Established in 1999, CVI is an independent, non-profit dedicated to advancing cardiovascular health in the Delaware Valley and beyond. Our primary aim is to make a positive impact on cardiovascular health.

We are committed to fulfilling our mission by offering accessible, high-caliber, impartial continuing medical education opportunities for physicians, allied healthcare professionals, and trainees. Since our inception, CVI has successfully orchestrated numerous educational programs and conferences, benefiting tens of thousands of physicians, trainees, and allied healthcare professionals.

CVI’S MISSION

CVI’s mission is to positively impact cardiovascular health in the Delaware Valley and beyond.

CVI works to achieve the goals and objectives of its mission by identifying, developing, and promoting educational activities focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and the prevention of cardiovascular disease and other concomitant conditions.

CVI faculty includes internationally recognized thought leaders, and regional experts representing all of the area’s academic medical centers, and many of the region’s community hospitals and private practice settings.

With a keen eye and pulse on the field, CVI ensures that emergent and challenging topics are addressed as they develop. We regularly evaluate and refine our legacy programs as well as develop new novel programming based on interest, new learnings, and the needs of our attendees.

History

The Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) was established by a group of local medical practitioners, primarily cardiologists. This group came together due to the absence of adequate regional initiatives catering to physicians, healthcare practitioners, and patients interested in cardiovascular health. Incorporated in 1999 as a 501(c)3 non-profit entity, CVI embarked on its journey by providing continuous medical education, financing research endeavors, and delivering community-oriented educational initiatives. From its inception onward, CVI has coordinated and hosted an extensive array of programs and conferences, catering to physicians, medical trainees, and various allied healthcare professionals.

Throughout the past two decades, CVI has actively cultivated collaborative partnerships with other esteemed professional associations, local hospitals, universities, private medical practices, and industry collaborators. These relationships are forged based on shared aspirations and objectives, contributing to the advancement of cardiovascular care and knowledge.

Board of Directors

Sheldon Goldberg, MD
Sheldon Goldberg, MDPresident
Veronica Covalesky, MD
Veronica Covalesky, MDImmediate Past President, Medical Director
Scott Hessen, MD
Scott Hessen, MD
Dean Karalis, MD
Dean Karalis, MD
Mark Victor, MD
Mark Victor, MDMedical Director
Pasquale Procacci, MD
Pasquale Procacci, MD
Douglas Clark, CPA
Douglas Clark, CPA
Lynda Mischel, MHA
Lynda Mischel, MHA
Muhammad Raza, MD
Muhammad Raza, MD
Patricia Scheller, BSE
Patricia Scheller, BSE

Committees

Accredited Programs

Clinical Cardiology

Dean G. Karalis, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson

Veronica A. Covalesky, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson

Colin M. Movsowitz, MD – Associate Director
Einstein Medical Center

Muhammad Raza, MD – Associate Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Crozer – Keystone Health System

Daniel Soffer, MD – Associate Director
University of Pennsylvania

Echocardiography

Martin G. Keane, MD – Director
Temple University

Veronica A. Covalesky, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson

Frank E. Silvestry, MD – Associate Director
University of Pennsylvania

Renee P. Bullock Palmer, MD – Associate Director
Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Electrophysiology

Scott E. Hessen, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson

Charles D. Gottlieb, MD – Director
Abington Hospital, Jefferson Health

Colin M. Movsowitz, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Einstein and Lankenau Heart Institute

Reginald T. Ho, MD – Director
Jefferson University Hospitals

Steven A. Rothman, MD – Director
Lankenau Heart Institute – Main Line Health

Edmond Cronin, MD – Director
Temple University

Cardiac Imaging in Women

Renee P. Bullock Palmer, MD – Director
Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Veronica A. Covalesky, MD – Associate Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson

Heart Failure

W. Clay Warnick, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Chester County Hospital

René J. Alvarez, MD – Director
Jefferson University Hospitals

Christopher J. Droogan, MD – Director
Mainline Health

Lee R. Goldberg, MD – Director
University of Pennsylvania

Eman A. Hamad, MD – Director
Temple University

Justin Pelberg, DO – Director
Main Line Health

Lisa D. Rathman, CRNP – Director
University of Pennsylvania

Monique S. Tanna, MD – Director
University of Pennsylvania

Nuclear Cardiology

Veronica A. Covalesky, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson

Pravin V. Patil, MD – Associate Director
Temple University

Renee P. Bullock Palmer, MD – Director
Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Non-Accredited Programs

Cardiometabolic Disease/Diabetes Management

Dean G. Karalis, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson

René J. Alvarez, MD – Associate Director
Jefferson University Hospitals

Anastassia Amaro, MD – Associate Director
University of Pennsylvania

Christopher J. Droogan, MD – Associate Director
Mainline Health

Jeffrey S. Freeman, DO – Associate Director
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Serge A. Jabbour, MD – Associate Director
Jefferson University Hospitals

Douglas S. Jacoby, MD – Associate Director
University of Pennsylvania

Thomas P. Phiambolis, MD – Associate Director
Mainline Health

Kevin E. Shinal, MD – Associate Director
Mainline Health

Neva White, DNP CRNP CDE – Associate Director
Jefferson University Hospitals

Interventional and General Cardiology Fellows

Sheldon M. Goldberg, MD – Director
Pennsylvania Hospital

D. Lynn Morris, MD – Director
East Carolina University

William A. Gray, MD – Director
Lankenau Heart Institute – Main Line Health

Richard C. Kovach, MD – Associate Director
Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Antonis Pratsos, MD – Associate Director
Lankenau Heart Institute – Main Line Health

Bryan W. Kluck, DO – Associate Director
Lehigh Valley Health Network

Muhammad Raza, MD – Associate Director
Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Michael P. Savage, MD – Associate Director
Jefferson University Hospitals

Ellen C. Keeley, MD – Associate Director
University of Florida

Sahil Banka, MD – Associate Director
Einstein Medical Center

David M. Goldberg, MD – Associate Director
University of Pennsylvania

Paul N. Fiorilli, MD – Associate Director
University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Lipid and Atherosclerosis Club (PLAC)

Dean G. Karalis, MD – Director
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson

Daniel Soffer, MD – Director
University of Pennsylvania

Edward M. Goldenberg, MD – Associate Director
Christiana Care Health System

Douglas S. Jacoby, MD – Associate Director
University of Pennsylvania

Thomas P. Phiambolis, MD – Associate Director
Mainline Health

Perry J. Weinstock, MD – Associate Director
Cooper University Health Care

Staff

Michele Dahan
Michele DahanExecutive Director
Janet Noel
Janet NoelCME Coordinator/Office Manager
Marlo Colonna Romano
Marlo Colonna RomanoDirector, Professional Education