The Pulse of ACC
In Memoriam: Adolph M. Hutter Jr., MD, MACC
ACC Past President Adolph M. Hutter Jr., MD, MACC, a globally renowned cardiologist with a focus on the athletic heart, passed away on Dec. 5, 2023.
Hutter was a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, a clinical cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and director of the MGH Heart Center's Cardiac Performance Program. He also served as cardiologist to prominent Boston sports teams, including the Bruins (NHL), the Patriots (NFL), and the Revolution (MLS).
A native of Wisconsin, Hutter obtained his undergraduate degree from George Washington University, and returned to his home state to attend the University of Wisconsin for medical school. He became a cardiology fellow at MGH in 1968, joining the staff there in 1970 and founding and leading the Update in Clinical Cardiology Course that is still attended by thousands around the world.
Throughout his career, Hutter made significant contributions to the field of cardiology, authoring or co-authoring over 150 publications. His expertise lies in general adult cardiology, with a particular focus on coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and the athletic heart.
"Dolph and I were cardiac fellows together at Mass General Hospital," says Peter C. Block, MD, FACC, editor-in-chief of Cardiology. "In our second year he asked if I would take his "cath days" so he could concentrate on his passion for patient care. We remained co-colleagues at MGH where he took on the role of master clinician, directed the intensive care unit, and pursued his teaching career. Few people remember his role in defining the risks of unstable angina, and how to treat it long before interventional cardiology was born. Aside from family, his proudest moment was his appointment as president of ACC, and a close second was his front-page photo in the Boston Globe with Tom Brady and the Lombardi Trophy. ACC and all of us will miss him."
Hutter's involvement in the ACC included many leadership roles, including serving as ACC President from 1992-1993. He was also associate editor of the ACCEL Editorial Board and was chair of a number of committees, including the ACC Credentials Committee, Chapter Relations Committee, Board of Trustees, Government Relations Committee, among others.
In celebration of the College's 70th anniversary back in 2019, Hutter had this to say about the organization's impact and the future of cardiology: "The ACC has been and continues to be the premier professional organization addressing the ever-changing scenario of excellent cardiovascular care for patients throughout the world. Key to this continued successful effort have been the guidelines, registries, JACC and related journals, the annual meetings and advocacy," he said. "The dedication and commitment of our volunteer members continue to make this professional organization a leader with great impact."
"Dr. Hutter was a master clinician, a pioneering sports cardiologist, and a dedicated teacher of generations of cardiologists at MGH and worldwide. Most of all, however, he was a friend to all," says ACC Board of Trustee Member James L. Januzzi Jr., MD, FACC. "He was a warm, kind person, someone who genuinely showed interest in getting to know his patients and his colleagues."
New York Cardiovascular Symposium Spotlights Top Science From 2023
The 56th New York Cardiovascular Symposium (NYCVS) brought together roughly 1,000 clinicians from around the world last month for a deep dive into the latest cardiovascular research and treatment strategies, as well as future challenges and trends.
"One of the greatest strengths of NYCVS is its ability to provide a unique, personal and global forum to learn from leading experts about the latest cutting-edge science and its practical application in our daily lives," said ACC President B. Hadley Wilson, MD, FACC, in kicking off the meeting. "It is also an opportunity to get a jump start on new trends and engage in discussions around ways to mitigate the global burden of cardiovascular disease."
Led by longtime chair Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, the meeting offered an opportunity for participants to gain firsthand insights from global experts on a wide range of clinical topics like valvular heart disease, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation, prevention and more. The session closed with a look at the top highlights of progress in 2023, including gene editing medicines, the gut microbiome and heart disease, inflammasome and atherosclerosis, interleukin 1 Inhibitors, immune checkpoint therapies, intravascular imaging, transcatheter interventions in CHD, and global trends in cardiovascular disease and mortality.
"For nearly 75 years, the ACC has prided itself in providing clinicians worldwide with the best in cutting-edge education and clinical guidance, with the goal of transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all," said ACC CEO Cathleen C. Gates. "Thanks to Dr. Fuster's vision and leadership over the last 30 years, the NYCVS delivers on all counts and is one of the College's most dynamic and engaging live education events."
Sessions from the meeting can be viewed with an ACC Anywhere subscription. Learn more at ACC.org/ACCAnywhere.
ACC Global Survey Shows Variation, Potential Opportunities in International CV Training
With clear variability in international cardiovascular training regarding curriculum, evaluation and oversight, the ACC has an opportunity to support curriculum development and provide guidance on testing and evaluations in countries and regions around the world, based on findings from a survey of ACC's International Chapters published Oct. 10 in JACC: Advances.
The survey, created in partnership with the International Program Directors Workgroup of the ACC Assembly of International Governors, was designed to gain greater understanding of cardiovascular education worldwide and was distributed to each of ACC's 42 International Chapters. Nearly 80% of participants completing the survey (33% from Asian nations, 30% from Latin America, 17% from Europe, 17% from the Middle East and 1% from Africa).
Overall findings showed academic institutions oversee training in nearly 50% of the cases. Additionally, less than half of international training programs have a formalized curriculum, and only 29% have a standardized length of training. Participants also noted that competencies are used in only 16% of programs, while 39% and 36% utilize an in-training exam and formal written evaluations, respectively.
According to Cesar J. Herrera, MD, FACC, et al., the survey findings underscore the important role the ACC can play in helping meet the needs of program directors, educators and faculty around the globe. They highlight successful ACC initiatives, including the Global Cardiovascular Leadership Institute, the NCD Academy, International FIT Jeopardy and others that are currently engaging international trainees and early career members, and urge the creation or expansion of programs and tools, including exchange programs and observerships that can further improve training in countries.
In the last few years, the ACC has launched the Hani Najm Global Scholar Awards and the Certified Cardiovascular Knowledge Examination (CCKE) for physicians outside the U.S., which fit these recommendations, along with a growing number of exchange programs between the U.S. and International ACC Chapters that are facilitating the sharing of science, mentoring and more.
"International training environments have potentially advantageous features, including flexible curriculum structure, younger recently trained physicians returning from overseas, and the availability of a higher volume of hands-on experience as the result of a reduced workforce. ...The ability to share information ... with educators around the globe can provide the necessary tools for leaders at the institutional level to develop or improve education for their trainees."
Click here for more on ACC's global programs, along with quick links to clinician resources.
Click here to learn more about the CCKE.
Harlan M. Krumholz Named Next Editor-in-Chief of JACC
The ACC has selected Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM, FACC, as the incoming editor-in-chief of JACC. He will begin transitioning into the position in January 2024, with his official term starting on July 1, 2024.
Krumholz is the Harold H. Hines Jr. Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine and director of the Yale New Haven Hospital Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation. A trailblazer renowned for his transformative work in applying science and digital innovations to enhance health care delivery, further health care equity, advance patient-centric approaches to research and clinical care, and foster integrity and transparency in medical research, he has helped shape many aspects of modern cardiology.
"The opportunities ahead for JACC to be a force of good for our patients, our profession, and society are enormous," said Krumholz. "JACC has the potential to shape the future of cardiology. I am eager to engage with our community worldwide to build on JACC's past successes and find new ways to contribute to achieving ever better patient outcomes and more equitable, effective, efficient, and evidence-based clinical care."
Krumholz brings extensive experience as an editor to his position with JACC. He has advised many leading journals and served as founding editor of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, founding editor of CardioExchange, a scientific social media platform of the New England Journal of Medicine, and editor of Journal Watch Cardiology of the New England Journal of Medicine. Also, he co-founded medRxiv, a leading preprint server for clinical medicine.
Additionally, he is one of the world's most cited medical scientists and has authored more than 1,500 papers to date. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and cardiovascular societies worldwide have recognized him with numerous distinguished awards for his national and international contributions. His long-standing passion for innovation will build on the strong foundations established by current JACC Editor-in-Chief Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, over the last decade.
"Harlan's creativity will allow JACC to positively evolve with these rapidly changing times," said Fuster. "I am excited to see JACC under his Editorship."
Clinical Topics: Acute Coronary Syndromes, Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Cardiovascular Care Team, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Atrial Fibrillation/Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Acute Heart Failure
Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, ACC History, Atrial Fibrillation, Acute Coronary Syndrome, Noncommunicable Diseases, Heart Failure
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