2024 Annual Conference, Bios

Aaron Adkisson, PharmD, BCCP
University of Kentucky

Aaron Adkisson is a clinical pharmacist at the University of Kentucky HealthCare whose primary practice sites are in outpatient cardio-oncology and general cardiology. He earned his PharmD from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 2021. Following graduation, he completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville, KY, and a PGY-2 Cardiology Specialty Residency at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, MD. He is a Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacist (BCCP). Aaron's professional interests include managing chronic hypertension in VEGF-inhibitor-treated patients, HFrEF management, and addressing health disparities.

Talal Alnabelsi, MD
University of Kentucky

Attended medical school at Cardiff University. Internal Medicine residency at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Completed fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of Kentucky followed by an advanced imaging fellowship at the Houston Methodist Hospital with focus in CT and PET. Currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Gill Heart & Vascular institute (Uni of Kentucky) and the Director of the Nuclear Cardiology Lab.

Karam Ayoub, MD
University of Kentucky

Dr. Karam Ayoub received his medical degree from Jordan University of Science and Technology in Jordan. He completed his internal medicine residency from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. This was followed by an internal medicine chief residency year from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In 2017, Dr. Ayoub came to UK to complete a cardiovascular disease fellowship. Following that, Dr. Ayoub completed a fellowship in clinical cardiac electrophysiology from UK and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with a focus on complex atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. In his spare time, Dr. Ayoub likes to spend his time playing soccer and baking with his kids.

Nicholas Biondi, DO
University of Kentucky

Nicholas Biondi, DO, is a non-invasive cardiologist specializing in advanced cardiac imaging. He earned his medical degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. Dr. Biondi completed his general cardiology training at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and received sub-specialty training in advanced cardiac imaging at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He joined the faculty in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kentucky in August 2024. His clinical interests include multi-modality imaging, 4D flow, and medical education.

Tina Claypool, PharmD, CDCES, BCACP, FKSHP
University of Louisville Health

Dr. Claypool is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at UofL Health in Louisville, KY. She is Supervisor of Ambulatory Care pharmacy service line, including both ambulatory care and specialty clinical pharmacists. Her primary clinical practice is the Medication Therapy Management Clinic for UofL Health employees with chronic health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and other specialty medication conditions.

In 2023 Kentucky Society of Health-System Pharmacists (KSHP) inducted Dr. Claypool as Fellow of KSHP for exceptional professional experience and achievements and pharmacy leadership positions including House of Delegates, Awards and Nominations Chair, Board of Directors, Women-In-Pharmacy, and KSHP President. Dr. Claypool currently serves on the Ambulatory Care Section Advisory Group of American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and ASHP’s Wellness Ambassador Program. She enjoys sharing her passion for health prevention, education, and advocacy as a Member-at-Large of the Kentucky Diabetes Network, founding member of the Bluegrass Obesity Society, and active participant in Louisville’s Walk-with-a-Doc.

Tricia Grodecki, MD
Kentucky ACC

Dr. Grodecki is currently a board member for the Kentucky American College of cardiology since 2022 and presently the Chair for the Kentucky ACC advocacy committee. Her cardiology fellowship was in advanced imaging cardiology at Mount Sinai of Cleveland. Post doc she continued training in CT angiography at Ohio State University. Her previous positions included academia and private practice and is now administration. Dr. Grodecki’s primary interest have been research and clinical contributions to Women and heart disease. She has served as visiting professor for the Committee of Women in Cardiology.

She has been a member of the ACC task force and Cardiology Training and Workforce Committee. She has also served as Committee member of Women in cardiology. Dr. Grodecki established two women heart centers, one in Michigan and the first in northern Kentucky. She received a Federal grant for the Women’s center funded by the Federal Office of Women’s health and the Department of Human Resources. She has been active in the American heart Association as a chapter board of Director in Michigan and received cardiologist of the year 2002 for the AHA. Her primary interest at present is Advocacy in the Kentucky ACC —strengthening its membership and educating the ACC Kentucky members on their impact on legislation.

Peter Haigh, MD, FACC
University of Kentucky

Dr. Peter Haigh is a non-invasive cardiologist at University of Kentucky Health. He graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine and went on to complete both his internal medicine residency and cardiovascular medicine fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. He has advanced training in nuclear cardiology, transesophageal echocardiography, and interventional echocardiography. At UK he is the Director of the Interventional Echocardiography program and an imaging specialist on the Structural Heart Team. He is passionate about medical education and serves as also a core faculty member for both the Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship at UK.

Steven Heatherly, MD, Ph.D., FACC
Baptist Health

Dr. Heatherly is a non-invasive cardiologist specializing in PAH and HF. He is an executive physician with Baptist Health in the role of Vice Chair of Cardiovascular Services and serves as the System Medical Director for Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension. He supervises all of the Baptist Health Heart Failure Clinics and runs a part-time clinical practice in Louisville, KY.

Amr Idris, MD, FACC
UK-King’s Daughters Medical Center

Dr. Amr Idris is a cardiologist at UK-King’s Daughters Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Syrian Private University in Syria and completed his internal medicine residency from University of Central Florida. This was followed by a cardiology fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center/Texas Heart Hospital Plano where he served as a chief fellow. Lastly, Dr. Idris completed a fellowship in Advance cardiovascular Imaging from Minneapolis Heart Institute.

Christopher Johnsrude, MD, MS
University of Louisville, School of Medicine

Dr. Johnsrude is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine where he serves as Director of the Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiology Arrhythmia Service for Norton Children's Heart Institute. He moved to Louisville in 2002 from Chicago, where he was on faculty at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University after pediatrics residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and fellowships in pediatric cardiology and electrophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX). His areas of interest include cardiac arrhythmias in children and adults with congenital heart disease, electrophysiology studies, 3-D EP mapping, catheter ablation, cardiac implantable electronic devices, and surgical management of arrhythmias.

Dinesh Kalra, MD
University of Louisville, School of Medicine

Professor of Medicine. Chief, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Vice Chair for Quality, Department of Medicine. Jewish Hospital Cardiovascular Innovation Institute Director Chair in Medicine. Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging, Lipid Clinic & Infiltrative Heart Disease Program.

Vasili Katsadouros, DO
University of Kentucky

Vasili Katsadouros is currently an advanced heart failure and transplant fellow at the University of Kentucky. He received his medical degree from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina and completed his internal medicine residency and chief resident year at Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Andrew Kolodziej, MD
University of Kentucky

Dr. Andrew Kolodziej obtained his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. He then completed internal medicine residency through Yale University at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Conn., where he also served as a chief resident. Subsequently he completed cardiovascular training, which included both General Cardiology as well as Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology at University of Kentucky.

Dr. Kolodziej currently is an Associate Professor and serves a medical director of the heart transplant program at University of Kentucky as well as co-director of pulmonary hypertension service. His additional interest revolve around diastolic heart failure, including infiltrative cardiomyopathy, particularly cardiac Amyloidosis, playing an integral role as part of an Amyloid service at University of Kentucky.

Dr. Kolodziej is a key academic faculty in the Cardiovascular Diseases as well as Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant fellowship programs in addition to playing an integral role in the education of pulmonary fellows with assigned lectures and consistent pulmonary hypertension clinic mentorship.

He is academically active with multiple publications a year, those including journal articles as well as book chapters. Topics ranging between advanced heart failure, transplant, critical care as well as pulmonary hypertension with local and national.

Jeffrey Kuvin, MD
Northwell Health

Dr. Kuvin is Chair of Cardiology at Northwell Health. Prior to this role, he was Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Associate Chief of Cardiology and Associate Chief Medical Officer for Graduate Medical Education at Tufts Medical Center. Dr. Kuvin has led a number of key ACC educational initiatives, including the Lifelong Learning Oversight Committee, Annual Scientific Sessions, and the ACC Fellow In-Training Examination. He is President, Chair of the Board of Directors of the (Proposed) American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine.

Michael Lawrence
ACC Director of State Governmental Affairs

Michael Lawrence currently serves as the Director of State Government Affairs at the American College of Cardiology. Michael leads a team dedicated to managing legislative and regulatory efforts across more than 50 states. Prior to joining ACC, he worked for the state government affairs firm, Stateside Associates, where he provided insight into key healthcare legislation for a range of Fortune 500 clients. Before moving to Washington, DC, he worked for a State Senator in the Tennessee General Assembly where his initial interest in working in public policy started.

Elaine Major, BSN, RN
University of Kentucky

Elaine Major, BSN, RN serves as the Pulmonary Hypertension Program Nurse at the University of Kentucky. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Kentucky. After receiving her BSN, she worked for several years in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit before transferring to her current role at the Gill Heart and Vascular Institute. She now focuses on caring for the complex Pulmonary Hypertension population. She is an integral part of the University of Kentucky Pulmonary Hypertension Team. Elaine has made great impacts on optimizing transitions of care between inpatients and outpatients, educating patients and caregivers on how to navigate the complex healthcare system, and streamlining clinical workflow to improve patient care.

Niki McKibben, BHS, RDCS
Gill Heart and Vascular Institute

Niki McKibben is the Lead Cardiac Sonographer at the Gill Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Kentucky. A graduate of St. Catharine College, she has been with UK Healthcare for five years. In addition to her role as Lead Sonographer, Niki serves as the Quality Improvement Coordinator for the Adult Echo Lab, where she helps maintain IAC accreditation. Niki is deeply committed to the field of echocardiography and enjoys teaching junior sonographers and mentoring sonography students.

Cory Meadows
Kentucky Medical Association

Cory Meadows is the Deputy Executive Vice President and Director of Advocacy at the Kentucky Medical Association. Meadows joined KMA in 2011 and since that time has been responsible for managing the Association’s legislative advocacy efforts and legal activities. He also speaks on a number of topics related to physician practice management, medical/legal issues, access to care, compliance, and the current state of the health care industry. Additionally, Meadows serves as a member of the American Medical Association’s Litigation Center Executive Committee and is past Board Chair of the Partnership for Commonsense Justice, a consortium of business and healthcare organizations devoted to tort reform in Kentucky. Prior to joining KMA, Meadows practiced law in both the public and private sectors and served in several key positions within Governor Ernie Fletcher’s administration. Meadows earned an undergraduate political science degree from the University of Kentucky and a law degree from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.

Kimberley Miles, MD, MS
Kentucky Medical Association

Kim Miles is a pediatric pulmonary hypertension fellow in the CCHMC/UK collaborative after finishing her advanced imaging and categorical cardiology training at CCHMC. Her research interests are in the use of cardiac MRI to improve risk stratification, prognostication, and long-term management of children and young adults with pulmonary hypertension.

Tochi Okwuosa, DO, FACC, FAHA
Rush University Medical Center in Chicago

Dr. Okwuosa is a Professor and Director of the Cardio-Oncology Program at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She earned her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Internal Medicine and Cardiology training at the University of Chicago. Dr. Okwuosa's primary research interests lie in the areas of Cardio-Oncology and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. She actively participates in multiple loco-regional and national Cardiology/Cardio-Oncology committees and boards, serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Heart Association, and is the Immediate Past Chair of the American Heart Association's Cardio-Oncology sub-Committee. Dr. Okwuosa has played a pivotal role in the establishment of various successful loco-regional and national initiatives that aim to enhance Cardio-Oncology and overall medical education, as well as foster collaborations within the medical community. She is widely recognized for her dedication to promoting health equity and actively engages in community education initiatives. Dr. Okwuosa has also made significant contributions to the cardiovascular field by mentoring numerous trainees and publishing multiple peer-reviewed research articles, book chapters, editorials, and review articles about Cardio-Oncology and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.

Kevin Parrott, MD
Baptist Health Louisville

I completed cardiology and EP fellowships at the University of Kentucky. I’ve been in practice at Baptist Health Louisville since 2018. I’m the director of the EP Lab. Special areas of interest ablation, conduction system pacing, and lead extraction.

Mrin Shetty, MD
University of Louisville

Mrin Shetty, M.D. is a cardiologist who specializes in advanced multi-modality cardiac imaging. Having completed her residency training where she served as chief resident, Dr. Shetty then did her cardiology fellowship at the University of Chicago (NorthShore) where she was elected chief cardiology fellow. Given her interest in the prevention of coronary artery disease and infiltrative cardiomyopathies, she pursued an Advanced Cardiac Imaging fellowship at Columbia University in New York. She is an active member of the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. She has given invited talks at national conferences, serves on numerous academic society committees and has published research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals which have been cited more than 140 times.

Adam Skaff, MD
Norton Children's Heart Institute, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Dr. Adam Skaff is a Pediatric Cardiologist who began working at Norton Children's Heart Institute in July 2022. He completed his medical school training at West Virginia University School of Medicine, followed by Pediatrics training at the University of Virginia. He completed Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Dr. Skaff has special interest in inpatient cardiac intensive care and non-invasive imaging, including fetal echocardiography.

Holly Tyson, PharmD
University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Holly Tyson is an Advanced Heart Failure, LVAD, and Transplant Pharmacist at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. She graduated from pharmacy school at Virginia Commonwealth University and completed residency training at University of Kentucky HealthCare.