The ACC Young Scholars Program is designed for high school students who are interested in a career in cardiology, science, or health care. The program aims to provide promising young students, that would otherwise not have the opportunity, with exposure to careers available in cardiovascular science.

The Young Scholars program began as a collaborative initiative between the ACC Academic Cardiology Member Section and local State Chapters, to provide talented students with early exposure to cardiology while helping build a strong and diverse future cardiovascular workforce. To date, more than 600 students have participated in the Young Scholars Program since its inception in 2019.

The Program

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants:

• Must be high school students in grades 9-11
• Are ideally located within 50 miles of one of the Regional Camp Cardiac Hub Sites listed below

Students who live outside of a 50-mile radius may still apply to the nearest Regional Camp Cardiac Hub; however, priority consideration will be given to applicants who reside within 50 miles of their selected hub site.

First-generation college students and/or those who are the first in their family to pursue a career in the medical profession are encouraged to apply.

What Participants Receive

The year-long program provides participants with exposure to education, networking, hands-on learning experiences, and mentorship that is specific to careers in cardiovascular medicine.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Attend a virtual program kick off.
• Take part in regularly scheduled webinars throughout the year.
• Be paired with a mentor to learn, network, and grow as future young professionals.
• Visit a local hospital or attend an ACC State Chapter meeting. *

There is no fee to participate in the ACC Young Scholars Program.

Camp Cardiac

In continued partnership with local state Chapters, ACC is launching Regional Camp Cardiac Hubs to strengthen and expand access to high-quality cardiovascular education and mentorship opportunities across the country.

These hubs will serve as regional centers of excellence, bringing together faculty, fellows-in-training, early career professionals, and students for immersive learning experiences, hands-on skill development, networking, and leadership training.

Regional Camp Cardiac Hub Sites for the 2026-2027 cohort include:

• Boston, Massachusetts
• Dallas, Texas
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Irvine, California
• Omaha, Nebraska

This localized approach will help cultivate meaningful relationships between participants, mentors, and institutions while creating lasting pathways into cardiovascular careers. As the program grows, ACC plans to establish additional hub sites with the goal of bringing a hub to a region near you.

Financial Assistance is Available

A limited amount of financial assistance is available to cover incidental expenses associated with travel to Regional Camp Cardiac. Please email kroberts@acc.org with any questions.

Questions?

Review the Frequently Asked Questions document or contact Kristin Robertson at kroberts@acc.org with any additional questions.

* The safety and well-being of Young Scholar is a priority of the ACC. All in-person activities and participation in connection with the Young Scholars Program are subject to the conditions in the relevant location at the time of the event, and the ACC reserves the right to determine that any or all in-person activities will be virtual upon notice to Young Scholars. If events are held in-person, Young Scholars are not required to attend ACC Conferences or State Chapter meetings in-person in order to participate in the Program. Students who are unable or uncomfortable traveling to in-person events are still encouraged to apply! The ACC is not responsible for and hereby disclaims any and all liability arising from in-person attendance at the Young Scholars Program. Any changes to the 2026 – 2027 ACC Young Scholars Program will be communicated to the selected program participants in a timely manner.

Program Sponsor