It really has been an incredible few days. From the very start of Day 1, ACC.26 delivered. We opened with Late-Breaking Clinical Trial results from the HI-PEITHO, CHAMPION-AF and STEMI-Door to Unload trials. These studies, and so many others presented throughout the meeting, continue to shape how we think about treating and managing cardiovascular disease.

This momentum continued across educational sessions, abstract and poster presentations, keynotes, and more. Everyone here today should be leaving with important additions to the growing body of evidence guiding care for patients with heart failure, valve disease, coronary disease and beyond.

Prevention, guidelines and AI were also front and center this year, giving us all actionable ways we can enhance both clinical care and discovery – whether talking with patients about food as medicine, integrating wearables and digital health technologies, or engaging in shared decision-making around blood pressure, dyslipidemia and other CV risks or diseases.

But of course the Annual Scientific Session is about more than the science; it's about the moments of connection: the inspiring keynote lectures; the lively Fireside Chats and Heart2Heart stage discussions; the spontaneous exchanges in hallways, the FAM Lounge, and maybe even over coffee and beignets at Café Du Monde. These were the moments where ideas sparked, collaborations began and our global cardiovascular community grew stronger.

Along the way, we also celebrated excellence and innovation. Congratulations to our FIT Jeopardy champions, our Innovation Challenge winners, and to today's Distinguished Award recipients and all of our new Fellows and Associates. Your accomplishments remind us of the talent, creativity and dedication that drive our field forward.

A Year-Long Fantastic Voyage

While I highlighted many of the moments in the Opening Session, I would like to briefly summarize the year that has passed.

In the very first week of my presidency, I testified before the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee on behalf of the HEARTS Act and full funding of the National Institutes of Health and Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. I'm pleased to say that the latter came to pass in the most recent Appropriations Bill. What a way to start – and end – the year.

It has truly been a terrific year in advocacy, despite the challenges. Resilience was key to pushing our agenda forward, and I offer my sincere thanks to our outstanding advocacy staff for guiding me – and the College – throughout that journey.

Member value remains at the heart of everything we do. The Membership Committee, led by Laxmi S. Mehta, MD, FACC, has been laser-focused on strengthening engagement and growing membership – especially supporting the transition from FIT to FACC. I'm pleased to report that member applications are up 43%, including more than 1,300 new FACCs. And as a testament to the positive energy across the College, we also saw an 87% increase in the number of members making philanthropic gifts to the ACC Foundation this past year.

Our JACC Journals had a terrific year as well, with a marked increase in scientific statements, concise clinical guidelines and consensus documents published. I also spoke during the Opening Session about our exciting new partnership with OpenEvidence, another important step forward for the College.

MedAxiom continues to grow and build upon our Health Systems Strategy, helping many of our members and health systems navigate an increasingly complex health care environment.

International engagement is also at its highest level ever. Over the past year, I had the privilege of traveling to six of the seven continents – we don't yet have a chapter in Antarctica! We are now up to 47 international chapters, and the FACC mini-convocations at ACC regional meetings in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East were resounding successes. Thank you to all of the global partners in this room for your collaboration and support in our shared Mission to transform care.

Health equity – both here in the United States and around the world – remains a central pillar of our Strategic Plan. It was a focus of meetings across the globe, including the ACC-led side meeting at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases last September.

We also launched several important initiatives this past year, including the Artificial Intelligence Implementation Task Force, which will help guide the many ways AI is being integrated across the College. The important work of the New Revenue Generation Task Force established by my predecessor, Cathleen Biga, MSN, MACC, also continues. A big shoutout to Cathie for the remarkable legacy of her presidential year.

It truly has been a Fantastic Voyage – and one that reflects the strength, commitment and global reach of this extraordinary College.

I want to thank our stellar Board of Trustees for their extraordinary dedication and hard work. We held our sixth and final Board meeting this past Thursday. They are truly remarkable individuals, and as a team, the sky is the limit. I am proud of everything we have accomplished together.

I also want to thank our incredible Vice President – soon to be President – Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC. Her energy, enthusiasm and deep love for the College are infectious. Our personalities complemented one another in ways that elevated our Board discussions throughout the year. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for the College next year.

Cathy Gates, thank you for your steady leadership of the College as CEO.

I would also like to recognize James Moran and Taylor Davis for their tireless support of the zany logistics of my year of travels and BOT meetings, and the entire ACC Senior Management Team and Division Vice Presidents, including Ravee Kurian, Lisa Hix, Brendan Mullen, Dick Kovacs and the now retired Janice Sibley.

Thank you to the international team led by Alyssa McCormick for having my back in the far corners of the globe, and to Shalen Fairbanks for her communications excellence. To my ACC mentors, including Past Presidents George A. Beller, MD, MACC; C. Michael Valentine, MD, MACC; Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, MACC; B. Hadley Wilson, MD, MACC; and Edward T. A. Fry, MD, MACC – thank you as well! 

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to my family: Cathy, Alex, Naomi and Zach for their encouragement and patience with my crazy schedule and time away – especially Cathy. I wouldn't have been able to complete this Fantastic Voyage without their love and support. Thank you all so much.

Keywords: ACC Annual Scientific Session, ACC26, Leadership, ACC History