ACC.25 Chair Katie L. Berlacher, MD, MS, FACC, expressed her excitement as she kicked off this year’s meeting during a packed Opening Showcase: “As chair of the Annual Scientific Session and a proud lifelong learner, I wanted to find ways to inject joy, interaction and energy into the meeting, and I think we have succeeded.”

Berlacher highlighted the incredible amount of work that goes into planning and implementing a meeting of this size and recognized the clinician leaders, faculty, industry and society supporters, and ACC staff involved with making the meeting such a success. She also provided attendees with an inside-look at many of the new features debuting at ACC.25, including an enhanced mobile app, new and enhanced session formats designed to encourage greater interaction and discussion, a revamped Loung & Learn Pavilion, and more.

New this year, Opening Session also honored ACC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Jeffrey A. Towbin, MD, FACC, whose pioneering work has helped to transform the field of pediatric cardiology and to shape and inspire the careers of researchers and clinicians alike. Ginger K. Biesbrock, PA-C, DSc, FACC, was also recognized with the ACC Presidential Citation for her leadership and dedication to transforming cardiovascular care by encouraging a team-based approach.

“It’s always inspiring to celebrate individuals whose work is impacting our profession, the College, current and future members of the cardiovascular care team and, of course, our patients,” said ACC President Cathleen Biga, MSN, FACC.

During her presidential address, Biga closed out the College’s landmark 75th anniversary year, highlighting how the ACC has grown over the last seven decades into a global community of more than 60,000 cardiovascular professionals. “Together, we have challenged the boundaries of what is possible in cardiovascular medicine and are embracing the responsibility of shaping the future of heart health,” she said.

She encouraged attendees to continue this important work, noting that the next 25 years and beyond will demand an unwavering commitment to innovation and progress. “Let us commit to designing solutions that are practical, accessible and transformative,” she said.

Specifically, Biga stressed the importance of leveraging new technologies and innovations, such as collaborative artificial intelligence and ambient learning, and continuing to address the workforce crisis, support lifelong learning, grow the next generation of clinicians, scientists and leaders, and make the most of dyad leadership and team-based care.

She cautioned, however, that all this work – innovation, quality and lifelong learning – without equity is progress without purpose. “While we can’t control our external environment, we can control our actions. And ACC’s commitment to addressing care disparities and mitigating the global burden of cardiovascular disease is unwavering,” she said.

The session closed by paying homage to the ACC.25 host city of Chicago with a rousing performance by the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band.

“Enjoy every minute these next three days have to offer,” said Biga, a Chicago native. “Engage, network, take risks, learn and enjoy my city. We are thrilled you are here.”

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, ACC Annual Scientific Session, ACC25