Every February since Lyndon Johnson proclaimed American Heart Month in 1963, we have a unique opportunity to shine a public spotlight on the impacts of cardiovascular disease and the importance of not only understanding the signs and symptoms, but also learning how to prevent heart disease in the first place.

This Heart Month is no different, especially now with cardiovascular patients among those at the greatest risk of complications from COVID-19. Understanding how to minimize risk factors, including staying up to date with vaccinations, will be among the messages being shared by the ACC and others on social media and other communications. (Follow along with @ACCinTouch, #HeartMonth and #CardioSmart to stay up to date on all the activities and resources.)

The importance of addressing health equity is also a critical message this Heart Month. We cannot transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health without both understanding the impacts of social determinants of health on care and outcomes and actively working on solutions to mitigate these impacts. This month's cover story sheds light on some of the biggest challenges associated with health equity and the role science can play in moving us forward. We also spotlight the recent nine-part series on racism and cardiovascular health recently featured in JACC.

Also in this issue, we hear from Tasha Phillips-Wilson, BS, MS, a member of ACC's Medical Student Section, on why she chose cardiology. As we celebrate Black History Month, it's individuals like Phillips-Wilson who continue to inspire and will undoubtedly help to change the future of the profession. We also hear first-hand from Michael A. Solomon, MD, MBA, FACC, and Robert O. Roswell, MD, FACC, on the new ACC Critical Care Cardiology Member Section and learn from members of the Women in Cardiology Section about some of the amazing contributions of ACC's women presidents. Also don't miss a new clinician-focused infographic on syncope and dive into a feature by Edward Chu, MD, looking at arrhythmias and COVID-19.

This is just a small snapshot of all that's involved with this issue. Enjoy the issue and Happy Heart Month. As always, please send your thoughts and feedback to CardiologyEditor@acc.org and don't forget to share links to your favorite articles on social media using #CardiologyMag.

The article was authored by Peter C. Block, MD, FACC and John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC.