Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging

Our program is distinguished by its deep clinical expertise and strong culture of collaboration. Our dedicated advanced imaging team brings a genuine passion for excellence and seamlessly integrates their skills into clinical practice—working alongside electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, heart failure and cardiac surgery teams. This close-knit collaboration fosters smarter decision-making and delivers highly personalized care for patients with complex cardiac conditions.

Our robust academic and research involvement—demonstrated through presentations at leading international conferences and publications in top-tier journals—underscores our reputation as a national leader in cardiovascular imaging

Accomplishments

1. Echocardiography-led structural heart imaging
   • Our TEE team supports structural interventions across all major innovative clinical trials.
   • Weekly echo conferences draw over 100 live attendees and feature national and international expert faculty, with content broadcast widely to regional and global audiences.
   • System-wide IAC accreditation in echocardiography was achieved across sites.
   • Standardized echo protocols and a robust QA framework were developed and implemented to ensure consistency and high diagnostic yield.
2. Expanded multimodality imaging access
   • A newly deployed mobile CMR scanner at Plano has reduced MRI wait times to two weeks from over four months.
   • We opened seven-day outpatient access for cardiac MRI, CT, echocardiography and PET, at multiple sites.
   • Our teams launched remote pacemaker/MRI protocols in Dallas, eliminating delays for patients with implantable devices.
   • Upgraded CT scanners at Plano (GE Apex) and Dallas (Siemens Force) have enhanced coronary CTA capabilities.
     Plano integrated AI-based coronary plaque analysis into workflows.
     We welcomed three advanced imaging specialists to the Plano campus to lead CT, MRI and structural echo services.
     We achieved enterprise-wide echo and carotid vascular IAC accreditation and implemented standardized echo protocols and QA programs.
3. National and international academic impact
   • Our physicians, faculty and fellows:
     • Led the first CT-guided PCI workshop in Texas and delivered national and international grand rounds
     • Launched the SAFE-CMR-LEADS trial at Dallas, expanding safe MRI access for patients with pacemaker or defibrillator leads by using safer, customized scanning techniques. Early results have shown high success in obtaining safe and diagnostic imaging with no major complications during follow-up.
     • Actively participated in multiple international multicenter imaging registries, including CONFIRM2 and DECIDE
     • Presented at SCCT, SCMR, TCT, NY Valve, STS, ASE and more
       Contributed key imaging case presentations and original research and published in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, including JASE and JCMR.
       Developed a comprehensive fellowship curriculum at Plano with a 90% echo board pass rate—featuring 99th and 100th percentile scores