This post was authored by Daniel José Piñeiro, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Assembly of International Governors.

Since its foundation in 1949, the ACC has worked to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health around the world through education, research, quality cardiovascular care and health policy. Despite its name (American College of Cardiology), the ACC has grown to be an inclusive and global organization with nearly 50,000 members including nearly 14,000 international representatives from more than 130 countries.

Over the last several years, the international community has increasingly become an integral part of the College. One of the most successful international initiatives to date has been the creation of International Chapters, which now number 34. These Chapters have played a crucial role in bringing members together in their home countries and also facilitating relationships between the ACC, its International Fellows, and colleagues from other national cardiovascular societies and associations.

These relationships have allowed the College to become a worldwide leader in cardiovascular education. Last year, College faculty participated in 55 scientific events in 28 countries. In addition, International Joint Sessions are also featured prominently at the ACC Annual Scientific Session & Expo where more and more international speakers are participating and sharing their research and ideas. In 2015, 40 percent of the attendees at the ACC Annual Scientific Session & Expo in San Diego, CA, were international participants.

In addition to its educational efforts, the College is also making a global impact via its NCDR cardiovascular data registries. Last year, the NCDR expanded to 10 sites in eight countries and six high-performing NCDR participants received the designation as an ACC International Center of Excellence. Furthermore, CardioSmart patient education materials have been translated into several languages, providing a wider audience with trusted information on cardiovascular disease.

I have been collaborating with the ACC for the past 22 years and have had the opportunity to work closely with the leadership team on a variety of issues, including the global focus on cardiovascular disease prevention. From this vantage point, I have witnessed the College’s progress towards strong collaborations with multiple organizations around the world. Now as chair of ACC’s Assembly of International Governors, I am energized by this success and excited by the opportunity to be a part of the ACC’s international initiatives.

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