This morning I had the honor of kicking off the College’s 62nd Annual Scientific Session in San Francisco. The meeting marks the first time in 40 years that the College has held its annual meeting in this iconic city. In fact, the last time we were here was in 1973 when Dr. Jeremy Swann was President. At that time, we had a total 9,500 in attendance at the conference.

Today, as I looked out over the standing-room-only Showcase session, it was clear we have grown a lot since then. We have also seen countless exciting changes in medicine. However, despite these changes, our guiding mission remains the same as it was four decades ago – to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health.

I can’t think of a better person to talk about some of the transformations and improvements in cardiovascular care than Dr. Valentine Fuster. A true legend in the cardiovascular field, it was truly a privilege to introduce him as this year’s Simon Dack Lecturer. He took us on a “journey of the high risk plaque” and the path from cardiovascular disease to health, and was definitely a tough act to follow.

I chose to focus my presidential address on some of the exciting efforts the College has taken on over the past year, as well as a look ahead at some of the challenges we face as a global cardiovascular community. Among our top achievements, an expanding role for data registries like NCDR, both in the U.S. and internationally, and an increasing focus on appropriate use of diagnostic modalities and interventions. The power of data reporting is impressive and can change clinical practice, and improve quality of care.

The College’s CardioSmart initiative, is another exciting effort that is very dear to my heart and key to my presidential theme of patient-centered care.  We have made great strides this past year in expanding and enhancing the CardioSmart ecosystem to include a newly revamped web portal; mobile applications aimed at facilitating greater physician/patient interaction at the point of care; and partnerships with other medical specialty societies, public-facing public and private campaigns, and industry on local community events designed to educate patients and consumers about heart-healthy lifestyle choices. Beyond facilitating the engagement of patients in the clinic and in between visits, CardioSmart is helping us get our message to the population at large. This is where we truly need to be, spreading the word about healthy living and healthy choices in the community.

Our first-ever CardioSmart Patient Advocate Award winner Larry King, whom we also honored during the Showcase Session, understands the power behind spreading the message. His voice and efforts have had a profound and positive impact on awareness about heart disease and the importance of patient-centered cardiovascular care. As a person with cardiovascular disease and a long history of exemplary personal advocacy for cardiovascular patients, I can’t think of a better first-time recipient of this award.

Meanwhile, when it comes to challenges, arguably the biggest one in my mind is the growing rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and (until recently) limited global efforts to tackle this problem. As I mentioned in my presidential address, NCDs currently account for 60 percent of global death, and yet receive less than 3 percent global funding.  That being said, we have made amazing strides over the last year and a half, working with international agencies, our new international chapters, and other international cardiovascular societies to rectify this – and these efforts continue.  I have no doubt that we can protect population health by taking a global perspective and strengthening international collaborations – but the time is now.

I very much enjoy the first hours of the Annual Scientific Session because I’m reminded each time that this is our meeting! Being surrounded by thousands of physicians, nurses, practice administrators and other vital members of the cardiovascular care team at varying stages in careers and from hundreds of countries is invigorating. This is our time to share ideas, hear from the best minds of our time, and get caught up on the latest and greatest clinical research. Seize this opportunity! Learn from the legends, thank our heroes, and become a leader. Together, united, we can take down the #1 global cause of death!