Atrial Fibrillation’s Unanswered Questions: Lama Al Jebbawi, MD, on #ASKWAF at Western AFib 2026

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Interview by Jodie Elrod

Lama Al Jebbawi, MD, discusses this upcoming roundtable at the 2026 Western Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Symposium.

To start, could you introduce yourself and your focus of work?

My name is Lama Al Jebbawi. I'm currently a second-year electrophysiology fellow at Henry Ford Hospital and soon to be incoming faculty at the Tulane University School of Medicine. At this stage of my career, I am interested in all aspects of electrophysiology, with AFib being one of the bread-and-butter conditions that we routinely manage. 

You’ll be participating in the #ASKWAF roundtable at the upcoming Western AFib Symposium. When AFib is discussed among electrophysiologists, what do you see as the most persistent or challenging areas of concern? What AFib-related topic are you most interested in exploring during the roundtable discussion?

We all know that AFib is the most prevalent arrhythmia, affecting more than 33 million people worldwide. It is the most common abnormal heart rhythm that we manage on a daily basis as electrophysiologists. So, it's very important that we understand AFib from A to Z, from its histological and molecular pathophysiology to its management using the full range of modalities and technologies available today. That is why I'm very excited about the Western AFib Symposium—it offers the chance to engage with world-renowned experts and colleagues, allowing us to focus exclusively on AFib and give it the attention it deserves. 

During the ASKWAF session, the panel will go over the questions and comments collected throughout the meeting. It will serve as a great recap of the key highlights and take-home messages, while also opening the floor for discussion around questions we still do not have answers to. We are currently in the era of pulsed field ablation, which represents a major technological advancement in electrophysiology, but there are remaining challenges in AFib care, particularly AFib recurrence, despite the many modalities available today. I'm especially excited to hear my colleagues’ perspectives on these issues and to discuss the areas of research that are still lacking and where we can continue to focus our efforts.

As you prepare for Western AFib 2026, what aspects of the meeting overall are you most excited to explore with your colleagues and attendees?

Western AFib is a unique meeting because it focuses on a single aspect in depth. It allows us to explore AFib from A to Z, diving into the nitty-gritty details without being distracted by other pathologies or physiologies. I’m excited to attend Western AFib and examine all aspects of the condition through different perspectives shared by colleagues from across the field.

The transcripts have been edited for clarity and length.