John Gordon Harold MD, MACC

Peter F. Drucker, a writer, professor and management consultant, wrote: “we now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.”

As the ACC moves forward with developing a strategic plan to guide the college and ensure we are helping cardiovascular professionals around the world stay abreast of the clinical, economic and societal changes taking place around us, purposeful education is emerging as a key tenet of the plan.

Teaching people how to learn in the new, largely digital environment, as well as providing the right content to the right member at the right time is more critical than ever. The digital superhighway will only continue to expand into the foreseeable future, offering paradigm-shifting opportunities to change the way both provider and patient education is delivered. It is critical for the college to embrace these changes in order to help members obtain continuing education at the point of care, encourage patient education, and enrich the member experience. It means giving members the resources to achieve lifelong learning and recertification goals, throughout each stage of their career.

This issue of Cardiology provides a glimpse at where the college is headed in terms of lifelong learning in the digital age. The new Championing Care pilot program is a great example of how we are leveraging physician leaders (both new and old), registry data, and online learning tools to help cardiovascular professionals stay ahead of the game given new and emerging treatment options for patients with aortic stenosis. It is our hope that we will all be taught a few things from this exciting effort.

Also in this issue, you’ll find more information about new maintenance of certification requirements that will impact us all starting in 2014; hear from amazing leaders like outgoing JACC Editor-in-Chief Anthony DeMaria, MD, MACC, and my Cedars Sinai colleague Noel Bairey Merz, MD, FACC; and learn about some innovative, patient-centered efforts taking place across the country.

As we head into the holiday season, i am thankful for the opportunities i’ve had to learn from ACC members around the world — examples of whom are featured in this magazine. We are a strong, thriving organization with a bright future and countless opportunities to lead the way in cardiovascular education, wise use of data, population health and transformation of care.

Happy holidays,

John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC
ACC President