The American College of Cardiology (ACC) Distinguished Awards were established to recognize outstanding individuals making contributions to the cardiovascular profession. Among these distinguished awards are early career distinguished awards, mid-to-late career distinguished awards and the honorable Master of the ACC (MACC) award.

The ACC congratulates this year's Distinguished Awardees!

The 2020 Distinguished Awardees were presented with their awards at this year's Annual Convocation on Monday, March 30, 2020 during the 69th Scientific Session held virtually for the first time, due to COVID-19. Their biographies and achievements in the field of cardiology can be found here.

ACC is proud to recognize these individuals this year, who will follow in the footsteps of past Distinguished Award recipients.


  2021 Distinguished Award Categories and Nomination Process
  2021 Distinguished Award Categories and Nomination Process

The Distinguished Awards recognize the following for outstanding achievements:

  Pamela S. Douglas Distinguished Award for Leadership in Diversity & Inclusion
  Pamela S. Douglas Distinguished Award for Leadership in Diversity & Inclusion
An ACC member who during his or her lengthy career has been recognized as a champion of an inclusive workforce, a leader in creating an inclusive environment and/or a national voice on the importance of engaging diverse perspectives and backgrounds in the cardiovascular field.

This is not intended to be an award for the advancement of health equity.
  Bernadine Healy Leadership in Women's Cardiovascular Disease Award
  Bernadine Healy Leadership in Women's Cardiovascular Disease Award
An FACC (male or female) who demonstrates leadership and accomplishment in the field of cardiovascular disease in women exemplified by research, teaching, practice or service.
  Lifetime Achievement Award
  Lifetime Achievement Award
An individual who has had a lifetime of outstanding achievements in the field of cardiovascular disease and has served as a role model through service, basic or clinical research and teaching. Former College presidents are not eligible for this award.
  Distinguished Fellowship Award
  Distinguished Fellowship Award
An FACC who is well recognized for service to the College and whose activities are considered to qualify this person as a role model for others. Former College presidents are not eligible for this award.
  Distinguished Scientist Award
  Distinguished Scientist Award
An FACC who has made major scientific contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge in the field of cardiovascular disease. Three awards will be given in this category. One award will be given in each of the three domains: Basic, Clinical and Translational.
  Distinguished Service Award
  Distinguished Service Award
A physician, scientist or layperson who, by individual effort, has made profound contributions to medicine and/or the delivery of health care. Former College presidents are not eligible for this award.
  Gifted Educator Award
  Gifted Educator Award
An FACC who has demonstrated innovative, outstanding teaching characteristics and compassionate qualities and because of these attributes has made major contributions to the field of cardiovascular medicine at the local and/or regional level.
  Distinguished Teacher Award
  Distinguished Teacher Award
An FACC who has demonstrated innovative, outstanding teaching characteristics and compassionate qualities and because of these attributes has made major contributions to the field of cardiovascular medicine at the national and/or international level.
  International Service Award
  International Service Award
An FACC who through his or her outstanding contributions to cardiovascular medicine and science has significantly enhanced cardiovascular care throughout the world. The award should recognize service and should not be tied to leadership in the international cardiovascular community.
  Distinguished Associate Award
  Distinguished Associate Award
A non-physician member (Cardiac Care Associate, Associate of the American College of Cardiology or non-physician Fellow of the American College of Cardiology) whose outstanding contributions to College initiatives and the field of cardiology have encouraged and nurtured the ACC's team approach to cardiovascular care.
  Distinguished Mentor Award*
  Distinguished Mentor Award*
An FACC who during his/her lengthy career, has demonstrated a dedication to mentoring physicians and/or other members of the cardiac care team across a spectrum of professional activities and consequently has palpably shaped the careers of current and future leaders in cardiovascular medicine.

*NOTE: This Award requires the following in its nomination packet:
  • At least five (5) supporting letters should be written by those have been actually mentored by the nominee and should explain how their career has been directly influenced and shaped by the nominee.
  • The remaining five (5) supporting letters can come from observers (dean, fellowship director, etc).
  • All letters must come from ACC members.
  Honorary Fellowship Award
  Honorary Fellowship Award
A distinguished physician or scientist who is not an ACC member and who would not otherwise have routinely had an opportunity to pursue Fellowship in the College, but whose professional performance warrants recognition by the College.

Nominations Process

A nominating letter addressed to the Awards Committee, accompanied by a letter seconding the nomination and the nominee's curriculum vitae, must be received by the Business Operations Department of the ACC by November 6, 2020. The nominating letter should summarize the curriculum vitae, highlighting those accomplishments that are relevant to the award in order to be considered by the Awards Committee at its meeting this fall. You cannot self-nominate.

The entire nomination packet, including letters and curriculum vitae, may be sent by e-mail (preferable) to awards@acc.org or by mail to:

Kristin Robertson
Attn: ACC Awards Committee
American College of Cardiology
2400 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037

Each nomination may be accompanied by up to 10 letters of support, as described below:

  • No more than three letters from former or current trainees,
  • No more than three letters from colleagues or associates who work in the same institution or practice in the same community,
  • No more than four letters from Fellows of the ACC (FACCs) who do not fit into either of the two categories previously mentioned above, and
  • All letters must come from ACC members.

Supporting letters should identify specific examples of contributions made by the candidate which qualify him or her for the award. All nominating materials must be received by November 6, 2020.

The Awards Committee will receive nominations and report its recommendations to the Board of Trustees in the fall. The committee may either approve or decline to approve a nomination. If a nomination is declined, it will not be forwarded to the Board of Trustees.

Members of the Awards Committee for 2020-2021 are:

Hector Ventura, MD, FACC, Chair
Ralph G. Brindis, MD, MPH, MACC
Victor A. Ferrari, MD, FACC
Sharonne Hayes, MD, FACC
Partho Sengupta, MD, FACC
Nishtha Sodhi, MD, FACC

For questions regarding the ACC Distinguished Awards Program or MACC designation, please contact Kristin Robertson at awards@acc.org.
 
  Master of the American College of Cardiology (MACC)
  Master of the American College of Cardiology (MACC)

The award recognizes and honors a limited number of FACCs, who have consistently contributed to the goals and programs of the College and who have provided leadership in important College activities. No more than four Master designations will be awarded each year. One of these four awards recognizes the contributions of the current year's outgoing president of the College. As many as three other Master designations may result from the nomination process.

Qualifications of Nominees for MACC Designation

Nominees for the Master designation will have been Fellows of the College in good standing for more than fifteen years. Dedicated service to the College over time is the primary and necessary distinguishing characteristic of nominees for the Master designation. The nominees will have served with distinction and provided leadership on College programs and committees and may have served as trustees or governors. Excellence in education, clinical practice and scholarship will be important supporting characteristics.

Nominations Process

Current and past members of the Board of Trustees, past presidents and officers are invited to individually nominate candidates to receive the MACC designation. Each nomination should be in the form of a letter addressed to the Awards Committee that clearly sets forth the rationale for the nomination.

The following supporting materials should accompany each letter of nomination:

  • One seconding letter from another member of one of the groups invited to make nominations;
  • A complete listing of the nominee's College committee activities obtained from the ACC (This list can be obtained from Kristin Robertson in the Business Operations Department at awards@acc.org); and
  • The nominee's curriculum vitae.

The Awards Committee will receive nominations and report its recommendations to the Board of Trustees in the fall. The committee may either approve or decline to approve any nomination. If a nomination is declined, it will not be forwarded to the Board of Trustees. Awards Committee members may not submit nominations, nor are they eligible to receive the MACC designation while serving on the committee.

Individuals receiving the MACC designation will be formally recognized during the College's Annual Convocation Ceremony in 2021.

Please send materials by November 6, 2020 via email to awards@acc.org (preferable) or by mail to:

Kristin Robertson
Attn: ACC Awards Committee
American College of Cardiology
2400 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037

For questions regarding the ACC Distinguished Awards Program or MACC designation, please contact Kristin Robertson at awards@acc.org
 
  Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award Program
  Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award Program

Established in 2005, the Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award recognizes young physician scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the field of cardiovascular disease and who have amassed an impressive body of scientific research in either the basic or clinical domains.

Offered annually, the program differs from other ACC distinguished awards in the following areas:

  • Nominations will be invited from both the membership and from the wider national/international community;
  • The recipient will need not necessarily be an ACC member at the time of nomination; and
  • The awardee may not be widely known.

The recipient must be no more than 12 years removed from receipt of first doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution or comparable international training program.

One awardee will be selected each year. The award recipient will be invited to present his or her scientific work at the ACC Annual Scientific Sessions. He or she will also be recognized at the Annual Convocation Ceremony and receive a monetary prize of $1,000. Travel, housing and registration expenses to attend the Scientific Sessions will also be provided.

Nominations are invited from the following:

  • U.S. and international cardiovascular organizations, and
  • U.S. and international medical schools and/or cardiology departments.

Nominations Process

To submit a nomination, the following must be received by July 13, 2020:

  • A nominating letter submitted on letterhead summarizing the curriculum vitae, highlighting those accomplishments that are relevant to the award
  • No more than three supporting letters submitted on letterhead
  • Nominee's curriculum vitae
  • Nominee's list of top 10 (ten) publications and
  • Description of nominee's research interests and professional experience relevant to the award.

The nomination packet, including letters, curriculum vitae and other materials, may be sent by email to Kristin Robertson at awards@acc.org.

For questions regarding the Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award, please contact Kristin Robertson at awards@acc.org.

All nominations must be received by July 13, 2020.