Marvin J. Slepian, M.D.

Co-Founder & Chairman, of the Total Artificial Heart; Chief Scientific and Medical Officer– SynCardia Systems, Inc.
Professor of Medicine, Director of Interventional Cardiology, Director of Tissue Engineering Lab – University of Arizona

Keynote Address
March 2, 2010
9:00am

Dr. Marvin Slepian, world-renowned interventional cardiologist and co-founder and chairman of SynCardia Systems, Inc., will be presenting the history of the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart. SynCardia’s Total Artificial Heart is the result of 60 years of development and remains the first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE-approved Total Artificial Heart in the world.

Similar to a heart transplant, the Total Artificial Heart eliminates biventricular failure by replacing both dying heart ventricles. It is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles.

Dr. Slepian’s presentation will focus on the efforts behind winning FDA approval and reimbursement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Total Artificial Heart. In addition to discussing the development and clinical use of this life-saving device, Dr. Slepian will also address the future of SynCardia technologies.

The Total Artificial Heart: Past, Present & Future
• 60 years of development by the giants of medicine
• Clinical use, FDA approval and CMS reimbursement
• The future of SynCardia technologies


Marvin J. Slepian, M.D. is Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), Director of Interventional Cardiology and Director of the Tissue Engineering Lab at the University of Arizona. In addition, Dr. Slepian is Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of SynCardia Systems, Inc.

Dr. Slepian has founded numerous medical device companies, including Focal (NASDAQ-traded, acquired by Genzyme), Endotex, Angiotrax and Hansen Medical, and has served as acting CEO and Board Member of several medical device startups. Additionally, Dr. Slepian has conducted extensive research, development and pre-clinical investigation of novel cardiovascular therapeutic methods and devices, and is the holder of more than 25 issued and 41 filed patents.

Dr. Slepian received his B.A. degree from Princeton University and a Medical Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed his residency in internal medicine at New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Hospital where he was also Chief Resident. In addition, Dr. Slepian was a Clinical and Research Fellow in the Cardiology Division of the John Hopkins University School of Medicine and participated in a second fellowship in interventional Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He also received additional post-doctoral training at Washington University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.