Finding Our Lane

Broad societal issues whether COVID-19, health equity, maternal health and/or gun violence have significant clinical implications for both clinicians and patients. Helping increase awareness and understanding of these impacts and providing guidance, education, opportunities for sharing best practices and information, and advocacy (when warranted) is increasingly a priority for the College.

ACC President Edward T. A. Fry, MD, FACC, addresses two of these issues – gun violence and maternal health – in recent Leadership Pages published in JACC. On the gun violence front, Fry notes that it is a public health emergency that permeates the daily lives of clinicians – both personally and professionally. He highlights "the importance of ensuring a culture of safety within the places we work and live, including hospitals, schools, supermarkets, places of worship, or elsewhere," and says, "violence anywhere, including the workplace, is unacceptable and must be prevented."

In terms of maternal health, Fry, along with ACC Past President Mary Norine Walsh, MD, MACC, and ACC Secretary and Board of Governors Chair Malissa J. Wood, MD, FACC, stress the importance of cardiovascular clinicians continuing "to focus on the key reversible and treatable causes of maternal mortality, namely CV risks and disease," especially in light of the recent Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision.

In both of these cases – and others – the ACC is engaging with its Member Sections, workgroups and task forces, as well as the Board of Governors and key Committee leaders and staff to identify pragmatic solutions and develop and implement tools, resources and training.

Click here for more on gun violence.

Click here for more on cardio-obstetrics.

Also, look for a special UnEDited presidential discussion tied to ACC's Legislative Conference providing closer looks at the College's efforts related to all of these areas. Details can be found at ACC.org/ACCPresident.