Dear Members,

It is hard to believe that we are in the final months of 2020 and that the beginning of the holiday season is here. For many of us, myself included, the holidays will look quite different this year as we continue to face the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is easy to look at 2020 and categorize it as an overwhelmingly negative year, however, we have seen a number of reasons to be optimistic and hopeful for the future. Here are a few of the things I am grateful for this year:

I am grateful for the ACC's more than 54,000 members on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic who are working tirelessly and courageously to help and heal patients. In a rapidly changing environment, you have adapted to meet the needs of patients and found innovative ways to optimize care and outcomes.

I am also thankful for the opportunities to join with our partner cardiovascular societies and members all over the world to take a stand against racism and violence, and address health equity issues that cut to the core of our lives and our patients' lives. We will persevere in our commitment to creating a profession, and a society, that recognizes and values every human being, that promotes diversity, that encourages and enables inclusion, and fights to address disparities. Your support of ACC's Campaign for the Future will ensure that we are able to continue this work.

Together we have risen to every occasion in 2020 and together we will come out on the other side stronger and better prepared for future challenges. I have never been prouder to be a part of the ACC and the larger cardiovascular community than I am today. Thank you for all that you do for the College, for each other, for your patients and for your communities.

Sincerely,

Athena Poppas, MD, FACC
ACC President

P.S. Show the College what you are most grateful for this year by sharing a photo and post on Twitter! Use #ACCThankful and tag @ACCinTouch. In addition, the ACC will be taking part in Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1. Look for more information on ACC.org and social media, starting Nov. 30.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, COVID-19 Hub

Keywords: Holidays, COVID-19, Seasons, Racism, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Pandemics, Societies, Hope, Violence

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