Activity Description

AQO 2025, which took place virtually on Sept. 23 and in-person on Sept. 25-26 in San Antonio, offered a unique opportunity to explore techniques for optimizing data collection using case scenarios and driving quality improvement. Thank you to all the faculty, presenters, attendees, and exhibitors who helped to make this event a great success. 

Recordings from the October and November 2025 follow-up webinars are provided here for all AQO registrants.

Intermacs/Pedimacs
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT

• New Data Managers Session (Rebecca Harap, Nancy Honeycutt, Patricia Potter, Kerry Schindler, Neelam Tejpal) 
• How to Code Devices in the Intermacs/Pedimacs Database (Sylvia Laudun) 
• Implant Form-How to Interpret the Operative Report for Submission (Rebecca Harap) 
• How to Use Intermacs Data for Quality Improvement at your Site (Sheena Lamon) 
• Tips and Tricks for Data Abstraction (Tausha Vaseliades-Sidbury) 
• Utilizing Intermacs Data in Custom Power BI Builds (Rachel Wright) 
• General Q&A

General Thoracic Surgery Database
Monday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT

• Preop Evaluation (Andrew Feczko)
• Paraesophageal Hernias (David Shersher)
• Thoracic Surgery Quality Improvement Through Open Case Review (Kelly Rubino)
• Lung/Esophageal Histology and Nodes (Jeffrey Velotta)
• Esophageal Cancer 101 – Case Inclusion (Kellie Knabe)
• Post Op Events (Laura Schultz)
• General Q&A

Congenital Heart Surgery Database
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT

• CHSD Workforce: Projects Underway and Planned (James O'Brien)
• How to Use CHSD Data in Real Time (Rebecca Sam and Sarah Schukei)
• Double Outlet Right Ventricle (David Overman and Ashley Dunser)
• Key Takeaways for MAPCAs (Subhadra Shashidharan and Dawn Boughton)
• Review of Education Topics (Chasity Wellnitz and Leslie Wacker)
• What I Wish I Knew as a New Data Manager (Robin Keyser)
• Procedure Specific Factors (Meena Nathan) 
• General Q&A

Adult Cardiac Surgery Database
Thursday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT

• Mechanical Assist Device Overview (Mani Daneshmand) 
• ACSD Audit-Lessons Learned (Annie Kouchoukos) 
• What Does the Future Hold for the Treatment of Structural Heart Disease? (Tsuyoshi Kaneko)
• 30-Day Follow-up:  Tips and Tricks for Staying Off the 2% Missing List (Alla Kaner and Carley Hanmer) 
• How to Start a Quality Program at Your Hospital (Kevin Lobdell)
• CMS Updates (Keith Horvath) 
• General Q&A