For 30 years Ali R. Ghahramani, LMSSA(Lond.), M.D., FEACC, has convened the leading minds in cardiology for an annual symposium. Hosted by Holy Cross Hospital for the past several years, the symposium attracts some of the best in the field.
“When I came to Broward County from the University of Miami, my passion for teaching was very much alive,” recalls Dr. Ghahramani. “I was told that conferences and activities centered around teaching were non-existent. To attend seminars that would update your knowledge of cardiology, one had to travel to Miami or other states.”
So, Dr. Ghahramani started conducting teaching programs, once a week, then once a month and ultimately, once a year. The Symposium grew to attract world renowned cardiologists the likes of the late W. Proctor Harvey. M.D., considered the nation’s most skilled practitioner of auscultation, or the ability to detect cardiac ailments by listening to the sounds of the heart and pioneer heart transplant surgeons Denton Cooley, M.D., Norman Schumway, M.D., and Michael Debakey, M.D.
“The auditorium was packed standing room only,” Dr. Ghahramani said. “It was very exciting.” It still is.
Sponsored by the American College of Cardiology and the Dade County Medical Association, the Symposium attracts over 200 physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This year it will be held February 21-24 at Holy Cross Hospitals Sister Innocent Conference Center, 4725 N. Federal Highway, in Fort Lauderdale.
Guest faculty will include Arthur S. Agatston, M.D., author of the South Beach Diet, Martin Leon, M.D., of Columbia University Medical Center, who has had a major impact on the development of modern interventional vascular devices and therapies; as well as cardiologists from near (University of Miamis Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D.) and far (Frances G. Alain Cribier, M.D., Londons Sir Magdi Yacoub, M.B. and Canadas Robert Roberts, M.D.). Topics include Preventing and Arresting Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease and the Millennial Woman, Valvular Heart Disease, Gene Therapy, Mechanical and more. There also will be a live case transmission from Washington DC via satellite.
“Over the past 30 years, every known expert in the world all the pioneers in cardiology and all the recognized master teachers, have spoken at the symposium,” said Dr. Ghahramani, who will also deliver a presentation “Memorable and Exciting 30 Years in Cardiology” on Day 3 of the Symposium.
“The mission of the Symposium,” Dr. Ghahramani said, “is to open communication, disseminate knowledge, share our vision in order to offer the best care and offer hope for our patients and their families. We live in a world that has never been so exciting, never been so enjoyable than any other time in the history of cardiology. It is going to be even more exciting tomorrow. We are making progress day by day week by week. We need to update our knowledge to deliver the best care to our patients. The top guys in the world have been attending it is so exciting to see these cardiology legends here, who you may see once in a lifetime. I am very proud, yet humbled, to have been able to organize these teaching symposiums for the past 30 years.
“I also appreciate the ongoing support of Holy Cross CEO John Johnson, whose leadership, commitment and vision help guide the program.”
For 30 years Ali R. Ghahramani, LMSSA(Lond.), M.D., FEACC, has convened the leading minds in cardiology for an annual symposium. Hosted by Holy Cross Hospital for the past several years, the symposium attracts some of the best in the field. 
