2026 - 33rd Annual Cardiovascular Day
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
Hilton Inn Garden Conference Center «map»
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Julie Freed
Associate Professor; Executive Vice Chair; Director of Clinical Research
Medical College of Wisconsin
Dr. Freed’s research primarily focuses on the role that sphingolipids have in the development of endothelial dysfunction in the human microcirculation. Elevated plasma levels of ceramide, a prototypical sphingolipid, is now considered an independent risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events in otherwise healthy people. The Freed lab is currently investigating how these bioactive lipids are regulated in human endothelial cells.
As a cardiac anesthesiologist, Dr. Freed is also interested in intraoperative blood pressure control including mechanisms and treatments of vasoplegia. Other interests include translating her work in the lab to improve outcomes for surgical patients.
For more information, visit Dr. Freed's Lab's informational website.
Registration, Abstract Submission, and Contest Information
Registration: Registration is now open, please complete the registration form by January 21, 2026. Note that the abstract submission deadline is earlier (details below).
Abstract Submission: To be included in the Cardiovascular Day program and for trainees to be eligible for the contests, abstracts must be submitted as a PDF to mucvday@missouri.edu by January 7, 2026. Please use CV Day abstract template.
Missouri Health Journal: Authors will once again have the option to publish their Cardiovascular Day abstracts in the Missouri Health Journal. During the Cardiovascular Day registration process, the submitting author must confirm that all authors approve abstract publication. Abstracts from the previous 2025 Cardiovascular Day are pending publication of the next Missouri Health Journal issue.
Trainee Competitions: Open to students, postdoctoral fellows, and residents. Top presenters will receive monetary awards and certificates.
Poster Contest: Contestants will be judged on scientific merit, presentation, and communication skills.
- Recommendation for Contestants: The Cardiovascular Day Committee advises poster contestants to attend both poster sessions: one in the mid-morning and one in the early afternoon (exact times to be determined). Judges will evaluate presentations anonymously during both poster sessions.
- Poster Printing Requirements: There are no specific size or orientation requirements for Cardiovascular Day posters. The goal is to ensure that posters can be used at other meetings that may have specific guidelines.
FlashTalk Contest: Selected contestants will present their research using 1-2 slides, with a maximum presentation time of four minutes with one additional minute for questions.
- Selection and Notification: Abstracts (submitted by January 7, 2026) to be considered for inclusion in the FlashTalk contest will be ranked, and six trainees will be invited to compete. FlashTalk competitors will be notified at least 5 weeks before Cardiovascular Day and given instructions for slide preparation.
- FlashTalk Slide Submission: Invited competitors must submit their FlashTalk slide(s) to mucvday@missouri.edu by February 11, 2026.
Event Committee members:
Darla Tharp, PhD – Committee Chair and PIBS representative
Jeffrey Boychuk, PhD – Dalton and PIBS representative
Charles Norton, PhD – MPP representative
Alejandro Chade, MD – NextGen and SOM representative
Jacqueline Limberg, PhD – NEP representative
Samuel Martin - Trainee representative
Karol Dinwiddie - PIBS representative
Laura McClaskey – NextGen representative
Mackenzie Lynch - NextGen representative
Darius Miller – NEP representative
Lisa Putting - MPP representative
Thomas Malloy - Dalton representative
John Donahue – IT planning and support representative
You can contact the CVDay Committee at mucvday@missouri.edu.
