Diastolic Function Assessment: Principles, Techniques, & Optimization

ULTRASOUND SOLUTIONS CORP. welcomes back Steve Walling, BS, ACS, RCS, RDCS, FASE, Director and Clinical Coordinator at the School of Cardiovascular Technology, Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute, for a practical session on improving our methods of evaluating diastolic function.

Course Description:

This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of diastolic function assessment, emphasizing its critical role in evaluating cardiac performance beyond systolic metrics. Participants will first explore the hemodynamic principles underlying diastolic function, including ventricular relaxation, compliance, and filling pressures. The session will then focus on key echocardiographic techniques, such as transmitral inflow, tissue Doppler imaging, pulmonary vein flow, and strategies for optimizing image acquisition and interpretation. Finally, through interactive case studies, attendees will learn to apply ASE guideline-based algorithms in real-world clinical scenarios, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient management. (Approved for 1 SDMS CME credit, provided one is present for the entire event)

Course Objectives:  Upon completion of this educational activity, the participant will be able to:

• State the hemodynamic principles of diastolic function
• Apply key echocardiographic techniques and image optimization for diastolic assessment
• Integrate the diastolic function guidelines into clinical practice through case study examples

About Our Speaker: 

Steve Walling, BS, ACS, RCS, RDCS, FASE, has been employed at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center as an Echocardiographer since 2008. Steve was the Lead Echocardiographer at Saint Francis Hospital for six years, where he was an integral part of educating the University of Connecticut Cardiology Fellows and Cardiology staff.

As an educator, Mr. Walling has been a leader in the field. He has been involved as an adjunct faculty (Professor) at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), as well as working in research as a Clinical Research Assistant at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC). 

Steve has published several articles and abstracts related to cardiology over the years. In 2013, he earned Fellowship of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE). In January 2019, he was recognized by the American Society of Echocardiography as the Sonographer Volunteer of the Month. Additionally, as a nationally known speaker and educator, Steve has lectured at the ASE, SDMS, and hospitals throughout the country. He is also acknowledged for his international endeavors, most recently working at hospitals in Germany and Australia. Steve continues to be actively involved with the ASE and education in all areas of Echocardiography.

This activity is an approved SDMS CME activity – approved for 1.0 SDMS CME credit.

Please note that partial credit will not be issued.

The CME participant roster will be reported by Ultrasound Solutions Corp. to the

SDMS CME Tracker System.

Important update from the SDMS:

SDMS no longer allows its CME providers to issue Partial Credit for attendance. If you join late or leave early, the SDMS will no longer permit us to award partial pro-rated credit.

Therefore, from now on, in order to receive CME credit, you must be in attendance for the ENTIRE event via your own unique Zoom link that Zoom emailed to you when you registered. Then, and only then, will USC be able to award you any credit. So, please be prompt and attentive to the time schedule. We apologize for any inconvenience, but again, this is a new SDMS policy we must abide by. Thank you for understanding.