Contact: Nicole Napoli, nnapoli@acc.org, 202-375-6523

WASHINGTON (Dec 02, 2020) -

Cathleen C. Gates has been selected as the new CEO of the American College of Cardiology, effective immediately. Gates has been serving as interim CEO of the College since April.

“We are excited to have Cathy take the helm of the College as we continue to navigate these turbulent and unprecedented times,” said ACC President Athena Poppas, MD, FACC. “Her long history with the ACC, coupled with her proven leadership skills and a rare combination of financial acumen, operational insights and consensus building, will ensure the College is able to rise and overcome today’s challenges, while also preparing for the future.”

During her nearly 30-year tenure at the ACC, Gates has served the College in a variety of roles, including interim CEO, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief people officer. She also spearheaded the ACC’s move from its Heart House headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, to Washington; served as executive sponsor for the College’s first diversity and inclusion program; and was instrumental in ACC being named a Modern Healthcare Top 100 Best Places to Work.

“Out of hundreds of candidates who responded to our nationwide search over the last six months, Cathy clearly rose to the top,” said ACC Immediate Past President Richard Kovacs, MD, MACC, who chaired the CEO Search Committee. “She brings a unique skillset that is in line with ACC’s Core Values of teamwork, collaboration, professionalism, excellence and a commitment to patient-centered care. Her unwavering commitment to the College’s mission and its more than 54,000 members and 500 staff will no doubt serve us well, both now and into the future.”

Prior to joining the College, Gates supervised financial and Securities and Exchange Commission reporting for three publicly held real estate investment trusts. She also served as a Certified Public Accountant at Ernst and Young, where her client focus was health care and real estate.

“As we navigate these difficult times, it is critical that we continue to look toward the horizon,” Gates said. “I look forward to leading the College and working with our outstanding members and staff as we continue to find ways to help cardiovascular professionals around the world optimize cardiovascular care and improve patient outcomes, especially as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise. At the same time, I am excited by the opportunities to tangibly address diversity, equity and inclusion in the cardiovascular community and find ways to harness innovation and collaborate with stakeholders across the health care spectrum to ensure we are well positioned to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for years to come.”

The American College of Cardiology is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College and its more than 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more, visit acc.org.

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