. Mahfoud breaks down his translational cardiology research focused on the autonomic nervous system and interorgan communication in cardiovascular disease, remaining hurdles and research priorities for renal denervation, his work with the ESC and EAPCI, and more.

January/February 2025

An Interview With Suzanne J. Baron, MD, MSC

Dr. Baron discusses health care economics and measuring the value and benefit of a new device, her vision for the SCAI Scientific Oversight Committee, the importance of integrating patient-reported outcomes into clinical practice and research, steps to improving the representation of females in clinical trials, and more.

September/October 2024

An Interview With Kendra J. Grubb, MD, MHA, FACC

Dr. Grubb discusses how her unique background informs her approach to structural intervention and conversations about lifetime aortic stenosis management, the next generation of structural/valvular clinical trials, potential steps to combat women’s heart disease, and more.

July/August 2024

An Interview With Faisal Sharif, MD, PhD, FESC, FACC, FRCPI

Prof. Sharif shares what “translational cardiovascular medicine” looks like in practice, his work with CURAM and BioInnovate, insights from running an RDN center of excellence, and more.

May/June 2024

An Interview With Megan Coylewright, MD, MPH, FACC, FSCAI

Dr. Coylewright reflects on her shared decision-making philosophy and what it looks like in practice, hopes for future research in LAAO and aortic stenosis, keys to a well-run structural program, and DEI efforts in interventional cardiology.

March/April 2024

An Interview With Shrilla Banerjee, MD, FRCP, FESC

Dr. Banerjee discusses her interest in disparities in cardiovascular care, involvement in organizations seeking to address equity concerns within the interventional cardiology field, best practices for calcium modification and MINOCA, and more.

January/February 2024

An Interview With Samir R. Kapadia, MD

Dr. Kapadia discusses in-progress and anticipated cardiovascular innovations, current research in mitral and tricuspid intervention, insight into stroke prevention during TAVR, and more.

September/October 2023

An Interview With Geoffrey D. Barnes, MD, MSc

The University of Michigan vascular cardiologist discusses PERT research needs, implementation science in practice, anticoagulation stewardship, and collaborative patient care.

July/August 2023

An Interview With Joost Daemen, MD, PhD

Dr. Daemen discusses the merits of intracoronary imaging and physiology for PCI, the FAST trials of vFFR lesion subsets and indications, and predictions for the future of renal denervation.

May/June 2023

An Interview With Gorav Ailawadi, MD, MBA

The University of Michigan cardiac surgeon shares why he was drawn to transcatheter interventions, insights from his work at the forefront of device innovation, the role of the surgeon-scientist, and his philosophy for treating patients deemed “too high risk.”

March/April 2023

An Interview With Vijay Kunadian, MBBS, MD

The United Kingdom’s first female Professor of Interventional Cardiology discusses her passion for addressing the unmet needs of underserved populations with cardiovascular disease, updates on the SENIOR-RITA and TWILIGHT trials, and why research is vital to providing the best care for patients.

January/February 2023

An Interview With Binita Shah, MD, MS, FACC, FSCAI

Dr. Shah discusses the benefit of colchicine in cardiovascular disease, the role of diet after coronary intervention, DEI efforts in interventional cardiology, and more.

September/October 2022

An Interview With Salvatore Brugaletta, MD, PhD

Dr. Brugaletta shares about his work in acute coronary syndrome and microvascular angina, the recent CV-COVID-19 study, his strategy for characterizing lesion morphology, why fellows should travel abroad, and more.

July/August 2022

20 Years of TAVR: An Interview With Alain Cribier, MD, FACC, FESC

Prof. Cribier shares the inspiring and challenging story of TAVR’s origin and legacy, from the beginnings of an idea to the first-in-human procedure and from fighting for acceptance to influence on other valvular diseases, and all the highlights and triumphs of his career along the way.

May/June 2022

An Interview With J. Dawn Abbott, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Dr. Abbott shares her leadership goals and values, insights into the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI registry, research needs for PCI, and more.

March/April 2022

An Interview With Valeria Paradies, MD

Dr. Paradies discusses her goals as Co-Chair of the EAPCI Women Committee, takeaways from her recent published work on patients with ACS and multivessel disease and other projects on the horizon, the value of pursuing study abroad, and more.

January/February 2022

An Interview With Mohamad A. Alkhouli, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI

Dr. Alkhouli discusses his receipt of the Thomas J. Linnemeier Spirit of Interventional Cardiology Young Investigator Award, tips for a successful academic writing career, and his research and trial plans in the areas of disparities, innovation, and structural heart disease.

September/October 2021

An Interview With Simon R. Redwood, MD

Professor Redwood shares thoughts on public reporting and outcomes data, insight on the ACTIVATION and ARREST trials, areas of growth in percutaneous mitral valve interventions, keys to a successful live case, and more.

July/August 2021

An Interview With Mirvat Alasnag, MD, FACC, FACP, FSCAI, FRCP

Dr. Alasnag discusses her experience as a woman in interventional cardiology, the benefits of mentorship, thoughts on treatment strategies and techniques, and more.

May/June 2021

An Interview With Dee Dee Wang, MD, FACC, FASE, FSCCT, FSCAI

Dr. Wang shares insights on building an interventional imaging program and recent steps forward in the field, the future of three- and four-dimensional virtual and physical printing, and the impact of the American College of Cardiology’s Emerging Faculty program on the field of interventional imaging.

March/April 2021

An Interview With Rasha Al-Lamee, MA, MBBS, FRCP, PhD

Dr. Al-Lamee discusses the importance of research in cardiology care, thoughts on the ORBITA and EXCEL trials, and the effect of COVID-19 on the clinical trial landscape.

January/February 2021

An Interview With Quinn Capers IV, MD, FACC

Dr. Capers discusses the importance of diversity in the physician workforce, how to recognize and counteract unconscious bias, how he led the change at Ohio State to a radial-first cath lab, and more.

September/October 2020

An Interview With Nicolas Van Mieghem, MD, PhD, FESC, FACC

Professor Van Mieghem discusses cardiovascular clinical trials in the COVID-19 era, cerebral embolic protection, three-dimensional modeling, and more.

July/August 2020

An Interview With Alaide Chieffo, MD

Dr. Chieffo shares insight into the COVID-19 pandemic, including what designates a cardiac emergency, cardiovascular complications from the virus, advice for cath labs, and thoughts about mechanical circulatory support.

May/June 2020

An Interview With Mayra Guerrero, MD

Dr. Guerrero offers insight on the effects of COVID-19 at her cath lab, an update on the status of the MITRAL trial, her role promoting greater female representation among interventional cardiologists, and more.

March/April 2020

An Interview With Stephen J.D. Brecker, MD, FRCP, FESC, FACC

Dr. Brecker discusses how his idea for a TAVI-specific guidewire became a reality, his work with patient-specific computer simulation of TAVI, advice to prevent prosthesis patient mismatch, and more.

January/February 2020

An Interview With Toniya Singh, MBBS, FACC

Dr. Singh discusses her role as Chair of the National Women in Cardiology section of the American College of Cardiology and her goals to increase female presence in cardiology and leadership roles, her role models, why she supports House Resolution 643 to improve women’s cardiovascular health care, and more.

September/October 2019

An Interview With Ulrich Schäfer, MD

Prof. Schäfer shares updates on the current status of therapies for each of the four heart valves, as well as new technologies to address heart failure and more.

July/August 2019

An Interview With Rebecca T. Hahn, MD

Dr. Hahn shares insights from the SCOUT tricuspid regurgitation trial, various valvular regurgitation guidelines, the formation for the interventional echocardiography subspecialty, and much more.

March/April 2019

An Interview With Gry Dahle, MD

Dr. Dahle shares her thoughts on the current and emerging technologies for valvular disease, as well as her advice for new surgeons entering the field.

January/February 2019

An Interview With Cindy Grines, MD

Dr. Grines discusses her role in mentoring young interventional cardiologists, research areas needed in the female population, and more.

September/October 2018

An Interview With Thomas Modine, MD, PhD, MBA

Dr. Modine shares his thoughts on TAVI access approaches, evolving technology, and durability, as well as transcatheter mitral interventions and the expanding possibilities of valve-in-valve procedures.

July/August 2018

An Interview With Marco Barbanti, MD

Dr. Barbanti discusses the background of the FAST-TAVI study, MitraClip implantation, and addressing CAD in patients undergoing TAVI.

May/June 2018

An Interview With Adhir Shroff, MD, MPH

March/April 2018

An Interview With Alec Vahanian, MD

Dr. Vahanian shares his thoughts on the updated ESC/EACTS guidelines and the ongoing evolution of valvular intervention.

January/February 2018

An Interview With Subhash Banerjee, MD

Dr. Banerjee discusses the CPRS-CKD study, PREMIER phase 2 trial, the Cardiovascular Innovations meeting, and more.

September/October 2017

An Interview With Didier Tchétché, MD

Dr. Tchétché discusses what is on the horizon for valvular disease intervention, new features at his clinic in France, and how he prepares for live case presentations.

July/August 2017

An Interview With Neil Moat, FRCS

Neil Moat discusses his work in valvular heart disease research, including expanding the TAVR population, valve-in-valve procedures, and transcatheter mitral valve interventions.

May/June 2017

An Interview With Saibal Kar, MD

Dr. Kar shares his insights on current left atrial appendage closure data, as well as his thoughts on transcatheter mitral and tricuspid repair.

March/April 2017

An Interview With Ralph Stephan von Bardeleben, MD

Dr. von Bardeleben provides insight into ongoing mitral valve trials and discusses use of mitral devices for tricuspid disease, as well as imaging protocols for transcatheter mitral valve interventions.

January/February 2017

An Interview With Josep Rodés-Cabau, MD

Dr. Rodés-Cabau discusses the current landscape of transcatheter valve technologies, as well as his participation in innovative structural heart interventions.

September/October 2016

An Interview With Ian C. Gilchrist Sr, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FCCM

Dr. Gilchrist discusses the current state of radial access as a first-line approach in the United States and keys to developing a same-day discharge program.

July/August 2016

An Interview With Ron Waksman, MD

Dr. Waksman discusses using intravascular ultrasound guidance for drug-eluting stent implantation, enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life in structural heart therapy, and more.

May/June 2016

An Interview With Ralph G. Brindis, MD

Dr. Brindis discusses updated guidelines for DAPT, accreditation, the development of a national medical device postmarket surveillance system, and more.

March/April 2016

An Interview With Christopher J. White, MD

Dr. White discusses regulatory issues, fellowship training, and the evolving role of interventional cardiologists.

January/February 2016

An Interview With Michael Reardon, MD

Dr. Reardon discusses the guidelines for managing patients with valvular heart disease, centers of excellence, and preparing future residents.

September/October 2015

An Interview With Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS

Dr. Bonow discusses the upcoming Heart Valve Summit, what's on the horizon for mitral valves and bioresorbable stent technology, and his advice for fellows who are just entering the field.

July/August 2015

An Interview With Clifford J. Kavinsky, MD, PhD

Dr. Kavinsky discusses his current work in fellowship training and structural heart research, as well as the current climate of opening an outpatient structural heart practice.

May/June 2015

An Interview With James C. Blankenship, MD

The newly inducted President of SCAI discusses what's ahead for the society during the next year, challenges with current health care policy, and why he's an enthusiastic radialist.

March/April 2015

An Interview With Sameer Gafoor, MD

Dr. Gafoor discusses his work at CardioVascular Center Frankfurt and some tips, tricks, and predictions for structural heart intervention.

January/February 2015

An Interview With Jack Lewin, MD

The President and CEO of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation shares his views on the current impact of health care reform on the cardiovascular care community and shares predictions for the next 20 years of interventional cardiology.