Welcome

Nischal Gautam, MD
Program Chair

It is with great excitement that I welcome you to Orlando, Florida, for the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society’s (CCAS) 20th Annual Meeting! This year is particularly special as we come together to celebrate two decades of progress and innovation in congenital cardiac anesthesia care. Our theme, “20 Years Strong: A Legacy of Excellence, Innovation, and Progress,” highlights the remarkable journey of CCAS, featuring sessions on cutting-edge research, therapies, and future directions presented by renowned experts.

We have introduced a new format for this year. The Problem-Based Learning Discussions and Roundtables will kick off the meeting on Wednesday evening, March 26, 2025, as a prelude to the main event on Thursday. These sessions will feature an interactive wine-and-cheese format, providing a relaxed setting to discuss challenging topics in our field. The record number of PBLD and RTD submissions reflects the enthusiasm and engagement within our society.

The Main Event on Thursday, March 27, 2025, is packed with diverse sessions that showcase the evolution of our field. The first session will explore "The Developing Brain" and feature talks on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes, Neuromonitoring, and Neuroprotection. Our expert panel includes Dr. Mike Seed from SickKids, Dr. Jennifer Lynch from CHOP, and Dr. Dan Licht from Washington, DC.

The second session will spotlight “Cardiac Breakthroughs”. We are honored to have Dr. Pedro J. del Nido from Boston Children’s Hospital delivering the Arthur Keats Lecture on Myocardial Protection Strategies. You’ll also hear from Dr. Jason Maynes on Emerging Therapies for Heart Failure in Pediatric Patients and Dr. Shubhika Srivastava on Next-Gen Cardiac Imaging for CHD Patients.

During the third session “Lung and Kidney Protection”, Dr. Devon Aganga from Mayo Clinic will present on neonatal lung protection, followed by Dr. David Kwiatkowski from Stanford, who will discuss kidney protection strategies for our most vulnerable patients. The following session will honor the outstanding research conducted by our esteemed colleagues, who continue to make significant contributions to the field despite the recent staffing challenges and other non-academic pressures. This session will feature the Best Abstract Oral Presentations, along with the presentation of the Research Award.

In honor of our 20th anniversary, the “Ask the Experts” session will bring together past CCAS Presidents to share their insights and wisdom in an interactive manner. We’ve also received an enthusiastic response to our workshops on topics such as mechanical circulatory support devices, coagulation management, and simulation-based cardiac crisis management. Concurrently, session seven will revisit landmark papers in our field, including Dr. Ed Jooste discussing the Primacor Study, Dr. Katherine Zaleski reviewing the SVR Trial, and Dr. Greg Latham presenting on bloodless neonatal cardiac surgery.

Following these exciting sessions, we’ll transition to the CCAS Poster Session, offering a fantastic opportunity to explore groundbreaking work from our peers. We will wrap up with a networking CCAS Reception, the perfect way to celebrate this 20-year milestone!

I would like to extend my humble thanks to Drs. Rania Abbasi, Manchula Navaratnam, Amy Fang, and CCAS Education Chair Viviane Nasr for their dedication in crafting a program that truly reflects this milestone year. Their advice and hard work have shaped an exceptional meeting, and I am honored to work alongside such talented colleagues in bringing this celebration to life.

Lastly, I encourage you to take advantage of everything Orlando has to offer. From world-renowned theme parks to a vibrant food scene and incredible outdoor activities, Orlando provides the perfect backdrop for CCAS 2025! Whether you're here for the science, networking, or simply to celebrate this momentous occasion, we are thrilled to have you with us. Let’s make the most of this special event—learning, collaborating, and celebrating together as we look forward to the next 20 years!

2025 CCAS Annual Meeting Planning Committee 
Nischal K Gautam, MBBS (Program Chair) 
UT Health Houston, Children's Memorial Hermann, Houston, TX

Rania Abbasi, MD (Program Co-chair) 
Riley Heart Center, Riley Children’s Health, Indianapolis, IN 

Manchula Navaratnam, MD (Program Co-chair) 
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, Palo Alto, CA 

Amy Fang, MD (Program Shadow)
Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL

Viviane Nasr, MD (Vice President and Chair, Education Committee CCAS)
Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA