Why Attend
The American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) is proud to host the AAHFN 2026 Annual Meeting, a premier event dedicated to education, collaboration, and the continued advancement of heart failure care for nurses and all professionals in the field.

Top 3 Reasons to Attend
1. Discover the latest innovations - Stay at the forefront of heart failure care by exploring groundbreaking research, technologies, and best practices presented by leading experts.
2. Network and Connect - Engage with fellow Heart Failure Nurses from across all specialties to share insights, experiences, and ideas that drive better patient outcomes.
3. Elevate your Expertise - Expand your clinical knowledge through sessions focused on heart failure management, advanced therapies, arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, hands-on training, and more -- led by nurse leaders and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

Location
The Meeting will be held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. 
1 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101

Once you arrive at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, you’ll be steps away from the Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, and beautiful waterfront views.
 

A CME Symposium during the 2026 Annual Meeting for the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses in San Diego, California.

AGENDA

4:35 pm          Introduction

                        Nancy Albert, PhD, CCNS, CHFN, CCRN, NE-BC

4:38 pm          Hyperkalemia: A Barrier to Optimization of HF Treatment

                        Nancy Albert, PhD, CCNS, CHFN, CCRN, NE-BC

4:53 pm          Overcoming the Barrier of Hyperkalemia: Treatment with Potassium Binders and Maintaining RAAS Inhibitor Therapy in HF Patients

                        Stephen Greene, MD

5:08 pm          Evidence-Based Practice: Managing the Patient with Elevated Potassium

                        Case Presenter: Stephanie Barnes, DNP, AGNP-C, CHFN

                        Panelists: Nancy Albert, PhD, CCNS, CHFN, CCRN, NE-BC; Stephen Greene, MD

5:23 pm          Question and Answer

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

• Recognize the relationship of hyperkalemia (or fear of hyperkalemia) and underuse and underdosing of RAASis in HF

• Explain the relationship between down-titration or discontinuation of RAASis and clinical outcomes

• Explain the key characteristics of, and clinical evidence with novel potassium binders

• Identify HF patients who would benefit from novel potassium binders for the treatment of hyperkalemia

Educational Grant

AAHFN and Voxmedia International gratefully acknowledge the educational grant provided by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

CHAIR

Nancy Albert, PhD, CCNS, CHFN, CCRN, NE-BC

Associate Chief Nursing Officer--Research and Innovation

Clinical Nurse Specialist--Kaufman Center for Heart Failure

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio

FACULTY

Stephanie Barnes, DNP, AGNP-C, CHFN

Clinical Director for Advanced Heart Failure

Duke University Health System

Durham, North Carolina

Stephen Greene, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

Duke University School of Medicine

Duke Clinical Research Institute

Durham, North Carolina

Why Attend
The American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) is proud to host the AAHFN 2026 Annual Meeting, a premier event dedicated to education, collaboration, and the continued advancement of heart failure care for nurses and all professionals in the field.

Top 3 Reasons to Attend
1. Discover the latest innovations - Stay at the forefront of heart failure care by exploring groundbreaking research, technologies, and best practices presented by leading experts.
2. Network and Connect - Engage with fellow Heart Failure Nurses from across all specialties to share insights, experiences, and ideas that drive better patient outcomes.
3. Elevate your Expertise - Expand your clinical knowledge through sessions focused on heart failure management, advanced therapies, arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, hands-on training, and more -- led by nurse leaders and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

Location
The Meeting will be held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. 
1 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101

Once you arrive at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, you’ll be steps away from the Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, and beautiful waterfront views.
 

A CME Symposium during the 2026 Annual Meeting for the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses in San Diego, California.

AGENDA
 

10:30 AM           Introduction

                          Lisa Rathman, MSN, CRNP, ACNP-BC, CHFN

10:33 AM           MRAs in HF: The Changing Landscape

                           Ankeet Bhatt, MD, MBA, ScM

10:55 AM           Case Presentation: Best Practices for Using Foundational Therapies and Key Messages for Patients

                           Lisa Rathman, MSN, CRNP, ACNP-BC, CHFN

11:10 AM            Question and Answer

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

1. Describe the clinical data for steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (sMRAs) through the spectrum of ejection fraction in heart failure and their safety profiles and tolerability.

2. Explain the pharmacologic profi le/characteristics of nonsteroidal MRA (nsMRA) therapy and clinical evidence in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

3. Summarize information for initiation of evidence-based therapies in HFmrEF and HFpEF patients and prudent follow-up.

Educational Grant

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Bayer.

CHAIR

Lisa Rathman, MSN, CRNP, ACNP-BC, CHFN

Lead Nurse Practitioner Heart Failure Section

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Ankeet S. Bhatt, MD, MBA, ScM

Assistant Professor

Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

Pasadena, California

A CME Symposium during the 2026 Annual Meeting for the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses in San Diego, California.

AGENDA

3:50 pm           Introduction

                        Margaret Cuomo, NP (Chair)

3:53 pm           When Should I Think About Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis

                        Margaret Cuomo, NP

4:08 pm           Diagnosis of ATTR-CM and Treatment with Disease-Modifying Therapies

                        Justin Grodin, MD, MPH

4:28 pm           ATTR-CM in HF: Questions and Answers for Real-World Practice

                        Margaret Cuomo, NP and Justin Grodin, MD, MPH

4:40 pm           Question and Answer

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

• Indicate red flags which raise suspicion for ATTR-CM and identify specific patient populations where the disease is prevalent

• Recognize the criteria for diagnosing ATTR-CM and interpret the evidence with disease-modifying therapies

• Discuss best use of HF GDMT in individuals with ATTR-CM

• Describe recommended monitoring of disease progression and summarize roles for HF nurses in overall management of ATTR-CM

Educational Grant

This program is supported by an independent educational grant provided by Alnylam.

CHAIR

Margaret Cuomo, NP

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, New York

FACULTY

Justin Grodin, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Medicine

Department of Internal Medicine – Division of Cardiology

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas

Why Attend
The American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) is proud to host the AAHFN 2026 Annual Meeting, a premier event dedicated to education, collaboration, and the continued advancement of heart failure care for nurses and all professionals in the field.

Top 3 Reasons to Attend
1. Discover the latest innovations - Stay at the forefront of heart failure care by exploring groundbreaking research, technologies, and best practices presented by leading experts.
2. Network and Connect - Engage with fellow Heart Failure Nurses from across all specialties to share insights, experiences, and ideas that drive better patient outcomes.
3. Elevate your Expertise - Expand your clinical knowledge through sessions focused on heart failure management, advanced therapies, arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, hands-on training, and more -- led by nurse leaders and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

Location
The Meeting will be held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. 
1 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101

Once you arrive at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, you’ll be steps away from the Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, and beautiful waterfront views.