Houston Citywide Conference: Mechanical Ventilation Masterclass 2026- March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026
 
 
 
 IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE ONLY

Discover the art and science of mechanical ventilation in this immersive, hands-on course. You’ll explore the fundamentals of positive pressure breathing and master advanced ventilator management techniques to ensure patient safety and optimize outcomes. Through interactive sessions and simulation-based training, you’ll learn to interpret waveforms, configure specialized modes, troubleshoot alarms, and fine-tune settings to address patient-ventilator dyssynchrony. Gain expertise in analyzing pressure-volume loops, optimizing PEEP, monitoring transpulmonary pressure, and applying lung-protective strategies. Plus, develop practical skills in ventilator mechanics and diaphragmatic ultrasound to assess readiness for weaning. Join us at Bookout Auditorium and MITIE Lab for a transformative learning experience designed for critical care excellence.

 

COURSE DIRECTOR

Deepa Gotur, MD, FCCP, FCCM

Faculty

Atiya Dhala, MD, FACP, FCCM

Asma Zainab, MD

Steven Hsu, MD

Dharani Narendra, MD

Christopher Howard, MD, FCCP

 

FEES

REGISTRATION TYPEFEE
Resident / Fellow / Student Complimentary

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to: 

  • Explore the fundamental principles underlying positive pressure mechanical breaths.
  • Gain proficiency in administering safe mechanical ventilation by interpreting ventilator waveforms effectively.
  • Develop the skills to monitor and troubleshoot ventilator alarms to ensure patient safety.
  •  Learn to configure advanced ventilator modes tailored to specific clinical indications.
  • Acquire the ability to make precise ventilator adjustments to address patient-ventilator dyssynchrony and optimize ventilation outcomes.
  • Gain comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in analyzing pressure-volume loops, assessing compliance and stress index, optimizing PEEP levels, monitoring transpulmonary pressure, understanding mechanical power and driving pressure, implementing lung-protective ventilation strategies, and applying ultra-protective ventilation techniques.
  •  Learn to perform Ventilator mechanics and Diaphragmatic ultrasound to assess readiness of weaning from the ventilator
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 8.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Houston Methodist designates this Live activity for a maximum of 8.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 8.75 Attendance
  • 8.75 Respiratory Therapists
    This program has been approved for a maximum of 8.75 contact hours Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credit by the American Association for Respiratory Care, 9425 N. MacArthur Blvd. Suite 100 Irving TX 75063
Course opens: 
12/09/2025
Course expires: 
04/17/2026
Event starts: 
03/17/2026 - 7:30am CDT
Event ends: 
03/17/2026 - 5:00pm CDT
Add to calendar: 

Houston Citywide Conference: Mechanical Ventilation Masterclass 2026

Date: March 17th, 2026 

Course Director: Dr. Deepa Bangalore Gotur 

Keynote Faculty: Dr. Neil McIntyre 

Faculty: Dr. Atiya Dhala. Dr. Saadia Faiz, Dr. Steven Hsu, Dr. Christopher Howard, Dr. Dharani Narendra, Dr. Adam Kley, Dr. Vincent Wang, Dr. Christopher Morgan, Dr. Asma Zainab, Dr. Prakruti Voore, Dr. Fatima Adhi, Dr. Ramesh Kesavan, Dr. Karthik Vadamalai, Dr. Mohammed Zaidan, Dr. Jairo Barrantes Perez, Dr. Joseph Nagan, Dr. Danielle O’Connell

RT faculty: Jason Bordelon, Margaret Berger, Raymond Wolff, Christopher Martinez, Hardi Patel, Shaday Smith, Amil Labor, Jacob Varghese  

Course Objectives 

  1. Explore the fundamental principles underlying positive pressure mechanical breaths. 
  1. Gain proficiency in administering safe mechanical ventilation by interpreting ventilator waveforms effectively. 
  1. Develop the skills to monitor and troubleshoot ventilator alarms to ensure patient safety. 
  1. Learn to configure advanced ventilator modes tailored to specific clinical indications. 
  1. Acquire the ability to make precise ventilator adjustments to address patient-ventilator dyssynchrony and optimize ventilation outcomes. 
  1. Gain comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in analyzing pressure-volume loops, assessing compliance and stress index, optimizing PEEP levels, monitoring transpulmonary pressure, understanding mechanical power and driving pressure, implementing lung-protective ventilation strategies, and applying ultra-protective ventilation techniques. 
  1. Learn to perform Ventilator mechanics and Diaphragmatic ultrasound to assess readiness of weaning from the ventilator 

 

Location: Bookout Auditorium and MITIE Lab HMRI Floor 5 

Registration and breakfast: 7:00 am  

Introduction to the course and pre-test: 7:15 am to 7:30 am 

7:30 am to 8:30 am – All trainees will be in Primary Station Basics.  

8:30 am to 10:30 am – sessions

8:30 am to 8:45 am – Advanced Modes: Dr. Asma Zainab

8:45 am to 9:00 am – Pressure and EIT: Dr. Atiya Dhala

9:00 am to 9:30 am- Dyssnchrony : Dr. Steven Hsu

9:30 am to 9:45 am – Ventilator Weaning strategies: Dr. Dharani Narendra

9:45 am to 10:00 am– Diaphragmatic ultrasound: Dr. Fatima Adhi

10:00am to 10:15 am – Closed Loop Ventilation: Dr. Christopher Howard

10:15 am to 10:30 am - Break

Location: MITIE, Research Institute, 5th Floor

10:30 am to 11:15 am – Rotation to stations based on assigned groups

11:15 pm to 12:00 am – Rotation to stations based on assigned groups

12:00 am to 12:30 pm – Lunch break  

12:30 pm to 1:15 pm - Rotation to stations based on assigned groups. 

1:15 pm to 2:00 pm - Rotation to stations based on assigned groups. 

2:00 pm to 2:15 pm – break

2:15 pm to 3:00 pm – Rotation to stations based on assigned groups  

3:00 pm to 3:45 pm – Rotation to stations based on assigned groups  

3:45 pm to 4:30 pm - Rotation to stations based on assigned groups

4:30 pm to 5:15 pm - Live EIT PEEP titration

5:15 pm to 5:30 pm - Closing remarks and post-test

Duration: 1.5 hours in Primary station and 45 min per station for 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 

Primary Station: Basics (Bookout Auditorium)

Station 1: Dysynchrony (Sim room)

 

Basics of safe Mechanical ventilation 

Simulation with Michigan lung 

  1. Principles of safe and effective ventilation using both pressure and volume modes  
  1. A simulation of a newly intubated ARDS patient with poor settings applied in ER. Interactive session with learners  
  1. Approach ventilator alarms.  
  1. A simulation of multiple life-threatening alarms in both pressure and volume.  

 

Faculty: Dr. Neil McIntyre ([email protected])

Margaret Berger ([email protected])

 

Requirements: Large conference room, Vent projection to screen, Michigan lung, mechanical ventilator, AV 

 

 

Patient-ventilator dysynchrony 

Simulation with Sim Man 

 

  1. Patient struggling against the ventilator - Auto triggering, double triggering, reverse triggering, wasted effort- failure to trigger. 
  1. Patient struggling against the ventilator – Flow starvation, other flow dyssynchrony, Cycling dyssynchrony- premature cycling, delayed cycling. 
  1. Special cases 

 

 

Faculty: Dr. Steven Hsu ([email protected]) /Dr. Neil McIntyre ([email protected])/ Dr. Christopher Morgan ([email protected] )/ Dr. Muhammad Hayat ([email protected])

Christopher Martinez RT ([email protected]) 

Ingmar / Laerdal educators ([email protected], [email protected] )

Requirements: ASL 5000, Sim man, Mechanical ventilator – Hamilton C6/G5 

Station 2: Pressure and Power (OR)

 

Station 3: Modes (OR)

 

Airway Pressures and Compliance 

Simulation with live porcine model 

 

  1. Understanding pressure volume loops, compliance, stress index, PEEP optimization strategies for lung recruitment  
  1. Utilizing Electrical Impedance Tomography technology assistance in ventilator management to reduce risk for barotrauma. 
  2. Measuring transpulmonary pressures to assist in PEEP optimization and driving pressures. 
  3. Reviewing concepts of Mechanical Power, Lung protective ventilation, ultra protective ventilation. 
  1. Recognizing the trans pleural waveforms on the mechanical ventilator 

 

 

Faculty 

Dr. Atiya Dhala ([email protected]) / Dr. Saadia Faiz ([email protected] )/ Dr. Jairo Barrantes Perez ([email protected] )/ Dr. Syed Ghazi Rizvi ([email protected] )/ Dr. Bilal Zafar ([email protected])

RT faculty: Raymond Wolff RT ([email protected])

Timpel educators: Christie Rose ([email protected]), Bianca Oliveira ([email protected])

Requirements: Pig with lung wash out – ARDS model, C 6 Hamilton mechanical ventilator, esophageal ballon, end tidal Co2 sensor, Screen to project ppt, EIT (provided by Timpel)

 

Advanced Modes of mechanical ventilation 

Simulation with sim man model 

 

  1. Reviewing triggering and cycling concepts and understanding standard modes of ventilation: Pressure Control, Volume Control, SIMV  
  1. Understanding the concept of I:E ratio. Indications and learning how to set Inverse Ratio Ventilation: APRV, DUOPAP 
  1. Interpreting capnography for monitoring ventilation 

 

 

Faculty 

Dr. Asma Zainab ([email protected]) / Dr. Prakruti Voore ([email protected])

/ Dr. Vincent Wang ([email protected])/ Dr. Vadamalai ([email protected] )

RT Faculty: Hardy Patel RT 

Ingmar/Laerdal educators ([email protected])

Hamilton educator: Tim Cahill ([email protected])

 

Requirements: ASL 5000, Sim man, Mechanical ventilator – Hamilton C6/G5 

Station 4: Ventilator weaning (Sim Room)

Station 5: Diaphragmatic Ultrasound (Classroom)

 

Managing ventilator weaning based on current guidelines 

Simulation on Michigan lung 

 

  1. Recognizing the parameters for ventilator weaning 
  1. Performing specific maneuvers to obtain weaning parameters 
  1. Estimating prediction of successful liberation from mechanical ventilator 

 

Faculty:  Dr. Dharani Narendra ([email protected])/

Dr. Adam Kley ([email protected])

RT Faculty: Shaday Smith RT ([email protected])

Amil Labor RT 

Requirements: Michigan lung, G5 ventilator 

Perform diaphragmatic ultrasound to assess readiness for ventilator weaning 

 

  1. Performing diaphragmatic ultrasound using B and M modes 
  1. Demonstrating the diaphragmatic excursion 
  1. Measuring diaphragmatic thickness 
  1. Recognizing parameters for functional assessment of diaphragm in ventilation weaning and abnormal values. 

 

Faculty: Dr. Fatima Adhi ([email protected]) / Dr. Muhammed Zaidan ([email protected])

Mindray contact ([email protected])

GE contact GE Venue model ([email protected])

Requirements: Specialized patient, Ultrasound – GE venue or Mindray

Station 6: Closed-Loop Ventilation (Classroom)

Station 7: Esophageal Balloon Placement (Partial task room)

Understand the Physiological Principles of Close Loop ventilation, setup and initiation of the mode, and trouble shoot common problems

Set up and initiate CLP on a ventilator for a simulated patient.

Interpret waveforms to assess patient-ventilator interaction.

Adjust ventilator settings to optimize ventilation based on patient needs.

Faculty: Dr. Chris Howard ([email protected])/ Ramesh Kesavan ([email protected])/ Dr. Karthik Vadamalai ([email protected])

RT faculty: Afroz Ali ([email protected])

Getinge representative Mr. Marty Partida ([email protected]

Margaret Berger ([email protected])

Requirements: Hamilton C 6 ventilator

Michigan Test lung

Place an esophageal balloon for measuring trans-pulmonary pressure on a simulator

Understanding the steps related to placement of esophageal balloon catheter 

 

Correctly insert an esophageal balloon

Confirm placement using pressure waveform analysis

Interpret esophageal pressure tracings for accuracy

Troubleshoot common issues.

Faculty: Dr. Joseph Nagan ([email protected] )/ Dr. Danielle O’Connell ([email protected] )

RT faculty: Jacob Varghese

Requirements: Esophageal catheter, Simulator

 

 

 

Houston Methodist Research Institute
6670 Bertner Avenue
John F. Bookout Auditorium, 2nd Floor and MITIE Lab (HMRI 5th floor)
Houston
View Parking Information

In-person attendance will be held in the Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, Texas 77030.

 

COURSE DIRECTORS
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Weill Cornell Medical College
Program Director, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
Houston Methodist Hospital
Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Texas A&M University
Keynote Faculty:
Dr. Neil McIntyre
 
Faculty:
Dr. Atiya Dhala, Dr. Steven Hsu, Dr. Christopher Howard, Dr. Dharani Narendra, Dr. Adam Kley, Dr. Vincent Wang, Dr. Christopher Morgan, Dr. Asma Zainab, Dr. Prakruti Voore, Dr. Fatima Adhi, Dr. Ramesh Kesavan, Dr. Mohammed Zaidan, Dr. Jairo Barrantes Perez, Dr. Joseph Nagan, Dr. Danielle O’Connell, Dr. Muhammad Hayat
 
RT Faculty:
Jason Bordelon, Margaret Berger, Raymond Wolff, Christopher Martinez, Hardi Patel, Shaday Smith, Amil Labor, Jacob Varghese
 
 

Available Credit

  • 8.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Houston Methodist designates this Live activity for a maximum of 8.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 8.75 Attendance
  • 8.75 Respiratory Therapists
    This program has been approved for a maximum of 8.75 contact hours Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credit by the American Association for Respiratory Care, 9425 N. MacArthur Blvd. Suite 100 Irving TX 75063

Interested in exhibiting? Contact us for more information. 

Exhibitors

We gratefully acknowledge the following companies for participating as exhibitors for this activity: 

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Hamilton

Innoviva

Nihon Kohden

There are no more spaces available for this course.

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

  • STEP 1 - Choose the activity format you would like to attend (In-Person or Virtual) by selecting the checkbox next to the activity and clicking the "Enroll" button. 
  • STEP 2 - Once enrolled, click the link of the activity format for which you enrolled (the Status should say "In progress") and then click the "Take Course" button to begin the activity.

FEES

REGISTRATION TYPEFEE
Resident / Fellow / Student Complimentary

* In compliance with HM’s policy on Physician Non-Monetary Compensation regarding “Stark Law,” private physicians who reside and/or practice medicine within the Greater Houston Area are required to pay the full Fair Market Value registration fee.