The ASCVD Prevention Webinar program started in 2016 as a two-year program featuring three online webinars per year and social media content to educate physicians on primary and secondary prevention of ASCVD. Due to the success in China, the program expanded in 2017 to include nine other countries: Mexico, Argentina, UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

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The results of the primary analysis showed that ACC ITE scores were significantly correlated with scores on the first attempt of the ABIM Cardiovascular Disease Certification Examination (correlation coefficient = 0.68). Further, higher scores on both the ACC ITE and the ABIM Internal Medicine Certification Examination predicted higher scores on the Cardiovascular Disease Certification Examination. The secondary analysis also confirmed that the change in ACC ITE scores from the first to third year was a strong indicator of the ABIM Cardiovascular Disease Certification Examination score.

"This [analysis] indicates that the ACC ITE is a valuable predictive tool, and the results should be taken seriously by both the trainee and the training program," say the authors. They add that "the ITE examination [should be used] in all years of training to identify knowledge gaps and provide program directors the opportunity to address these gaps early on so as to improve the likelihood of passing the ABIM Cardiovascular Disease Certification Examination."

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The educational content is available in an abundance of formats and users can learn by reading text, watching a full-length or condensed presentation, downloading slides or answering questions which are now all case-based. There’s also the flexibility to create custom quizzes, simulate Board exams to personalize learning, compare scores with peers and view a dashboard to judge progress. CathSAP 5 offers 128 Continuing Medical Education/ Maintenance of Certification credits — enough for licensing and certification requirements through June 2020. Stay tuned for the CathSAP 5 App which will launch later this month.

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In 2016, the FDA approved furthering the expansion to include patients who are at intermediate-surgical risk for death or complications. The Sapien 3 THV is the first THV device approved for replacement of failed bioprosthetic aortic or mitral valves. The FDA evaluated data from the STS/ACC TVT Registry, which collects clinical data on the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter valve replacement procedures performed in a real-world setting.

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She obtained her PhD in nursing and was both a clinical nurse specialist and an acute care nurse practitioner. Blum was also a professor and maintained her nursing practice as well. She was a much sought-after speaker and was published over 30 times in different forms. Her contributions to the ACC are too numerous to list them all.

“Dr. Blum was a role model for future generations,” said Deborah S. Croy, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, AACC. “She was a tireless advocate for her profession, peers and her patients. Her loss will be felt not only in the ACC community but by her family, friends, coworkers and students.”

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