As we head into December and the holiday season, Cardiology would like to thank all its readers, contributors, and editorial and design staff for an incredible year.

Together we have celebrated major milestones in the field of cardiovascular medicine like the 20th anniversary of TAVR; explored critical topics like health equity, clinician well-being and value-based care; provided timely updates and key takeaways from new clinical guidelines and late-breaking science; recognized the achievements of ACC members around the world; and so much more.

We look forward to building on these efforts in 2023 and serving as your trusted source for news, updates and perspectives on key trends and issues that impact our shared commitment to creating a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes.

Keeping with the winter theme, this issue of Cardiology "freeze frames" on the issue of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) – a disease that truly knows no borders and affects nearly 41 million people worldwide. Our cover story sheds light on global and local efforts underway to increase awareness and prevention, spurred by a 2018 resolution from the World Heart Organization emphasizing RHD as a health priority and led by the World Heart Federation (our partner for ACC.23 Together With the World Congress of Cardiology next March). Yonatan Buber, MD, FACC, also leads us through a classic case of RHD in the U.S. – the majority of which occur in some of our most vulnerable patient populations.

Also in this issue, we "bundle up" highlights from the just-published 2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease, as well as the latest ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on Integrating Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Multimorbidity Treatment. We also synthesize the key takeaways from some of the hottest late-breaking science from AHA 2022 in Chicago and provide a closer look at what you should know about the final 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule. Of note, ACC members were instrumental in our collective efforts with the Heart Rhythm Society to mitigate the significant cuts to electrophysiology ablation services that were included in the proposed rule. Our broader efforts to advocate for broader payment reforms continue.

Last, but certainly not least, "sit by the fire" and read the final installment of our special Spotlight Series on Microvascular Disease, with a review from Carl J. Pepine, MD, MACC, of treatments that may hold promise, and get an update on advances in the noninvasive surveillance of patients after cardiac transplantation from Ersilia M. DeFilippis, MD, FACC. Also, don't miss the top takeaways from the Heart House Roundtable on Recent Advances and Ongoing Challenges in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction; take a look at some of the innovative strategies for treating hypertension; and hear from Oby Ibe, MD, MPH, on career pathways available to Fellows in Training in noninvasive general cardiology.

Enjoy this issue and happy holidays! 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.