New SCAI president lists advocacy, cardiogenic shock among his top priorities

Working for more reimbursement advocacy

As Medicare physician reimbursements continue to decline, Naidu said SCAI needs to expand its advocacy efforts across the board. This includes building stronger alliances with other medical societies, renewing efforts to work within the system in terms of coding and much more.

"There are ways to work within the process to try to jockey for more reimbursement. There are ways to try to avoid our codes being revalued. There are ways to incorporate new codes that have higher value for new technology, which is appropriate because as we do more and we innovate, we need to be appropriately reimbursed for those things," Naidu explained. "Progress needs more money; it can't be done at the same level of money as the 70s or 90s. So I think we have to lobby for that and get our appropriate share for all of the House of Medicine, and certainly within interventional cardiology.

Declining physician reimbursements are an issue across all medical specialities, because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cannot spend more that its budget allows. So to offer incentive payments, pay for new technologies that improve outcomes, or to pay more to hospitals to keep up with rising costs for inflation, physician payments are cut every year to balance the budget. Physicians also are not given inflationary increases. This situation is a big contributor leading to increased physician burnout, which has led many to early retirement or leaving clinical practice, further compounding a growing shortage of U.S. physicians.

"A strategic alliance with other medical societies is important, because at the end of the day, we're playing in a swimming pool that we didn't create. We need to work with these alliances to go back to CMS and say, 'we don't like this system.' This system is capping physician pay because it's forcing a certain amount of dollars that all the physicians have to fight for," Naidu said.

He also noted that most discussions about reimbursements until now have primarily focused on fee-for-service type payments. To really move the needle on improving public health, he said, more reimbursement discussions need to be focused on prevention.

"It might be a tough thing to talk about, but there are things that in a society standpoint that the government can say, well, we need to tackle the bigger killers at different age ranges, and they may need to reimburse those more. And that conversation hasn't really happened. But I think that building these alliances and talking in Congress would be a way to try to figure out a better and more fair system for all physicians," Naidu explained.

Strategic vision for a changing interventional cardiology

Naidu takes the helm at a pivotal time, with SCAI recently completing its strategic five-year planning process.

"We just finished with our most recent version. That'll be unveiled during my presidency and hopefully that will resonate with members in terms of showing the types of things that SCAI is trying to do," he said.

Naidu said the roadmap aims to broaden SCAI's impact beyond cardiology and address evolving needs across academic, private and community practice settings.

The fight for a new cardiovascular board lives on

Naidu said the recent denial of the proposed American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine was a major disappointment, acknowledging the technical and political challenges involved. However, he emphasized that momentum remains strong.

"We knew that this was a technically difficult thing to move forward and there would be some politics as well. I think it's very clear to me that members do want this. What they want is a process that's easier, more complimentary to how they do medicine and cost effective. I am very committed personally to moving forward on that process," Naidu said. "I feel very passionate that we need to move on this."

He said SCAI will engage its stakeholders again to see how hard and the society should fight for an independent cardiology board.

Challenge to cardiologists to improve cardiogenic shock

Clinically, Naidu wants to improve cardiogenic shock outcomes. He introduced the concept of the “Golden Day,” urging teams to use a door-to-lactate clearance (DLC) in under 24 hours in all shock patients.

"I'm challenging people. Instead of a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes, I want a door-to-lactate clearance in 24 hours. So that's my challenge for the year. And if we can move on that, I think that's the last frontier in interventional cardiology."

He said the challenge is for cardiologists to figure out how to do this within their own system. 

Expanding the SCAI leadership pipeline

A major area of focus will be expanding the Emerging Leader Mentorship (ELM) program, which celebrates its 12th year. Recognizing a gap in support for mid-career professionals, especially women and underrepresented groups, Naidu announced a new initiative for a mid-career leadership symposium. He also wants and an expansion of ELM to include professionals not previously enrolled.

“We’ll be training people to lead national trials, run hospitals, or become CMOs in industry. I think this is needed, certainly for aspiring leaders, people of color and women, but also everybody at large who wants these opportunities," he said.

A call for grassroots involvement with SCAI

Above all, Naidu emphasized that SCAI remains open to fresh voices and ideas. He said you do not have to be a senior figure to make an impact in the society.

He encouraged younger and mid-career physicians to step up. “The trick is: once you're in, you have to make some noise. Be present. Bring ideas. Join a team and contribute.”

With a passion for collaboration, mentorship, and bold clinical reform, Dr. Naidu’s presidency promises to guide SCAI through a transformative era—one that embraces inclusion, challenges the status quo, and redefines the role of interventional cardiologists in modern medicine.

"Of all the organizations I've been part of, SCAI is where you can come in and you can make your ideas happen, and they will let you run with it," Naidu explained.

He also noted that while many younger physicians look up too older senior leadership, that sharing of information is a two-way street.

"Senior people learn a lot from junior people in the trenches doing the hard work with the new techniques," he added. "I think we should find room for everybody who wants to get involved because ultimately there's a lot of work to be done."

Other new SCAI leaders named

Naidu succeeds James B. Hermiller, MD, who served as the group's president from 2024 to 2025.

SCAI also finalized other new leadership changes at SCAI 2025:

   • J. Dawn Abbott, MD – President-Elect
   • Joaquin E. Cigarroa, MD – Vice President
   • Arnold H. Seto, MD, MPA – Treasurer
   • James B. Hermiller, MD – Immediate Past President

Departing from the Executive Committee:

   • George D. Dangas, MD

Incoming Board of Trustees:

   • Herb D. Aronow, MD
   • Douglas Drachman, MD
   • Audrey C. Marshall, MD
   • Kimberly A. Skelding, MD

Departing from the Board of Trustees:

   • Thomas Fagan, MD
   • Goran Stankovic, MD
   • Rajesh Swaminathan, MD
   • Molly Szerlip, MD

Incoming Governance Committee:

   • Mauricio G. Cohen, MD

Departing from the Governance Committee:

   • Mort Kern, MD