ACC's newly launched Fuster Prevention Forum, designed to honor the contributions of Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, and his lifelong commitment to establishing a culture of prevention, will teach clinicians effective ways to educate children, parents and educators in their communities on nutrition, physical activity and emotional well-being.

"Valentin Fuster has a legacy of promoting heart healthy behaviors early in life to encourage lifestyles that help prevent cardiovascular disease," said Pamela Bowe Morris, MD, FACC, Fuster Prevention Forum co-chair. "Through the Forum, we can ensure his legacy of health promotion is passed to a new generation of clinicians."

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of men and women around the world, but in many cases, it is preventable. Research has shown that early-life interventions can influence adoption of heart healthy lifestyles; however, many clinicians receive minimal training in teaching their patients how to adopt healthy lifestyles for themselves and their families.

The Fuster Prevention Forum will be rooted in the latest scientific data and evidence in primordial prevention and early-life interventions, largely supported by Fuster's extensive scientific research in this field. Participants will learn how to educate their patients and communities about heart healthy lifestyle behaviors, while taking prevention one step further, starting with children and their families. The Fuster Prevention Forum will give participants the tools to develop sustainable, community-based prevention initiatives and recruit a collaborative network of clinicians who are also committed to advancing a culture of prevention in their schools and communities.

"The Fuster Prevention Forum is unique in that it not only will give clinicians the tools to educate their own patients in heart healthy lifestyles but also help them spread a heart healthy message further by 'teaching the teachers'," said Edward T. A. Fry, MD, MACC, Fuster Prevention Forum co-chair. "We will be teaching how to effectively reach people where they are and go directly into communities to reach those who may not be working with a clinician or thinking about the impact of lifestyle on heart health."

ACC received over 150 applicants for the inaugural cohort, which will convene for a two-day training at ACC's Heart House in Washington in June 2026. The 50 individuals selected to participate will be notified in February 2026. The program is a three-year initiative, and future courses will have up to 100 participants. Participants who complete the course will be recognized as experts in primordial prevention and return to their communities equipped with curriculum materials, digital content and practical toolkits to implement change.

Clinical Topics: Prevention

Keywords: Primary Prevention