Dear Colleagues,

Earlier this week ACC President Athena Poppas, MD, FACC, issued a statement underscoring the importance of unity and the need for healing during these challenging times. In trying to absorb and understand the recent events at the U.S. Capitol, the HeartPAC Executive Committee met last night to discuss the College's approach for the future.

Since its creation in 2002, the ACC's HeartPAC has provided an opportunity for ACC members to help advance the College's Mission on Capitol Hill, working with lawmakers regardless of party affiliation. To date, the voluntary, non-dues contributions made by members of ACC's HeartPAC have played critical roles in helping to amplify the larger voice of the cardiology community and educate lawmakers about policies impacting patients and clinicians alike.

Moving forward, HeartPAC is temporarily pausing all individual and leadership contributions. We will take this time to reassess and strengthen the scorecard used to evaluate potential HeartPAC recipients. No contributions have been made in 2021, and none will be made until the Committee completes this careful process. However, the HeartPAC will continue to support larger Democratic and Republican party committees as part of our ongoing commitment to working with members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation, to advance quality cardiovascular care on behalf of all ACC members and their patients – a commitment that is even more critical in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's important to note that this is not the end of a conversation, but rather the continuation of an ongoing dialogue that is essential not only in light of recent events but because our world and our society are constantly learning and changing. We must always strive and seek to be better and do better for the cardiovascular community and for our patients. It's not work that will happen fast, but it is work we are committed to doing. We will always be deliberate and act with circumspection, balancing how actions – ours and others – impact our members and most importantly the communities and patients we serve. We will not always agree on a course of action, but we are all working together toward the same goal.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to continuing our shared work towards a world where innovation and knowledge optimize patient care and outcomes!

Sincerely,

Sandra J. Lewis, MD, FACC
HeartPAC Chair
Andrew P. Miller, MD, FACC
HeartPAC Vice-chair