Miller School Faculty Take Center Stage at SIR, the Premier Global Meeting in Interventional Radiology
From award‑winning research and national guideline updates to editorial leadership and hands‑on education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine faculty played a prominent role at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting.
The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Scientific Meeting is widely regarded as the premier global forum for advancing the science and practice of interventional radiology. Each year, it convenes physicians, scientists and allied health professionals from around the world to present high‑impact research, exchange ideas and shape the future of minimally invasive, image‑guided therapies.
The meeting also serves as a major venue for professional recognition, including honors tied to the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR), the field’s flagship peer‑reviewed journal.
For Bedros Taslakian, M.D., associate professor of clinical interventional radiology and vice chair of research in the Department of Interventional Radiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, SIR represents a key national stage for advancing both clinical innovation and academic visibility. In 2026, the meeting reflected the breadth of Miller School faculty contributions across clinical research, education, policy advocacy and scholarly service.
Award‑Winning Research Advancing Genicular Artery Embolization
At the 2026 SIR Annual Scientific Meeting, Dr. Taslakian received two JVIR‑related recognitions, highlighting his sustained contributions to the advancement of genicular artery embolization (GAE) as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
The first study honored, “Genicular Artery Embolization for Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Interim Analysis of a Prospective Pilot Trial Including Effect on Serum Osteoarthritis‑Associated Biomarkers,” evaluates GAE as a potential disease‑modifying therapy. The interim analysis demonstrated that the procedure is safe and associated with significant reductions in pain and functional limitations.
The study received national recognition, including the JVIR 2023 Editor’s Award for Outstanding Clinical Study. At SIR 2026, it again was honored with a JVIR 2025 Editor’s Recognition for Peer’s Choice Article from 2023, underscoring its sustained influence on clinical research.
Dr. Taslakian was recognized for “Genicular Artery Embolization: A Review of Essential Anatomic Considerations,” a widely cited review that provides a practical guide to the complex vascular anatomy of the knee. The paper has become a key reference for safe and effective procedural planning and earned JVIR People’s Choice recognition, followed by a JVIR 2025 Editor’s Recognition for Peer’s Choice Article.
Expanding Miller School Leadership at SIR: Dr. Maria del Pilar Bayona Molano
The Miller School’s presence at SIR 2026 was further strengthened by the active involvement of Maria del Pilar Bayona Molano, M.D., associate professor of interventional radiology at the Miller School and medical director of the University of Miami HHT Center of Excellence, whose roles at the meeting highlighted leadership in education and complex clinical care.
At SIR 2026, Dr. Bayona served as deputy editor of the JVIR, participating in editorial meetings and educational programming focused on strengthening scholarship in the field, including guidance on how to publish. She moderated a scientific session on portal hypertension, reviewing and scoring research presentations from institutions across the United States. As a recognized expert in portal hypertension, she presented on transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in oncology patients, including those with liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma.
She served as chair of the IR Escape Room, a fun, interactive, didactic activity for students and residents that she created last year.
Dr. Bayona also participated in the SIR Extreme IR session, where she presented what she described as an “extraordinary, weird, difficult case with a good outcome” to highlight technique, innovation and practical teaching points for advanced clinical practice.
“I want to share my expertise. I want to share my experience. I want to make sure that I keep going with the education worldwide,” Dr. Bayona said, adding that SIR is an opportunity to involve “students, residents, fellows and my own colleagues” in advancing the field.
Advancing National Cancer Pain Care: Dr. Alan Sag and NCCN Guidelines
The Miller School’s impact at SIR 2026 also extended into national policy and clinical guidelines through the work of Alan Alper Sag, M.D., associate professor of interventional radiology at the Miller School.
Dr. Sag was recognized by the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) after the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) accepted recommendations by Dr. Sag and colleagues for national guideline updates. The change advocates for earlier patient access to interventional pain procedures, which have been shown to improve quality of life for patients with cancer pain.
“Achieving measurable policy change in our national advocacy initiative speaks to our national reputation at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Miller School interventional radiology,” Dr. Sag said. “It is an extension of our mission in founding the Sylvester Adult Cancer Pain and Bone Metastasis Tumor Board.”
SIR 2026 was the first year Miller School faculty coordinated the musculoskeletal interventions hands-on skills lab. As co-coordinator for this year’s program, Dr. Sag organized a broad educational program, with faculty teaching bone tumor ablation, nerve ablation, screw fixation, nerve stimulators and intrathecal pain pumps. Dr. Sag discussed ultrasound-guided techniques for genicular nerve ablation and drill access techniques for bone tumor ablation.
Dr. Sag was co-facilitator of a mentorship session for residents, fellows and early-career attending physicians, presenting a clinical toolkit for learners in the MSK-IR Early Career Practice Building session.
Recognizing Excellence in Peer Review: Dr. Matsunaga
That culture of academic engagement was further exemplified by Felipe Matsunaga, M.D., assistant professor of interventional radiology at the Miller School. Dr. Matsunaga was named a 2025 JVIR Distinguished Reviewer, an honor awarded annually to a small group of reviewers who demonstrate exceptional volume and quality of peer‑review service.
“It’s awarded to the top reviewers for the past year,” Dr. Matsunaga said, noting that the distinction is “relatively uncommon for junior faculty to receive.”
Dr. Matsunaga views the award as closely aligned with his long‑term academic goals to contribute to the Journal and serve on its editorial board. He emphasized that peer review is foundational to scientific integrity, noting that journals rely on physicians “to make sure that our research is sound and uphold the standards that define the field.”
More from the Miller School at SIR 2026
Deep Dive: Advanced Endovascular Strategies for Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia
Speaker: Dr. Bayona
Extreme IR: The Agony and the Ecstacy
Speakers: Dr. Bayona, Dr. Taslakian
Angioembolization in Patients with High-Grade Kidney Injuries May Lower Rates of Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality
• Presenting author: Waseem Wahood, M.D. (resident)
• Author/co-authors: M. Usman Shahi, M.D.
Morphine Equivalent and Pain Scores Following Kyphoplasty with Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients Spinal Metastatic Disease
• Presenting author: Marisela Neff (medical student)
• Author/co-author: Hamad Jalaian, M.D.
Outcomes of SpineJack Implant-Assisted Vertebral Augmentation in the Management of Spinal Compression Fractures
• Presenting author: Andrew Sasser (medical student)
• Author/co-author: M. Issam Kably, M.D.
Predictors of Clinical Response Following Genicular Artery Embolization for Knee Osteoarthritis
Author: Dr. Taslakian
Pushing the Boundaries of TIPS Indication and Patient Selection
• Presenting author: Mohamad Hamade, M.D. (resident)
• Author/co-author: Dr. Shahid
Combined Hepatic Hilar and TAP Blocks: An Interventional Radiology Guide Approach to Comprehensive Pain Control
• Presenter: Jacqueline Brenner, M.D., M.P.H. (medical student)
• Author/co-author: Rehan Contractor (medical student)
Untapped Opportunities in IR: Bridging the Gap, Exploring Innovative Engagement and Providing Tailored Mentorship Solutions
Facilitator: Dr. Brenner
Impact of Pre-Emptive TIPS on Outcomes in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure with Variceal Bleeding
• Author: Dr. Wahood
• Author/co-authors: Dr. Taslakian, Dr. Shahid
Utilizing Machine Learning to Predict 30-Day Mortality from Acute Variceal Hemorrhage After TIPS
• Presenter: Venkat Uppalapati (medical student)
• Author/co-author: Dr. Shahid
Rationale and Technique of Thyroid Embolization
Speaker: Dr. Sag
MSK and Pain Interventions (Ablation, Balloons, Pumps, Screws, SCS, VCF)
Coordinator: Dr. Sag
Scientific Rationale and Outcomes of GAE
Presenter: Dr. Taslakian
Evaluation of Large Language Models (LLM) for Patients: Oriented Explanations of Liver Directed Therapies (LDT) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
Presenting author: Dr. Brenner
Mapping Global Need for Emergent UAE: Geospatial Analysis of Post-Partum Hemorrhage Worldwide and the Relation to IR Physician Density
Presenting author: Dr. Brenner
Directed Catheter Therapies in Yttrium-90 Radioembolization: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• Presenting author: Adiel Hernandez, M.D. (resident)
• Author/co-author: Dr. Shahid
Age-Stratifies Risk of Hepatic Encephalopathy After TIPS: Defining a Clinical Inflection Point in a Multi-System HER Cohort
• Presenting author: Nicholas Ott, M.D. (resident)
• Author/co-author: Dr. Shahid
MSK-IR Early Career Building in 2026, Pearls and Pitfalls
• Facilitator: Dr. Sag
• Panelist: Dr. Sag
Attrition in Interventional Radiology Residency: A National Survey
Author/co-author: Dr. Wahood
Readmission Outcomes of IVUS Use in Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis Intervention in the United States
• Presenting author: Dr. Andrade
• Author/co-authors:Dr. Kably, Dr. Shahid
Comparative Effectiveness of Transarterial Chemoembolization Versus Transarterial Radioembolization for Hepatic Metastases from Uveal Melanoma: A Multi-Institutional Analysis
• Presenting author: Alexander Maddock, M.D. (resident)
• Author/co-author: Dr. Shahid
Comparative Outcomes of Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation Versus Surgery: A Propensity-Matched Analysis from a U.S. Multi-Center Cohort
• Presenting author: Rohit Reddy, M.D. (resident)
• Author/co-author: Dr. Shahid
Cryoablation for Desmoid Tumors: A Single Center Evaluation of Current Treatment Paradigms
• Presenting author: Nikola Susic (medical student)
• Author/co-author: Felipe Ferreira De Souza, M.D.
Comparative Outcomes of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis and Mechanical Thrombectomy for Intermediate-and-High Risk Pulmonary Embolism
Presenting author: Dr. Wahood
Tags: Department of Interventional Radiology, Dr. Alan Sag, Dr. Bedros Taslakian, Dr. Maria del Pilar Bayona Molano, interventional radiology, pain management, Society of Interventional Radiology