Aha! With JAHA

JAHA Early Career Editorial Board Member Dr Felipe A. Montellano (University of Würzburg) joins Dr Eva Rocha to discuss the highlights from the 2026 European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC). Dr Montellano shares his insights into the pivotal studies that were presented, and how they could reshape our understanding and treatment in the rapidly evolving field of stroke medicine.

Dr Abdallah El Sabbagh (Mayo Clinic) joins Dr Laxmi Mehta to discuss "Percutaneous Mechanical Aspiration in Patients With Right‐Sided Infective Endocarditis: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association" on which he served as Vice Chair. They explore the evolution, current practices, and future directions of this innovative treatment approach.

Read the full AHA Science Advisory here: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.126.050115

Dr. Eva Rocha is joined by Dr Lauren Sansing (Yale School of Medicine) to recap the 2026 International Stroke Conference (ISC). Dr Sansing discusses the innovations made to this year's ISC to modernize the format and offer more opportunities for attendee engagement, and reviews key highlights like the release of the AHA/ASA 2026 Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke. Dr. Sansing also shares insights from her personal journey in the field of stroke research and the challenges of balancing clinical and academic work with a personal life.

Dr. Louise McCullough (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) joins Dr Eva Rocha to discuss her new article, "Exploring Sex Differences in Stroke Outcomes: A Comprehensive Analysis from the SPAN 1 Trial." This illuminating conversation covers the findings of the SPAN trial, which explores sex differences in stroke outcomes, particularly focusing on the role of estrogen, and the implications for clinical practice. Dr. McCullough also shares insights from her personal journey in the field of stroke research, the challenges of balancing academic work with a personal life. spheres.

You can read Dr McCullough's article in JAHA.

Host: Eva Rocha

Guest: Louise McCullough

Catch up with the AHA's 2025 Distinguished Scientist honorees in conversation with JAHA's Editor-in-Chief Bruce Ovbiagele, and Deputy Editor Pamela Peterson. We spoke with these six brilliant scientists in person at AHA Scientific Sessions in New Orleans about their valuable contributions to their respective fields, their career journeys and advice for early career professionals, and their thoughts on the future of their cardiovascular research.

The full video is available on the AHAScience YouTube channel.

In this new episode of Aha! with JAHA, Dr. Laxmi Mehta interviews Dr. Harmony Reynolds (NYU Grossman School of Medicine) about her article, "Sex Differences in Psychosocial Factors and Angina in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease". They discuss how stress and depression impact angina severity, sex differences in patient outcomes, and the implications for managing chronic coronary artery disease, particularly in women.

Read the full article here.

Catch up with the AHA's 2024 Distinguished Scientist honorees in conversation with JAHA's Editor-in-Chief Bruce Ovbiagele, and Senior Associate Editor Katherine Wu, in our second annual Distinguished Hearts and Minds Roundtable. This year, we spoke with these brilliant scientists in person at AHA Scientific Sessions in Chicago about their vital contributions to their respective fields, their career journeys, and their thoughts on the future of cardiovascular and stroke research.

In this new episode of Aha! with JAHA, Dr. Eva Rocha interviews Dr. Allison E. Gaffey (Yale School of Medicine; VA Connecticut Healthcare System) and Dr. Diana Wolfe (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) about the new AHA Scientific Statement, "Optimizing Psychological Health Across the Perinatal Period: An Update on Maternal Cardiovascular Health". They discuss the critical intersection of psychological health and cardiovascular health during the perinatal period and explore opportunities for creating care delivery models that perinatal psychological health in cardio-obstetric care. They also provide personal insights from their own career journeys and their strategies for maintaining psychological well-being.

Read the full AHA Scientific Statement here.

In this new episode of Aha! with JAHA, Dr. Eva Rocha interviews Dr Richa Sharma (Yale School of Medicine) about her new JAHA article "Lipid-Lowering Therapy Use When Indicated and Subsequent Ischemic Stroke Severity." They discuss the potential impact of lipid-lowering therapy in mitigating stroke severity, as well as Dr Sharma's career journey and advice for trainees in her field.

Read Dr Sharma's article here.

In this new episode of Aha! with JAHA, Dr. Laxmi Mehta Rocha interviews Dr. Jennifer Peterson (Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing) about "Trisomy 21 and Congenital Heart Disease: Impact on Health and Functional Outcomes From Birth Through Adolescence: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, which she chaired. Dr Peterson discusses the complex ongoing health concerns for children with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and congenital heart disease from birth through adolescence, and leading a "dream team" of researchers in developing a framework to maximize health and functional outcomes for this unique population throughout their lives. Dr Peterson also shares her career journey and advice for trainees in her field.

Read the full AHA Scientific Statement here.