Journal of Innovation in Cardiac Rhythm Management
banner AtriCure 2025 afrationale

 

Activity Description
This CME-accredited enduring activity features Dr. Andrew Sherman and Dr. Marc Gerdisch, offering insightful lectures and engaging discussions on the fundamentals of treating Atrial Fibrillation (AF) to improve patients' quality of life. The session covers AF pathophysiology, prevalence, impact, and the urgent need to address the AF epidemic. It explains how AF affects cardiac output, emphasizes the importance of restoring sinus rhythm in AF patients, explores the connection between AF and HF, and identifies factors that may lead to undertreatment. Additionally, it discusses surgical ablation approaches, including current trends, treatment rationale, new guidelines, and how surgical ablation during cardiac procedures influences long-term survival compared with no treatment.

 

Access Webcast

 

tmb AtriCure 2025 Rationale to Treat AF  

Claiming Credit:
To earn credit upon viewing the video, participants must access the Accreditation tab >>, click on the Claim Credit Button, and complete the post-activity CME test.

Agenda

Atrial Fibrillation and Foundations of Surgical Treatment in the Modern Era
Andrew Sherman, MD

Afib and Heart Function
Marc Gerdisch, MD   

Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: Current Practice Patterns, a Compelling Case to Treat, New Guidelines.
Andrew Sherman, MD

Educational grant support provided by:
AtriCure

Joint Providership:
MediaSphere Medical, LLC and Ciné-Med

 

 

Faculty

Presenters and Panelists

Andrew Sherman MD

Andrew Sherman, MD
Chief, Department of Cardiac, Vascular &Thoracic Surgery
St. Joseph’s Hospital
Chair, Adult Cardiac Surgery and Structure Heart
BayCare Health System
Tampa, FL

 
Marc Gerdisch MD

Marc Gerdisch, MD
Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Co-Director of the Heart Valve Center and Atrial Fibrillation Program
Franciscan Health  
Indianapolis, IN

 

 

Accreditation

Released: 11/26/2025; Valid for credit through 11/26/2027

Claiming Credits and Certificate Fulfillment
To earn credit successfully, participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period noted above. To receive CME Credits or Contact Hours, you must receive a minimum score of 70% on the post-test, accessible through the Claim Credit Button. Certificates are issued via email upon successful completion.

Accreditation Designation
The educational activity is designated for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA CATEGORY 1 Credit(s)™ and 1 Contact Hours for Nurses.

Target Audience
This activity has been developed to meet the educational needs of thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons, associated professionals, and other members of the surgical care team.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants will be able to:

  • Evaluate the pathophysiology, prevalence, impact, and importance of treatment for the AF epidemic.
  • Examine how AF impacts cardiac output and review the significance of restoring sinus rhythm in AF patients.
  • Discuss the relationship between AF and HF.
  • Examine potential factors that cause cardiac surgeons to overlook AF.
  • Assess surgical treatment of AF, including current trends, treatment rationale, new practice guidelines, and the impact of treatment during cardiac surgery on long-term survival compared to non-treatment.

Accreditation Statement
Jointly Accredited Provider TMMediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med have organized and carried out this activity to enhance patient care. Ciné-Med is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to offer continuing education for the healthcare team.

Ciné-Med designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA CATEGORY 1 Credit(s)™.
Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Ciné-Med designates this activity for 1 Contact Hours for Nurses.

Disclosure Policy
MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med adhere to accreditation requirements concerning industry support of continuing medical education. Speakers must openly disclose any data limitations and discuss any off-label, experimental, or investigational uses of drugs or devices in their presentations. Speakers will disclose any relationships at the beginning of their presentations.

All MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med employees in content control have indicated that they have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

It is the policy of MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med to ensure balance, independent objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its supported educational programs. All faculty members participating in academic activities must disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflicts of interest held within the past 12 months.

MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med implement a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest before delivering the educational activity to learners.

Non-Endorsement Statement
MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med verify that sound education principles have been demonstrated in developing this educational offering, as evidenced by reviewing its objectives, teaching plan, faculty, and activity evaluation process. MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med do not endorse or support the actual opinions or material content presented by the speaker(s) and sponsoring organization.

Educational grant support provided by:
AtriCure

Joint Providership:
MediaSphere Medical, LLC and Ciné-Med

Claim Credit

CME/CE Test
  1. Please complete the following CME/CE post-test. Your submission will be reviewed and notification provided shortly regarding certificate fulfillment status. To receive AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, you must receive a minimum score of 70% on the post-test.

  2. First Name: *  
    Invalid Input
  3. Last Name: *  
    Invalid Input
  4. Primary Email Address: *  
    Invalid Input
  5. Confirm Your Email: *  
    Invalid Input
  6. Degree: *  
    Invalid Input
  7. Specialty:*  
    Invalid Input
  8. Institution: *  
    Invalid Input
  9. Mailing Address:*  
    Invalid Input
  10. City: *  
    Invalid Input
  11. State: *  
    Invalid Input

  12. 1) In evaluating the Atrial Fibrillation (AF) epidemic, it is estimated that the current national prevalence of diagnosed AF is at least 10.55 million.
  13. Select one*  


    Invalid Input Please Select one

  14. 2) The clinical burden of AF is real, and patients with AF have an increased risk of complications. Which statement is accurate as it relates to the clinical burden of AF.
  15. Select one*  





    Invalid Input Please Select one

  16. 3) What are potential factors that cause cardiac surgeons to overlook AF?
  17. Select one*  






    Invalid Input Please Select one

  18. 4) The performance of surgical ablation is accompanied by a 30-day reduction in mortality and freedom from AF equates to improved long-term survival.
  19. Select one*  


    Invalid Input Please Select one

  20. Although optional, we respectfully request that you complete the activity evaluation form, since your feedback assists in the development of future educational activities.

  21. Background

    Please rate each question using a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = Beginner, 5 = Advanced)


  22. I would consider my level of expertise in the subject matter prior to the webcast as:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  23. I would consider my level of expertise in the subject matter after the activity:
    Invalid Input

  24. Considering my experience and background, the material presented was:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  25. Extent to which activity met the identified objectives
    Please rate each question using a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = Not Met, 5 = Completely Met)

  26. Evaluate the pathophysiology, prevalence, impact, and importance of treatment for the AF epidemic.
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  27. Examine how AF impacts cardiac output and review the significance of restoring sinus rhythm in AF patients.
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  28. Discuss the relationship between AF and HF.
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  29. Examine potential factors that cause cardiac surgeons to overlook AF.
    Invalid Input

  30. Assess surgical treatment of AF, including current trends, treatment rationale, new practice guidelines, and the impact of treatment during cardiac surgery on long-term survival compared to non-treatment.
    Invalid Input

  31. Information Presented
    Please evaluate the information that was presented by answering Yes, No, Maybe or Not Applicable

  32. Reinforced my current practice/treatment habits:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  33. Will improve my practice/patient outcomes:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  34. Enhanced my current knowledge base:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  35. Provided new ideas or information that I expect to use:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  36. Information gained from this conference will result in making a change in your practice:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  37. Future activities on this subject matter is important to my practice:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  38. Addressed a professional practice gap:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  39. Was free of commercial bias/influence:
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  40. What barriers do you anticipate in incorporating best practices learned in this activity into clinical activities or quality improvement initiatives at your institution?
    Invalid Input

  41. What mechanisms can you identify to overcome these barriers?
    Invalid Input

  42. (*) Required Fields
  43. Invalid Input

Editorial Board | Author Guidelines | About Us | Contact Us | Submit Manuscript | Subscribe | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

505 South Lenola Road, Suite 121, Moorestown, NJ 08057

  Copyright © 2011-2026  MediaSphere Medical LLC.  All Rights Reserved.   

Website Design Internet Marketing by DigitalSequence