While ACC's mission – to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health – may have begun domestically, the roots of the College and its mission now sprawl across the globe.

Over the last decade, cardiovascular professionals outside of the U.S. have been the fastest growing segment of ACC membership. With 42 International Chapters spanning more than 80 countries, the ACC is at the forefront of working towards a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes.

Just in the past year, the College has accomplished several successful initiatives and worked towards international collaboration and engagement. One prime example is ACC's participation in the 2018 United Nations General Assembly meeting on the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The ACC has been working to reach the World Health Organization's "25 by 25" goal looking to drive a 25 percent decrease in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025.

In addition, the College has launched many training programs in partnership with international cardiovascular societies and/or industry partners, including the "Every Heartbeat Matters" initiative to improve screening and training for valvular heart disease in China; a "train-the-trainer" cardiovascular disease education and awareness program in Japan; and a comprehensive dyslipidemia "train-the-trainer program" to improve care for the dyslipidemia patient in key countries in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

ACC's Global ASCVD Prevention Program was also recognized for the second year with outstanding accomplishments of associations and industry professionals in the areas of enriching lives, creating a competitive workforce, preparing society for the future, driving innovation and making a better world. Further, ACC's Assembly of International Governors is spearheading a major global STEMI quality improvement initiative for those countries seeking to advance STEMI care and improve outcomes for their patients.

In 2018 the College hosted three successful International Conferences – in Saudi Arabia, Peru and China – where international and regional experts came together to deliver the unique perspective of clinical practice within each region. For the first time, attendees at the Middle East Conference had the opportunity to participate in the ACC Women in Cardiology event. Also new, the ACC Asia Conference featured an Innovation Pitch Challenge.

Building on this continued success, the ACC Latin America Conference 2019 – in partnership with the Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery – will be held from July 25 – 27 in Cartagena, Colombia. The ACC Asia Conference 2019 – in partnership with the Japanese College of Cardiology – will be held from Sept. 13 – 15 in Nagoya, Japan. The ACC Middle East Conference 2019 – in partnership with the Emirates Cardiac Society – will be held Oct. 3 – 5 in Dubai, UAE.

Looking further ahead, in 2020, the ACC and the World Heart Federation (WHF) will come together in Chicago, IL, to partner on ACC.20.

"The ACC and WHF are strategically aligned in our goals to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease worldwide," said Richard J. Kovacs, MD, FACC, incoming ACC president who will preside over ACC.20. "By combining WHF's expertise and leadership in promoting global health issues, and ACC's renowned Annual Scientific Session, we are poised to reach thousands of cardiovascular health professionals with new ideas, science and education that can save patients in some of the world's most vulnerable countries."

Keywords: ACC Publications, ACC Scientific Session Newspaper, ACC Annual Scientific Session, ACC19

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