Program

We are delighted to welcome you to the Sky AF Summit Frankfurt, an international scientific meeting dedicated to the latest advances in the understanding and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The program brings together leading experts in clinical cardiology, electrophysiology, and cardiac surgery to explore new data, evolving technologies, and translational insights that are shaping the next era of AF management. Discussions will cover the full therapeutic spectrum – from oral anticoagulation and stroke prevention to novel ablation techniques, hybrid strategies, and future directions in device-based therapy. In addition, sessions will focus on comorbidities such as heart failure, metabolic disorders, and renal dysfunction, emphasizing their impact on patient outcomes. Through scientific exchange, live case sessions, and interactive debates, the Sky AF Summit aims to bridge evidence and experience, connecting innovative research with everyday clinical practice.

Scientific Program Directors

Prof. Dr. Reza Wakili

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

Prof. Dr. Dobromir Dobrev

Universitätsklinikum Duisburg-Essen

08.45 am

Welcome and introduction

Prof. Dr. Reza Wakili

Prof. Dr. Dobromir Dobrev

09.00 am

Stroke Prevention in AF – Part I

Chair: Prof. Dr. Reza Wakili | Prof. Dr. Stefan H. Hohnloser

Oral Anticoagulation in 2026 – Real-World Perspectives on Factor Xa & XI Inhibitors

Prof. Dr. Michael Köhrmann

Universitätsklinikum Essen

Role of AHREs – Who Benefits Most from Oral Anticoagulation?

Prof. Dr. Paulus Kirchhof

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Oral Anticoagulation After Successful PVI – Still Required?

Prof. Dr. Stephan Willems

Herz- und Gefäßzentrum Asklepios Klinik St. Georg

Oral Anticoagulation and Cognitive Function

Dr. Laurent Rivard

Montréal Heart Institute, Kanada

10.00 am

Translational Insights into AF Mechanisms

Chair: Prof. Dr. Dobromir Dobrev | Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dimmeler

From Ion Channels to Fibrosis to Inflammation

Prof. Dr. Stanley Nattel

Montréal Heart Institute, Kanada

Genetics – Lessons Learned and Current Implications

Prof. Dr. Stefan Kääb

LMU München

Role of Inflammation

Prof. Dr. Andreas Zeiher

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

Mitochondrial Imbalance

Prof. Dr. Niels Voigt

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

TBA

Dr. Andreas Böhmer

St. Josefs-Hospital Wiesbaden

11.20 am

Coffee Break and Industry Exchange

11.50 am

Stroke Prevention in AF – Part II

Chair: Prof. Dr. Jeff S. Healey | PD Dr. Ahmed Sultan

LAAO – Closing the Left Atrial Appendage in AF

Prof. Dr. Ingo Eitel

Montréal Heart Institute, Kanada

OPTION Trial

Prof. Dr. Stefan Kääb

LMU München

CHAMPION Trial

Prof. Dr. Andreas Zeiher

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

Optimal Choice and Regimen of Anticoagulation After LAAO

Prof. Dr. Niels Voigt

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Outlook 2027 – LAAOS IV and What Else Is Coming and Needed

Dr. Andreas Böhmer

St. Josefs-Hospital Wiesbaden

01.00 pm

Lunch Break and Industry Exchange

01.45 pm

Novel Drug Therapies in AF Beyond OAC and PVI

Chair: Prof. Dr. Paulus Kirchhof | Prof. Dr. Dominik Linz

Role of Novel Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Prof. Dr. Dobromir Dobrev

Universitätsklinikum Duisburg-Essen

Role of Established Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Prof. Dr. Lars Eckardt

Universitätsklinikum Münster

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Dr. Victoria Johnson

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

AF Therapy in HOCM and Amyloidosis

PD Dr. Maria Papathanasiou

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

Chronic Kidney Disease and AF – Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors and MRAs

Prof. Dr. Thomas Speer

Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes

03.00 pm

Surgery Meets Cardiology in AF Treatment

Chair: Prof. Dr. Thomas Walther | Prof. Dr. David M. Leistner

Epicardial PVI + LAAO – The Surgeon’s View

Prof. Dr. Nico Doll

Universitätsklinikum Leipzig

Endocardial PVI + LAAO – The Electrophysiologist’s View

PD Dr. Christian Heeger

Universitätsklinikum Lübeck

Mitral Valve Repair Combined with PVI and LAAO

Prof. Dr. Thomas Walther

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

PVI ± LAAO After mTEER

Prof. Dr. Daniel Steven

Universitätsklinikum Bonn

LIAB: PFA-PVI + LAAO (FARAWAVE + Watchman With VersaCross)

Prof. Dr. Reza Wakili & Dr. Sebastian Haberkorn

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

04.15 pm

Coffee Break and Industry Exchange

04.45 pm

Mapping and Ablation With PFA

Chair: Prof. Dr. Andreas Metzner | Prof. Dr. Reza Wakili

Focal PFA – For Which Arrhythmia?

Dr. Omar Rana

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

Prof. Dr. Armin Luik

Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe

PVI+ With PFA-Integrated 3D Mapping – Overview

Prof. Dr. Philipp Sommer

Herz- und Gefäßzentrum Leipzig

LIAB: PVI+ With FARAVIEW and OPAL

Dr. Anastasia Falagkari

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

LIAB: PVI-Only With AFFERA Sphere 360

PD Dr. Laura Rottner

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

05.45 pm

PVI in HFrEF, HFmrEF, HFpEF – or All HFpAF?

Chair: Dr. Herbert Pürerfellner | Prof. Dr. Daniel Scherr | Prof. Dr. Nassir Marrouche

HFrEF

Prof. Dr. Christian Sohns

Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW

HFpEF

Prof. Dr. Arian Parwani

Universitätsklinikum Münster

HOCM and Amyloidosis: Role of Single-Shot PFA-PVI

PD Dr. Patrick Lugenbiel

Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg

Role of AF Burden vs. Freedom From AF in HFpAF

Prof. Dr. Jason Andrade

University of British Columbia, Kanada

Prof. Dr. Thomas Lewalter

Beta Klinik Bonn

06.45 pm

Coffee Break and Industry Exchange

07.00

Closing Remarks & Meet the Experts

Summary

Prof. Dr. Reza Wakili

Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

Prof. Dr. Dobromir Dobrev

Universitätsklinikum Duisburg-Essen

Meet the Experts

08.000 pm

Adjournment

SKY AF SUMMIT

Program

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