Recent Section activities have included championing of the adult congenital heart disease sub-specialty certification, the launching of QNet,™ which includes both process and outcome quality metrics in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease, and working with patient advocacy groups to advocate for the need of increased research funding for CHD.

Thanks to your input we now have Community Day during the annual ACC scientific sessions that allows members to have an in-depth focused discussion on timely issues within our field. The past two Community Days have focused on outcome measures, data transparency, and life-long challenges for our CHD patients. We have been attentive to our FIT members as evidenced by our launching of an ACPC FIT workgroup and open discussion regarding the CHD workforce.

Moving forward we want to provide value to your ACPC Section membership. We will be working closely with the ACC, ABIM and the ABP to provide more maintenance of certification (MOC) options for our Section members. We want to promote racial, ethnic, and gender diversity within our Section especially in leadership. We want to help prepare our members for leadership at not only their own institutions but also at local, regional, and national levels. We want to become the forum for heart center leadership (administrative, nursing, and physician) to exchange ideas that lead to advancement of our field.

We want to be a resource for our FITs and Early Career members through the ACC's Mentoring program that enriches their careers. We want to be an active voice in promoting the highest-quality, value based clinical care of our children and adults with CHD. And we want to open our doors to global initiatives that benefit CHD patients worldwide. And of course we wish to advance the scientific knowledge that benefits our patients.

Throughout my career of caring for CHD patients and their families I have witnessed great advancements. It has been nothing short of exciting and it has given me a sense of complete privilege to have worked with my colleagues in our field of medicine. At this time, we face many professional challenges but with challenge comes great opportunity. The ACPC Section wants to collaborate with you. Help us mold the ACPC Section to be the instrument that solves these challenges and enriches your careers.

Please join the Section and let us know how you would like to become involved by sending your comments and interest to Olivia Kranz, ACPC Staff Liaison, at okranz@acc.org.

I look forward to working with you!

Timothy F. Feltes, MD, FACC

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