Jeffrey T. Kuvin, MD, FACC, comes from a family of physicians. “As I was growing up, the joke in my family was not if I was going to become a doctor, but what kind of doctor I would become,” he says. “After all this time, I would choose no other profession. It is the perfect job for me.”

Andrew M. Kates, MD, FACC, also knew from a young age that he wanted to be a physician. “I think I was five- or six-years-old,” he remembers. Then, as a third-year medical student at Tufts University, Kates’ first rotation was on a cardiology service. “It was such a great mix of patient care, technology, anatomy and physiology – I was hooked.”

"The course sparked my interest in the vast opportunities within the College and offered a way to learn from experienced educators." — Jeffrey T. Kuvin, MD, FACC.

Kuvin, chair of ACC.17, and Kates, who is vice chair of ACC.17, both first became involved with the College through the Emerging Faculty Program. “The course sparked my interest in the vast opportunities within the College and offered a way to learn from experienced educators,” says Kuvin. From there, both focused on education and fellowship training. Kuvin served as chair of ACC’s In-Training Examination, with Kates joining him on the committee. Kuvin also lead the Fellow in Training Learning Portfolio project and is presently the chair of ACC’s Lifelong Learning Oversight Committee, which is the College’s central education committee.

It only seems natural that this path would lead them to their current ACC.17 roles. Kuvin first became involved in meeting planning as the chair of the Program Directors’ Boot Camp and later as a topic coordinator. “The complexity of the process intrigued me, and to see the final results each spring has been exhilarating,” he says. Kuvin then served as vice chair for ACC.15 and ACC.16.

Kates became involved as an abstract reviewer and presenter. For the last two years, he has chaired the Core Curriculum sessions with John P. Erwin III, MD, FACC, president of ACC’s Texas Chapter, as well as the Health Care in Emerging Countries Symposium. He has also been involved with the Annual Scientific Session on the state level, and now serves on the Board of Governors as president of ACC’s Missouri Chapter.

"It allows for sharing of knowledge but also the opportunity to interact with people – thought leaders, colleagues and old friends. — Andrew M. Kates, MD, FACC.

Over the next two years, Kuvin and Kates will work together to head the Annual Scientific Session, with Kates taking over as chair for ACC.19 and ACC.20. Kuvin hopes to be able to pick up where the last two meetings left off, continuing to focus on innovative, informative, interactive and inter-disciplinary education.

“The meeting is special because it represents a unique forum for education and science,” Kates says. “It allows for sharing of knowledge but also the opportunity to interact with people – thought leaders, colleagues and old friends. These interactions can never happen just by getting Maintenance of Certification or Continuing Medical Education credits at home.”

“ACC.17 is definitely the place to be for the latest science, knowledge, networking and explorations,” says Kuvin. “The Annual Scientific Session is unique in that it brings together cardiovascular professionals from across the U.S. and around the world to learn from each other. The part I love the most is the energy that is generated at the meeting – it’s palpable!”

Keywords: ACC Publications, ACC Scientific Session Newspaper, ACC Annual Scientific Session, Certification, Curriculum, Education, Medical, Continuing, Faculty, Fellowships and Scholarships, Leadership, Patient Care, Rotation, Students, Medical