Heart Doc VIP with Dr. Joel Kahn Bonus Episode: Why a CIMT Ultrasound Is a Must-Have Examination with Joseph Ence
Mar 31, 2026
Joseph Ence, founder of VasaLabs and vascular ultrasound expert, explains CIMT carotid ultrasound and its role in measuring vascular age. They discuss plaque types, why targeted CIMT differs from routine community screens, how often to repeat scans, and tools that make imaging accessible. Conversation covers how visual results motivate patients and options to monitor or improve artery health.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Founder Story Of Vasa Labs
- Joseph Ence transitioned from finance to vascular ultrasound after investigating FDA use of CIMT in drug trials.
- He built Vasa Labs to give patients visual, emotional motivation by showing plaque, vascular age, plaque size and composition.
Vascular Age Versus Chronological Age
- CIMT provides a measurable vascular age by comparing carotid wall thickness to ARIC and other population charts.
- Vascular age reflects inflammation and metabolic stress (high sugar/insulin) and can differ greatly from chronological age.
Don't Trust General Carotid Screens For CIMT Data
- Avoid relying on community Lifeline or generic hospital carotid scans for CIMT detail because they don't report IMT, vascular age, plaque size or consistency.
- Seek specialized CIMT services that measure thickness to the thousandth of a millimeter and classify plaque as soft, calcified, or mixed.