This post was authored by Icilma Fergus, MD, FACC, president elect of the Association of Black Cardiologists.

Teaming up with the ACC on the Spirit of the Heart (SOTH) community events has been an easy partnership for the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC). Heart disease remains the number one health threat in America, and underserved and minority communities tend to be hit the hardest, with lower health literacy levels and greater cardiovascular risk.  Through the SOTH events, ACC and ABC have come together to increase awareness of heart disease and promote better heart health in high-risk communities.

Tomorrow is the first SOTH community event for 2013, with the goal of raising awareness in underserved communities in the San Francisco area. A community leaders’ forum breakfast will feature discussions by local health care, city and political leaders on heart disease prevention and community strategies, and will be immediately followed by a full day of free health screenings, a “Living with AFib” educational program and activities for the public where individuals can learn about their risk for heart disease and receive free counseling.  Be sure to check out CardioSmart’s Facebook page for photos from the event.

Our other joint ACC/ABC SOTH events last fall held in Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, Austin, TX and Harlem, NY were tremendously successful, and we’ll be continuing these community events throughout the year.

Personally, I have always had an interest in spreading awareness of prevention of heart disease to populations who are most seriously affected, especially women and communities of color. I chose to become a cardiologist partly because when I was doing a work study as a pre-med student, I saw sick dogs with weak hearts being studied at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, and I immediately knew that I wanted to work with the heart.  I wasn't sure about whether I wanted to work in invasive or non-invasive until I met Dr. Thierry LeJemtel during my residency. Dr. LeJemtel is a brilliant French cardiologist who is famous for his work in heart failure. He quickly became my mentor and someone who I looked up to. I remember these beautiful, intelligent nurse practitioners he worked with, affectionately known as “Charlie's Angels.” I knew that one day I wanted to be half as smart as Dr. LeJemtel, and work hard and still look as poised and polished as his nurse practitioners.

If you have not yet gotten involved in the SOTH events, I urge you to get involved. For some, it is a great reminder as to why we got involved in cardiology in the first place.

[youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG4Y6vfxzEI']

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