April 16, 2026 | 7:00 - 8:00 PM (ET)

Goal Directed Valsalva

Description: Join us for an informative session on Goal Directed Valsalva. Participants will gain a clear understanding of which specific phases of the Valsalva maneuver are most appropriate for the evaluation of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) and Left Ventricular Outflow Tract (LVOT) gradients. The webinar will also highlight the clinical superiority of this technique by identifying three primary reasons why GDV is the preferred method of Valsalva.

In addition to the physiological principles, this session provides practical guidance on the best practices for implementing GDV in your clinical practice. Attendees will also learn to identify the necessary equipment required for GDV, ensuring you are fully prepared to integrate this method into your lab's workflow.

Speakers:

• Cody Frye, MEd, ACS, RDCS, FASE
• Margaret Kurnides, ACS, RDCS, FASE
• Brad Mehl, MHA, ACS, RDCS, RDMS, RT, RVT, FASE
• Amy Dillenbeck MS, ACS, RDCS, FASE
• Dr. Matthew Martinez MD, FASE
• Dr. Dermot Phelan MD, PhD, FASE

Moderators:

• Cody Frye, MEd, ACS, RDCS, FASE
• Margaret Kurnides, ACS, RDCS, FASE

CME Information: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM Pending approval.

CME Expiration: CME credit must be claimed by  04/16/27. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Learners will understand which phases of Valsalva are appropriate for evaluating PFO and LVOT Gradients.
2. Learners will identify 3 reasons why GDV is the preferred method of Valsalva.
3. Learners will understand best practices for implementation of GDV in their labs.
4. Learners will identify equipment needed for GDV in a clinical setting.

Accreditation Statement & CME Information

The American Society of Echocardiography is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Society of Echocardiography designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) MOC program, and/or the American Board of Anesthesiology’s (ABA) Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® or MOCA 2.0®. It is ASE’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM and ABP MOC points and/or ABA MOCA 2.0®.   Physicians will earn MOC and/or MOCA 2.0 points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity.

ARDMS and CCI recognize ASE’s certificates and have agreed to honor the CME credit hours toward their registry requirements for sonographers.

Disclosures:

ASE is committed to ensuring that its educational mission, and all accredited continuing educational programs provide a protected space to learn, teach, and engage in scientific discourse free from influence from organizations that may have an incentive to insert commercial bias into education.

While a monetary or professional affiliation with an ineligible company does not necessarily influence a speaker’s presentation, the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and policies of the ACCME require that all financial relationships with ineligible companies* be identified and mitigated prior to engaging in an accredited CE activity. In accordance with these policies, ASE actively identified relevant financial relationships between faculty in control of this accredited CE activity and ineligible companies and implemented mitigation strategies to eliminate any potential influence from persons or organizations that may have an incentive to insert commercial bias in this activity. (*Companies that are ineligible to be accredited in the ACCME System (“ineligible companies”) are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.)

The following faculty members have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies:

• Amy Dillenbeck MS, ACS, RDCS, FASE

All relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies listed for the following faculty members have been mitigated:

• Dr. Matthew Martinez MD, FASE
• Cody Frye, MEd, ACS, RDCS, FASE
• Margaret Kurnides, ACS, RDCS, FASE
• Brad Mehl, MHA, ACS, RDCS, RDMS, RT, RVT, FASE
• Dr. Dermot Phelan MD, PhD, FASE

Members of the ASE CME Committee members (not serving as faculty) do not have any financial relationships with ineligible companies.  Click here for a list of these members.

None of the ASE staff who were involved in the planning and implementation of this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies.  Click here for a list of ASE staff members.

Commercial Support Disclosure Statement:

Educational Grants: This activity is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Bristol Myers Squibb.

• Contact:
  ASE Learning Hub