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Just One More | Dive Into the First Issue of JACC: Case Reports
Take advantage of
mentoring opportunities through ACC's Women in Cardiology Member Section and online with
ACC's Member Hub. Learn more about Dr. Grapsa's vision for JACC: Case Reports in this feature article.
It's here! The first issue of JACC: Case Reports – the newest JACC Journal – is now live on JACC.org.
The first of its kind for the JACC family of journals, JACC: Case Reports promotes clinical cases and clinical problem solving in an online, open access format.
The first issue outlines the vision for the journal from Editor-in-Chief Julia Grapsa, MD, PhD, FACC, and features a wide variety of cases, including:
- Multiple Interventional Procedures as an Alternative to Cardiac Transplantation
- Potential Need for Early Detection of Cardiac Involvement in Advanced Melanoma in Light of Promising Advances in Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
- Novel Loss of Function in the AGK Gene: Rare Cause of End-Stage Heart Failure
- Unusual Cause of Bidirectional Ventricular Rhythm
- Ovulation Suppression to Prevent Hemoperitoneum and Surgical Menopause in Anticoagulated Women
Leading By Example: Building a Network of Female Cardiologists in Africa
"Female solidarity and the active mental decision to empower oneself are the most important ways forward," write Karen Sliwa, MD, PhD, FACC, et al., in a global health case report highlighting efforts to build a network among female cardiovascular researchers and scientists in Africa. The report was published in the inaugural issue of JACC: Case Reports.
The authors note the rapid demographic changes in Sub-Saharan Africa over the last 25 years, leading to an epidemic of cardiovascular disease. As such, a network of women has emerged who are focused on supporting each other in multicenter African studies focused on treating and preventing cardiovascular disease.
"These studies were carried out even though they were often poorly supported financially and there was not always a strong professional advantage to be gained by participating in the projects of our female colleagues," the authors write.
"However, this concept of solidarity has advanced the professional standing of us all by high-impact and highly cited publications of research into conditions relevant to African populations."
The case report also highlights some of the barriers facing African women researchers and scientists, including motherhood and "the old boys club culture," but notes that strong collaborations, formal mentoring programs and sometimes friendships formed outside of work have proven "it is clearly possible to be innovative and highly productive and still manage to have a balanced life."
"The global health report of the inaugural issue was written by Sliwa et al., and highlights not only the efforts in low- and middle-income countries in Africa to build strong female-led networks of clinician scientists and researchers, but also the important contribution women make as clinicians and researchers in merging forces and promoting excellence," write Julia Grapsa, MD, PhD, FACC, and Liesl Zühlke, MPH, PhD, in a related editorial.
Grapsa and Zühlke note the global health reports section of the new journal is designed to "demonstrate what may be lacking in daily practice and put us outside of our comfort zone." "It is important – if we wish to be working in a clinical/academic society with equal opportunities – to understand what is happening in low- and middle-income countries," they conclude.
Perspective: Providers Need to Consider Their Own Mental Health
"Since the dawn of civilization, the medical profession has been serving humankind, and doctors historically have been seen as the 'healing hands of God,' closer to divine than any other professionals," writes Hatem Soliman Aboumarie, MS, in a "Voice of Cardiology" viewpoint article in the inaugural issue of JACC: Case Reports.
While this perception has changed drastically over the last several decades as health care has evolved into more of a business model, it still remains that "few other professions bear such responsibility, accountability and daily stresses."
Aboumarie writes of the need for health care providers to treat others, while also treating themselves. He notes that "doctors are more likely than any other professionals to have mental health problems … probably because of long working hours, the pressure they face in their work, and demanding lives."
While patient outcomes and safety have significantly improved, the rates of depression, mental illness and suicide have been on the rise. This trend is global, according to Aboumarie. It is also highly prevalent in the cardiovascular field – a "highly competitive subspecialty" with a "high sense of responsibility."
The solution? "Certainly, one of the main life lessons of the medical profession and the transition from a fellow in training to a senior physician is to speak up and address your concerns," Aboumarie says.
He notes the growing prevalence of specialist teams in academic centers that can address burnout or bullying and can provide help when needed.
Addressing clinician well-being is a strategic priority for the ACC.
Whether advocating for policies that reduce unnecessary clinician burden in Congress or developing educational content for meetings like ACC's annual Cardiovascular Summit and the ACC Annual Scientific Session, the opportunities to engage on the topic and share best practices are many.
Keywords: ACC Publications, Cardiology Magazine, Ursidae, Depression, Mental Health, Prevalence, Global Health, Burnout, Professional, Ovulation Inhibition, Hemoperitoneum, Access to Information, Mentors, Research, Physicians, Social Responsibility, Friends, Bullying, Suicide, Problem Solving, Cardiovascular Diseases, Heart Transplantation, Melanoma, Heart Failure, Menopause
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