Four Strategic Pillars form the foundation of ACC's Strategic Plan. The many programs, products and initiatives developed and sustained by the College all must contribute to increasing relevance as the cardiovascular professional home; generating and delivering actionable knowledge; advancing quality, equity and value of cardiovascular care; and/or ensuring organizational growth and sustainability.

Reaching these pillars and delivering on the College's Mission and Vision can't be done without the leadership and engagement of ACC members around the world. Cardiology takes a look at examples of key College-wide initiatives where members are helping to drive change, transform care and improve heart health for all.

Click here to learn more about the College's Strategic Plan and watch a video highlighting the pillars and major initiatives.

Sustaining Professional Excellence

The pursuit of a new, independent Board of Cardiovascular Medicine through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) continues.

The effort, which officially launched last year with a formal announcement from the ACC, the American Heart Association (AHA), the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), continues to move forward thanks to the commitment and leadership of members like ACC Trustee Jeffrey T. Kuvin, MD, FACC, and ACC Past President Edward T.A. Fry, MD, MACC.

The broader ACC community is also playing a role, helping to demonstrate support for the new Board by submitting hundreds of comments during the recent 90-day open comment period managed by ABMS as part of the application review process.

"The field of cardiovascular medicine has evolved dramatically over the past few decades; now is the right time to develop an independent cardiovascular Board," says Kuvin, who now serves as president of the Board of Directors for the new Board. "An independent CV Board is the best path for cardiologists to stay up-to-date on best practices and evidence-based care, ensuring patients receive the best possible care."

Paving the Road to Health Equity

"I pledge to take action to support ACC's health equity vision to "achieve a culture of health where every person reaches their full cardiovascular health potential as a natural right." I acknowledge the negative impact of cardiovascular health inequities on patient care delivery, cardiovascular outcomes, and population health. I commit to work to transform my practice and the cardiovascular care that I deliver to be the most equitable for all." – ACC Health Equity Pledge

Over the last two years, hundreds of cardiovascular clinicians, patients and society and industry partners have taken the ACC's health equity pledge, whether as part of the Health Equity Hub at ACC's Annual Scientific Session, community and stakeholder events like health fairs, the Health Equity Summit, the Industry Advisory Forum and more.

Beyond the pledge, clinicians spanning the entire field of cardiology and across every stage of their careers have served as mentors to medical students, Young Scholars and Internal Medicine Program participants with the goal of increasing workforce diversity and inclusivity. They have lent their time, talents and stories to advocate and educate lawmakers, colleagues, payers, hospitals and practices about the impacts of health inequities on patient care and outcomes.

Newer efforts include the Rural Cardiovascular Health Initiative (RCHI), a collaboration between the American College of Cardiology and the JF Maddox Foundation, to improve cardiovascular outcomes in the rural communities of New Mexico. The 12-month pilot is part of the ACC's broader health equity efforts to increase community-wide awareness, engagement and education around heart disease and related risk factors, working closely with local hospitals, community health workers and other key stakeholders.

On the leadership front, members of the Health Equity Taskforce – soon to be Health Equity Committee – have prioritized the collection and promotion of health equity data and tools. The recent JACC: Advances special Health Equity issue and focused Action Plan for Health Equity (see page 28) are recent examples. Complimentary previous health policy statements include topics like career flexibility and building respect, civility and inclusion in the cardiovascular workplace.

"There are individual roles, institutional responsibilities, and structural policies that can help build towards health equity," says Robert Roswell, MD, FACC. "As a member of the ACC Health Equity Taskforce, one of the earliest goals was to infuse health equity throughout the College. It is truly inspiring and humbling to see the unwavering dedication to improve cardiovascular health for all."

Sustaining the Future

Nearly 400 members contributed to the ACC Foundation in 2023 alone, sustaining Mission-focused programs aimed at empowering future leaders, advancing health equity, supporting international research, and improving global health and patient outcomes. Not to mention, more than $25,000 was raised as part of the College's inaugural Giving Day at ACC.24 in Atlanta.

This engagement from members, above and beyond membership dues, has tangible impacts on patients, clinicians, the College and the cardiovascular profession as a whole. All told, thousands of current and future cardiovascular clinicians have benefitted from programs made possible by philanthropic contributions.

Examples of programs that wouldn't exist without member engagement, include the Sandra J. Lewis Mid-Career Women's Leadership Institute and Emerging Faculty Program, made possible by Sandra J. Lewis, MD, FACC, and ACC Past President Michael J. Wolk, MD, MACC, respectively.

Annual Scientific Session CV Team Lead Kim Guibone, DNP, ACNP-BC, FACC, credits the Emerging Faculty program with her success in her role. "I came out of the program dazed, amazed and feeling ready to create positive change. This was most certainly a pivotal experience in my career, and I plan to continue to use this training to inspire and impact cardiovascular care for all," she says. (Click here for a perspective on this program from the current cohort.)

Globally, the Hani Najm Global Scholar Award and the William A. Zoghbi International Research Award are helping to further the careers of researchers and scientists in low- to middle-income countries, thanks to the generosity of ACC Trustee Hani K. Najm, MD, MSc, FACC, and Past President William A. Zoghbi, MD, MACC. Similarly, the ACC's Global Leadership Institute, made possible by Wael A. Al Mahmeed, MD, FACC, ACC Gulf Chapter governor and a member of the Assembly of International Governors, is giving up-and-coming leaders in their national cardiovascular societies and institutions practical tools on effective leadership and teambuilding.

Members have also risen to the occasion to help each other in times of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a generous matching gift from the JF Maddox Foundation, as designated by ACC Trustee Thomas M. Maddox, MD, FACC, raised money to provide direct support in the form of medicine and supplies to health care providers on the front lines battling COVID-19 in India and other countries around the world.

More recently, long-time member Eugene Sherman, MD, MACC, not only made a commitment to leave a planned gift to the ACC Foundation but is also contributing to establish a benevolence fund that will offer short-term financial assistance to medical students, residents, or fellows-in-training who are experiencing hardship, beginning in 2025.

Engaging in Advocacy

In the U.S., ACC Advocacy plays an active role in monitoring and addressing health care issues at both the state and federal levels of government. Member engagement in these efforts is a key component of safeguarding patient access to cardiovascular care. Lawmakers need to hear directly from constituents to fully understand the lasting impact legislation will have on the health and safety of their communities.

Recent examples of advocacy in action, include a significant boost in bipartisan support for the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2024 (H.R. 8702/S. 4532), which would streamline and modernize the prior authorization process in Medicare Advantage by mandating E-prior authorization and implementing transparency rules. More than 1,000 members sent messages to their lawmakers urging support for the bill and sharing their perspectives on how prior authorization burdens can lead to unnecessary delays in patient care and contribute to clinician burnout.

At the state level, major progress has been made in increasing awareness around sudden cardiac arrest and encouraging policies in support of CPR training and access to AEDs. This year alone, ACC members and State Chapters have been pivotal in passing comprehensive legislation in five states with several bills still pending. (See the August issue of Cardiology for an overview of state-level advocacy efforts.)

Unsustainable Medicare payment practices, telehealth flexibilities, health care inequities, and the role of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, in health care are other hot button issues where member voices and perspectives remain critical.

Globally, action to mitigate the impacts of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is another priority for the ACC, which has partnered with the NCD Alliance, World Heart Federation and others to advocate for government and community-level initiatives aimed at preventing heart disease and accelerating action on NCDs to meet the World Health Organization's Sustainable Development Goal to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by 2030.

"Although there is no denying the many challenges associated with improving patient access, it has been exciting to see growing support for – and focus on – multifaceted solutions that leverage technology, policy, education, and community efforts," says ACC President Cathleen Biga, MSN, FACC, in a recent JACC Leadership Page. "I challenge all of us to continue to harness this momentum and come together to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for all. The time for action is now."

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, Health Equity, ACC Advocacy, Professionalism