15th Annual Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Symposium: Care of the VAD Patient in the Community 2026

Oak Lawn, IL US
May 15, 2026

Faculty-directed one day program will cover management of the adult VAD patient. Topics include basic principles of heart failure, prolongation of life, discussion of VAD devices, general assessment of VAD patients, blood pressure management, anticoagulation, driveline infections/dressing changes, troubleshooting alarms and post discharge care, therapy considerations, social work considerations, and psychologist driven discussion with patients on life with a VAD.

 

This conference is being held in person/virtually.

NOTE: Please note this activity will be presented 8:00am – 4:15pm CST / 9:00am - 5:15pm EST

Target Audience

This activity is designed for nurses, social workers, EMS, PT/OT/ST, Respiratory and other healthcare professionals. This activity is designed for nurses, social workers, EMS, PT/OT/ST, Respiratory and other healthcare professionals.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, learners should be able to:

  • Identify a Key Change in Practice or Lesson Learned for Safely Caring for VAD Patients
  • Recognize Best Practices in Evidence-Based Medicine for VAD Management
  • Evaluate and Apply Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Heart Failure Patients
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 6.75 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
    Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Aurora Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers receiving this course receive 6.75 of ethics, clinical, cultural competence, and/or general continuing education credits.
  • 6.75 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
  • 6.75 Continuing Nursing Education (CE)
    Aurora Health Care is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Wisconsin Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 6.75 contact hours have been awarded to this activity by the Wisconsin Nursing Association. To receive contact hours, participants must attend the entire activity.
    • 0.30 APRN Pharmacotherapeutic Contact Hours
Course opens: 
03/19/2026
Course expires: 
12/31/2026
Event starts: 
05/15/2026 - 8:00am CDT
Event ends: 
05/15/2026 - 4:15pm CDT
Cost:
$0.00
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8:00am – 8:10am

Welcome and Introduction

Lisa Kukla MSN, APN-BC, VAD-C – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

8:10am – 8:30am

Basic Principles & Overview of Heart Failure*

Katelyn Kuper MSN, FNP-BC – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

8:30am – 08:55am

Life Before VAD Therapy

Maria Nilsson MSN, APN-BC – Advanced Heart Failure Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

08:55am – 09:25am

Net Prolongation of Life with LVAD Therapy

KEYNOTE: Mark Dela Cruz MD, FACC

Advanced Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support & Transplant Cardiologist

Advocate Christ Medical Center

09:25am – 09:55am

Heartmate (HM) 2 and 3 Overview

Caitlin Degenhardt MSN, APRN, ANCC-BC - VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

09:55am – 10:10am

HeartWare (HVAD) Overview

Stephen Hicks MSN, FNP-BC – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

10:10am – 10:20am

BREAK

10:20am – 10:40am

HM2/3 and HVAD Demonstration

David Promisel MSN, RN, CCRN – VAD Clinician; Advocate Christ Medical Center

10:40am – 10:55am

Special Mention: BrioVAD

Lisa Kukla MSN, APN-BC, VAD-C – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

10:55am – 11:35am

General Assessment of VAD Patients

Julie Minser, APN, CVNP-BC, AGPCNP-BC, CHFN – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

11:35am – 12:20pm

LUNCH

12:20pm – 12:50pm

Driveline Dressing Change Demonstration

David Promisel MSN, RN, CCRN – VAD Clinician; Advocate Christ Medical Center

12:50pm – 1:15pm

Blood Pressure & Anticoagulation

Laura Coyle, MSN, ACNP-BC, VAD-C – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

1:15pm – 1:45pm

Troubleshooting Alarms & Device Emergencies

Nicole Graney, MSN, APRN-BC, VAD-C – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

1:45pm – 2:15pm

The Aging VAD Patient & Destination Therapy (DT) Clinic

Robin Paliga, MSN, ACNP-BC – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

Michele Shaar DNP, APRN-FPA – Palliative Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

2:15pm – 2:25pm

BREAK

2:25pm – 2:55pm

Exercise Training Principles and Treatment in LVAD therapy

Meghan Gushurst, PT, DPT, CCS – Board Certified Physical Therapist; Advocate Christ Medical Center

Kari Klein, MS, OTR/L, BCPR - Board Certified Occupational Therapist; Advocate Christ Medical Center

2:55pm – 3:20pm

Fireside Chat with VAD Patients, “Life with an LVAD”

Edward Mahoney Psy. D – LVAD/Transplant Psychologist; Advocate Christ Medical Center

Jessica Jandak Psy. D – LVAD/Transplant Psychologist; Advocate Christ Medical Center

Diane Kemp RN – VAD Clinician; Advocate Christ Medical Center

3:20pm – 4:00pm

Hands-on Device Breakout Session (IN PERSON ATTENDEES ONLY)

4:00pm

Closing Q&A

Lisa Kukla MSN, APN-BC, VAD-C – VAD Coordinator; Advocate Christ Medical Center

*=APRN pharmacological credits are applicable to the ‘Basic Principles & Overview of Heart Failure’ portion of the symposium

 

Advocate Christ Medical Center
4440 W 95th St
Stein Auditorium
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
United States

Faculty
 

Name of individual with credentialsJob titleHospital affiliations/Company names 
Lisa Kukla MSN, APN-BC, VAD-CVAD CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Katelyn Kuper FNP-BCVAD CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
David Promisel MSN, RN, CCRNVAD ClinicianAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Milada Gorelik MSW, MJ-Health Law, LCSW, ACMManager Care ManagementAdvocate Health
Anthony Malinowski RRT-ACCSRespiratory Education CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
DeAnn Faragoi MSN, RN, CEN (EMS planning team member)Manager EMS Center & Prehospital CareAdvocate Health
Daniel Green PT, DPTRehabilitation Services Program CoordinatorAdvocate Health 
Nicole DeLio MA, CCC-SLP Speech Therapist Senior MWAdvocate Aurora Health 
Mark Dela Cruz MD, FACCAdvanced Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support & Transplant CardiologistAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Maria Nilsson MSN, APN-BC Advanced Heart Failure CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Michele Shaar DNP, APRN-FPA Palliative CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Meghan Gushurst PT, DPTPhysical TherapistAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Kari Klein MS, OTR/L, BCPROccupational TherapistAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Edward Mahoney Psy.DLVAD/Transplant PsychologistAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Jessica Jandak Psy. D LVAD/Transplant PsychologistAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Nicole Graney MSN, APRN-BC, VAD-CVAD Coordinator, VAD Team LeadAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Robin Paliga, MSN, ACNP-BCVAD CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Stephen Hicks MSN, FNP-BCVAD CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Laura Coyle MSN, ACNP-BC, VAD-CVAD CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Caitlin Degenhardt  MSN, APRN, ANCC-BCVAD CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Julie Minser, APN, CVNP-BC, AGPCNP-BC, CHFNVAD CoordinatorAdvocate Christ Medical Center
Diane Kemp RNVAD ClinicianAdvocate Christ Medical Center

 

Disclosure

Faculty disclosures are being reviewed and will be presented to the audience in advance of the program.

 

Accreditation Statement
 

In support of improving patient care, Advocate Health 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 provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Credit Statement(s)
 

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 
Advocate Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.75 ANCC contact hours and 0.3 APRN pharmacological. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 6.75  clinical continuing education credits.

This conference will provide participants with a certificate of completion, and discipline specific credit, for PT/OT/Speech and EMS. 

Available Credit

  • 6.75 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
    Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Aurora Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers receiving this course receive 6.75 of ethics, clinical, cultural competence, and/or general continuing education credits.
  • 6.75 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
  • 6.75 Continuing Nursing Education (CE)
    Aurora Health Care is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Wisconsin Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 6.75 contact hours have been awarded to this activity by the Wisconsin Nursing Association. To receive contact hours, participants must attend the entire activity.
    • 0.30 APRN Pharmacotherapeutic Contact Hours

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

How to Register
 

Click “Take Course” to register and/or claim credit for this program.  

For those attending this conference virtually, a link to the meeting will be provided prior to the event.

For Further Information
 

If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact [email protected]

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the IPCE Office at [email protected]

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