NAFA at VCU

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Meet the Speakers | Meet the Sponsors & Exhibitors | Explore Disney Accommodations

Monday, November 30, 2026

Time	Event Information
6:15 am	Breakfast with Exhibitors & Welcome Desk
7:00 am	Welcome and Opening Remarks Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA Keith Pelletier, PhD, MBA, MHS, CCP
7:15 am	High-Fidelity ECMO Simulation for Training Education – 1.2 CEUs Rachel Mills, CCP Objective: Describe the design, implementation, and educational impact of high-fidelity ECMO simulation as a strategy to enhance technical competency, clinical decision-making, and team performance in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) management.
8:15 am	Single Ventricle Physiology: Post-operative Complications and Management – 1.2 CEUs Gurinder Singh Gill, DMV, CCP, CPC, MBA Objective: Review the pathophysiology of single ventricle circulation and identify common postoperative complications, along with evidence-based management strategies to optimize outcomes in this high-risk patient population.
9:15 am	Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
9:30 am	Cognitive Load and Crisis Management in ECMO – 1.2 CEUs Rachel Mills, CCP Objective: Explain how cognitive load influences clinical performance during ECMO crises and identify practical strategies to optimize decision-making, communication, and team effectiveness under high-stress conditions.
10:30 am	Anesthetic and Peri-Operative Considerations for Pediatric and Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease – 1.2 CEUs Gurinder Singh Gill, DMV, CCP, CPC, MBA Objective: Review key anesthetic and perioperative considerations for pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease, emphasizing risk stratification, physiologic management, and strategies to optimize surgical outcomes.
11:15 am	Facilitated Discussion: Key Lessons, Challenges, and Takeaways – 1.2 CEUs Keith Pelletier, PhD, MBA, MHS, CCP Objective: Summarize key lessons, challenges, and practical takeaways from the day’s educational content.
8:30 – 10:00 pm	NAFA VCU 'Luminous' Dessert Reception at EPCOT Advanced registration required - separate fee Meet us at the Terrace des Fleurs, nestled between the France Pavilion and the picturesque World Showcase Lagoon. The Luminous: The Symphony of Us show includes fireworks, fountains, music and lights set to an original composition with selections from the Disney songbook. The reception includes Disney signature desserts, coffee, tea, lemonade and bar service for 1 hour prior to the ‘Luminous’ show in our exclusive viewing area. Note: Please be sure to wear your reception wristband for entry into the viewing area. The fireworks show may be cancelled and the reception venue may change due to inclement weather.

Tuesday, December 1, 2026

Time	Event Information
6:15 am	Breakfast with Exhibitors & Welcome Desk
7:00 am	Partial Heart Transplants in the Pediatric Population – 1.2 CEUs Kelsey Navin, CCP, LP, MBA Objective: Describe the current challenges, clinical benefits, and future potential of partial heart transplantation in the pediatric population, with emphasis on implications for perfusion practice.
8:00 am	The Gut-Heart-Brain Connection: What Perfusionists Need to Know – 1.2 CEUs Luc Puis, RRT Objective: Explain the interactions among gastrointestinal, cardiac, and neurological physiology during cardiopulmonary bypass and identify key perfusion strategies to optimize patient outcomes.
9:00 am	Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
9:15 am	Overview of Pulmonary Artery Flow Studies – 1.2 CEUs Kelsey Navin, CCP, LP, MBA Objective: Summarize pulmonary artery (PA) flow study approaches and the interpretation of PA flow and pressure data in patients with complex pulmonary conditions, including MAPCAs, with emphasis on what these values indicate for surgical considerations both in and out of the operating room.
10:15 am	Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Clinical Practice – 1.2 CEUs Luc Puis, RRT Objective: Examine how artificial intelligence can be integrated into clinical perfusion practice to enhance decision-making, optimize cardiopulmonary bypass management, improve patient safety, and support data-driven quality improvement initiatives.
11:15 am	Facilitated Discussion: Key Lessons, Challenges, and Takeaways – 1.2 CEUs Keith Pelletier, PhD, MBA, MHS, CCP Objective: Summarize key lessons, challenges, and practical takeaways from the day’s educational content.

Wednesday, December 2, 2026

Time	Event Information
6:15 am	Breakfast with Exhibitors & Welcome Desk
7:00 am	Importance of Algorithmic Quantification and Qualitative Appraisal for Optimal Anticoagulation during CPB – 1.2 CEUs Isaac Chinnappan, MS, MHA, CCP, LCP, CPBMT, CPBMS, CES-A, CES-P, FPP, FAACP Objective: Explain how integrating algorithmic quantification with qualitative clinical appraisal optimizes anticoagulation management during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to enhance patient safety and procedural outcomes.
8:00 am	Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) – 1.2 CEUs Christos Calaritis, CCP, CPC, FPP, DiplHMgmt Objective: Discuss the indications, management principles, and outcomes of pediatric ECMO, highlighting patient selection, circuit strategies, and multidisciplinary approaches to optimize care.
9:00 am	Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
9:15 am	Estimated Quantification and Scientific Justification of the Usage of FFP and HYPERTONIC ALBUMIN During CPB – 1.2 CEUs Isaac Chinnappan, MS, MHA, CCP, LCP, CPBMT, CPBMS, CES-A, CES-P, FPP, FAACP Objective: Describe the estimated quantification methods and scientific rationale guiding the use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and hypertonic albumin during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to support optimal volume management and coagulation balance.
10:15 am	Pediatric Circuit Selection – 1.2 CEUs Christos Calaritis, CCP, CPC, FPP, DiplHMgmt Objective: Examine pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass circuit strategies, focusing on optimizing perfusion, minimizing hemodilution, and enhancing patient safety across a range of congenital heart procedures.
11:15 am	Facilitated Discussion: Key Lessons, Challenges, and Takeaways – 1.2 CEUs Keith Pelletier, PhD, MBA, MHS, CCP Objective: Summarize key lessons, challenges, and practical takeaways from the day’s educational content.
12:15 pm	Dessert Treats with Exhibitors Finalize your Exhibitor Passport – Drawing Thursday morning (must be present to win)

Thursday, December 3, 2026

Time	Event Information
6:15 am	Breakfast with Exhibitors & Welcome Desk
7:00 am	Pharmacology on Bypass: Anesthetic Drug Disposition During CPB and ECMO – 1.2 CEUs Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA Objective: Explain how CPB and ECMO can alter the distribution, sequestration, clearance, and clinical effect of selected anesthetic drugs and adjunct medications relevant to perioperative care.
8:00 am	Crisis Resource Management in High-Stakes Care –1.8 CEUs Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA Objectives: Discuss core principles of crisis resource management, including situational awareness, closed-loop communication, role allocation, and cognitive load management, as they apply to anesthesia and perfusion teams. Identify strategies to improve team performance and reduce error during rapidly evolving intraoperative and cardiovascular crises.
9:30 am	Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
9:45 am	Lessons From the Edge: Interprofessional Crisis Case Presentations –1.8 CEUs Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA and Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA Objectives: Analyze key clinical, communication, and systems factors that influence the management of complex crises involving anesthesia and perfusion teams. Apply lessons learned from interprofessional case review to improve recognition, response, and coordination during future high-risk events.
11:15 am	Facilitated Discussion: Key Lessons, Challenges, and Takeaways –1.2 CEUs Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA and Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA Objective: Summarize key lessons, challenges, and practical takeaways from the day’s educational content.