The College's global outreach can be traced back to ACC's International Circuit Course Committee, initiated by ACC Past President Eliot Corday, MD, MACC, in the late 1960s, through which American cardiologists traveled to less developed countries to provide education in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment.

Since then, as the global burden of cardiovascular disease has grown, the College too has grown and evolved to meet the professional needs of cardiovascular clinicians in countries and regions around the world.

The ACC's Assembly of International Governors, working directly with the College's International Chapters and in partnership with relevant society or societies in each country, is leading efforts to continue acceleration of clinical education, on-the-ground training and quality improvement initiatives, development and dissemination of patient education and more (Figure).

Over the last decade alone, the ACC has launched several efforts that are reaping tangible benefits. To date, the ACC's Latin America, Middle East and Asia conferences are reaching thousands of cardiologists with localized education and contemporary best practices for implementing evidenced-based care among their respective populations.

Participants have a chance to engage with expert faculty from throughout the region and the U.S., while also honing their skills, presenting research and growing their professional networks.

The NCD Academy is another major initiative aimed at helping health care providers and community health workers prevent and treat noncommunicable disease. The growing library of free, online education modules is available in various languages and focused on topics like cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease. Other topics include mental health, advocacy and most recently HIV.

The Certified Cardiovascular Knowledge Examination (CCKE) for physicians practicing outside the U.S. is one of the newest ACC initiatives and is part of the College's larger strategic efforts to help clinicians grow and sustain professional excellence. The CCKE provides a unique opportunity for individuals to demonstrate their clinical knowledge and commitment to cardiovascular excellence. As an added benefit, those who pass the exam can earn the new CCK credential.

Growing the next generation of leaders and researchers is another critical focus for the College both in the U.S. and abroad. Thanks to the generous contributions of several member leaders, programs are underway and serving to advance patient care, innovation and research in mid- to lower-income countries.

Examples include the Wael Al Mahmeed Dedication to Young Leaders program, the Hani Najm Global Scholar Award, and the William A. Zoghbi International Research Award. (Click here for more information about these and other leadership and award programs.)

Beyond clinical education, optimizing patient care and outcomes is fundamental to achieving the College's Mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for all.

Ongoing international adoption of the College's NCDR clinical data registries through the College's Global Quality Solutions is growing, giving hospitals from across the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America access to crucial information about the care they are providing in their specific facility and comparing with other facilities.

Building on these solutions, the ACC International Center of Excellence (ICOE) Program is also recognizing hospitals for their commitment to high standards of medical practice and their dedication to providing quality cardiovascular care through their involvement in NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services. Becoming an ICOE signifies dedication and commitment to quality patient care.

Tools and resources are available for institutions of all sizes to improve their cardiovascular care and patient outcomes through a comprehensive set of mechanisms that include ACC's NCDR and Accreditation Services. (Click here to read about the two most recent recipients of the ICOE award, including the first in Mexico for chest pain care and in Brazil the first-ever for transcatheter valve procedures.)

The Global Heart Attack Treatment Initiative (GHATI) is another example of a quality initiative that is making real progress in helping improve acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care for MI patients. The collaborative program focused on low- and middle-income countries provides localized resources and tools to identify gaps in care, enable data collection and data sharing and promote adherence to existing STEMI guidelines.

Currently more than 20 sites are participating in the program.

These are just a small snapshot of ACC's global reach – a reach that continues to build on the College's 75-year history as the trusted, professional home for the entire cardiovascular profession. We often say cardiovascular disease knows no borders.

It takes a global "village" to create a world where science, knowledge and innovation effectively optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes for everyone. The ACC is that village.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, Global Health, Quality Improvement, Developing Countries, Mental Health, Community Health Workers