James T. Willerson, M.D. Cardiovascular Sciences Seminar Series

Fall 2026 Seminars

The CVRI is pleased to announce our partnership with the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine to jointly organize the James T. Willerson, M.D. Cardiovascular Sciences Seminar Series. Together with the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine, we aim to honor Dr. Willerson's significant contributions to cardiovascular science and medicine. To learn more about Dr. Willerson's legacy, visit the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine website.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit will be available to eligible attendees for all seminars. For further details, visit the CME website.

Seminars are open to all who are interested in cardiovascular sciences and are held on select Wednesdays at noon.

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Sept. 9, 2026

Mikhail Kolonin, Ph.D.
Professor
Director, Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Disease Research
McGovern Medical School
UTHealth Houston

Seminar Location: Kleberg Auditorium

Sept. 23, 2026

Bradford Hill, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Medicine
University Scholar
University of Louisville

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

Oct. 7, 2026

Nikhil Munshi, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Seminar Location: Kleberg Auditorium

Oct. 21, 2026

Robert Schwartz, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
University of Houston

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

Nov. 4, 2026

Thomas Horvath, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology & Immunology
Texas Children’s
Baylor College of Medicine

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

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Nov. 18, 2026

Steven Jones, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Physiology
Director, Center for Cardiometabolic Science
University of Louisville

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

Dec. 2, 2026

Filip Swirski, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The Dr. Mark L. Entman Distinguished Lecture
Location: Kleberg Auditorium

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Dec. 9, 2026

Ying Shen, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Baylor College of Medicine

Seminar Location: Kleberg Auditorium

Spring 2026 Seminars

Jan. 7, 2026

Ketan Ghaghada, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Radiology
Baylor College of Medicine
Texas Children’s Hospital

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

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Jan. 21, 2026

Mingtao Zhao, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics
The Ohio State University
Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

Feb. 11, 2026

Wenbo Li, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
McGovern Medical School
UT Health

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

Feb. 25, 2026

Olujimi Ajijola, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Medicine
Co-Director UCLA-Caltech Medical
Scientist Training Program (MSTP)

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

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March 4, 2026

Guizhen Zhao, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences
College of Pharmacy
University of Houston

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

April 29, 2026

Sandhya Thomas, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Medicine-Nephrology
Baylor College of Medicine

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

May 13, 2026

Jennifer Davis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology and Bioengineering (Joint)
University of Washington

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium

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May 27, 2026

Na Li, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine

Seminar Location: McMillian Auditorium