Suyog A. Mokashi, MD, MBA, Associate Professor of Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, spoke with HCPLive about two studies he co-authored that were presented at the 2026 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions. The first study examined variations in heart disease mortality rates between the South and West of the U.S. – particularly, the role of socioeconomic factors in driving these differences. The second study examined long-term spending patterns for coronary atherosclerosis through the lens of U.S. economic and healthcare sector expansion.