Dr. Cohn is internationally recognized for his seminal contributions to our understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and for his innovative research into modernization of the treatment of hypertension, shock, acute myocardial infarction and heart failure. His recent efforts have focused on a new approach to recognize the functional and structural markers of early cardiovascular disease in order to introduce effective therapy aimed at slowing its progression to morbid events. He has received awards for his pioneering research from the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the High Blood Pressure Research Council, the American Society of Hypertension, the Heart Failure Society of America, the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, the Arrigo Recordati International Foundation, Cornell University Medical School and the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center. He founded and served as first President of the Heart Failure Society of America and has served as President of the American Society of Hypertension, the International Society of Hypertension and the International Society of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy. He is the author of over 750 peer-reviewed publications in the medical literature, is the co-editor of the major medical textbook, Cardiovascular Medicine, and holds numerous patents on his research discoveries.

Dr. Tierney of Vascular Surgery Associates is board certified in vascular surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a registered physician in vascular interpretation (RPVI) for the interpretation of vascular ultrasound.


His special interests include complex endovascular repair of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms and dissections, advanced angioplasty and stenting procedures to improve circulation through a minimally invasive approach, and treatment of acute blood clots of the iliac and femoral veins and inferior vena cava.

Matthew J. Chung, MD is a structural and interventional cardiologist practicing with Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists in Richmond, Virginia. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center and then completed fellowships in general cardiology and interventional cardiology at Washington University in St. Louis before returning to Duke University for a fellowship in structural heart disease. Dr. Chung has published several original research papers, multiple book chapters, presented several abstracts at national cardiology meetings, and was selected as a finalist for the Northwestern Cardiovascular Young Investigators' Forum in 2016. He was also selected as the recipient of the 2018 Washington University in St. Louis Burton E. Sobel Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Research. His clinical interests include intracoronary imaging and physiology, treatment of bifurcation lesions and minimally-invasive transcatheter approaches to treating structural heart disease. His research interests are centered on identifying modifiable risk factors that affect clinical outcomes after transcatheter valve therapies.

Dr. Brody Wehman is a cardiac surgeon with advanced training in structural heart procedures and robotic heart surgery. Dr. Wehman was born in Richmond and grew up in Ashland, Virginia. He received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Dr. Wehman went on to obtain his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, where he served as president of the David Hume Surgical Society. He completed a residency in integrated cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He served as chief resident in his final year. In addition to his clinical training, Dr. Wehman completed a research fellowship in stem cell biology under the joint mentorship of Drs. Sunjay Kaushal and Bartley Griffith, and a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the University of Maryland. He has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and grant applications in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Wehman was recognized during his residency with research awards from the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Residency and Education, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Lietz is a board-certified heart failure cardiologist who specializes in the treatment of advanced heart failure, heart transplantation and left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. She is part of the multidisciplinary team at the Advanced Heart Failure Center - Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond. Throughout 25 years of her research and clinical career in organ transplantation and cardiac replacement therapies, Dr. Lietz has lectured extensively at national and international conferences and published numerous book chapters and articles in peer reviewed journals. She was one of the Chairs of recently published guidelines for Mechanical Circulatory Support on behalf of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.