Care of the Athletic Heart

Noteworthy Highlights of the 2023 ACC Care of the Athletic Heart Conference

July 24, 2023

Feature Article

The 2023 ACC Care of the Athletic Heart Conference discussed key controversies in sports cardiology. Leaders in the sports cardiology field delivered presentations and held expert panel discussions on a range of highly debated topics within the sports cardiology field.

World

ACC Joins NFL’s Smart Heart Sports Coalition to Support Nationwide CPR Education, AED Access

June 6, 2023

Announcements

The ACC, along with 26 other organizations, has joined The Smart Heart Sports Coalition, a collaboration convened by the National Football League (NFL) to encourage the adoption of health policies that will prevent death from sudden cardiac arrest among high school students through increased CPR education, AED access and emergency action plan requirements.

Zoom Meeting; Conceptual Image

Test Your Knowledge of HCM and Learn More About Mavacamten

November 8, 2022

Educational Opportunities

Join Matthew W. Martinez, MD, FACC; Michael J. Ackerman, MD, PhD, FACC; and Erica Spatz, MD, for Real-World Shared Decision Making Conversations: Sudden Cardiac Death in HCM in Stop 5: HCM Shared Decision Making: Conversations That Count.

JACC: Case Reports

JACC: Case Reports Focus Issue Highlights Sports Cardiology

October 5, 2022

JACC Family of Journals

The latest issue of JACC: Case Reports features the first-ever focus issue highlighting sports cardiology. Clinical cases include cardiac arrest in a softball player following a collision, swimming-induced pulmonary edema, acute deep vein thrombosis in a cyclist with iliac vein compression from psoas muscle hypertrophy, and more.

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Continue Your Journey on the Route HCM Online Course

August 18, 2022

Educational Opportunities

The full Route HCM online course is available now! Join Matthew W. Martinez, MD, FACC, Michael J. Ackerman, MD, PhD, FACC, and Erica Spatz, MD, for Real-World Shared Decision Making Conversations: Sudden Cardiac Death in HCM in Stop 5: HCM Shared Decision Making: Conversations That Count.

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Free HCM Education On the Go

July 19, 2022

Educational Opportunities

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common genetic cardiovascular diseases. The good news is HCM is highly treatable once it is recognized. The HCM: Accelerating Guideline-Driven Care online course provides educational resources to improve patient outcomes.

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Apply For Dedicated Sports Cardiology Fellowship Opportunity

July 11, 2022

Announcements

At Emory University School of Medicine, the cardiovascular disease fellowship – led by Program Director, B. Robinson Williams III, MD, FACC, and Associate Director, Puja Mehta, MD, FACC – offers a 4-year clinical investigator track.

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Free HCM Education & Resources on ACC.org

May 19, 2022

Educational Opportunities

The ACC's Accelerating Innovation for Medical Excellence in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (AIME HCM) initiative is designed to amplify education, research efforts, clinical guidance and practical tools to increase awareness and understanding of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and optimize treatment and outcomes.

Zoom Meeting; Conceptual Image

Test Your HCM Knowledge

May 10, 2022

Educational Opportunities

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common genetic cardiovascular diseases. The good news is HCM is highly treatable once it is recognized. Part of the Accelerating Innovation for Medical Excellence in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (AIME HCM) initiative, this online course will ease the challenge of adopting new ACC/AHA guidelines and simplify the patient journey.

Zoom Meeting; Conceptual Image

Free HCM Education on ACC.org

April 19, 2022

Educational Opportunities

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common genetic cardiovascular diseases. The good news is HCM is highly treatable once it is recognized. Part of the Accelerating Innovation for Medical Excellence in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (AIME HCM) initiative, this online course will ease the challenge of adopting new ACC/AHA guidelines and simplify the patient journey.

JACC: Case Reports

Deadline Extended For Sports Cardiology Case Reports Submissions

March 22, 2022

JACC Family of Journals

JACC: Case Reports will publish a special themed issue on sports cardiology in 2022. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts in the form of clinical cases, clinical case series and clinical vignettes for consideration.

JACC: Case Reports

Call For Submissions: Sports Cardiology Case Reports

January 24, 2022

Call For Applications

JACC: Case Reports will publish a special themed issue on sports cardiology in 2022. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts in the form of clinical cases, clinical case series and clinical vignettes for consideration by March 14.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

COVID-19 and the Athletic Heart: Key Updates from the American College of Cardiology Sports & Exercise Leadership Council

January 24, 2022   |   Jonathan H. Kim, MD, MSc, FACCAaron L. Baggish, MD, FACCEugene H. Chung, MD, MPH, FACCKimberly G Harmon, MDMatthew W. Martinez, MD, FACCDermot M. J. Phelan, PhD, FACCBenjamin D. Levine, MD, FACC

Feature Article

In October 2020, the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) Sports & Exercise Cardiology Council put forth revised consensus recommendations regarding return-to-play (RTP) for athletes after SARS-Coronavirus-2 (COVID-19) infection.

COVID-19; Conceptual Image

Paper Addresses Key Areas of Uncertainty in COVID-19 and the Athletic Heart

October 30, 2020

Quick Reads and Recommendations

As critical data to advance the understanding of COVID-19 outcomes in athletes is currently being collected, thoroughly rehearsed emergency action planning represents the best strategy to save lives, according to a paper published Oct. 26 in JAMA Cardiology.

COVID-19, Data; Conceptual Image

Webinar: COVID-19 and the Athlete’s Heart

October 16, 2020

Featured Webinar

Join the ACC for a webinar, Oct. at 7 p.m. ET, discussing the uncertainties regarding COVID-19 infection on the heart in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients, including athletes.

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Care of ACC's Athletic Heart Virtual: Feedback From the Twitter Community

June 23, 2020

Member Engagement Opportunities at the ACC

On Saturday, June 20, ACC's Sports and Exercise Council led a virtual version of the Care of the Athletic Heart: From Elite to Exercise Enthusiast annual meeting. Thus far, more than 500 registrants have accessed the education, which will continue to be available on demand through the end of the year.

COVID-19; Conceptual Image

Return to Play and COVID-19: Just Getting Started

May 27, 2020

COVID-19 Coverage

While the resumption of competitive sport in the U.S. ultimately depends on public health policy, it is evident that the cardiovascular management of athletes recovering from COVID-19, including return-to-play, poses numerous and significant challenges.

Athlete, Runner; Conceptual Image

ACC’s Care of the Athletic Heart Goes Virtual

May 19, 2020

Upcoming Event

The ACC is excited to host Care of the Athletic Heart Virtual on Saturday, June 20 to give the sports cardiology community the opportunity to connect and learn from and support one another.

Athlete; Conceptual Image

Electrocardiogram Interpretation of the Athletic Heart: Examples and Resources

April 16, 2020

Announcements

In addressing the need for more dedicated sports and exercise cardiology education, support for providers in this field, and related policy advocacy at the state level, the ACC California Chapter – led by Chapter President Ramin Manshadi, MD, FACC, and Matthew T. Wheeler, MD – formed the ACC California Chapter Exercise Health and Sports Cardiology Committee in 2019.

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Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes

January 8, 2020

Cardiology Magazine Highlights

It is well recognized that exercise is one of the most powerful tools for improving health overall. Yet, for a small number of individuals who harbor cardiac conditions, exercise can sometimes be associated with the risk of sudden death, what is also called the exercise paradox. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most frequent medical cause of sudden death in athletes, and estimates vary widely based on the population.

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Sign Up For “Microvolunteer” Opportunities

October 28, 2019

Member Engagement Opportunities at the ACC

There are a lot of big ways to get involved with the College – being on a Section Leadership Council, participating on a taskforce or committee, or serving as faculty for a live course, to name a few. However, we know that not everyone has the time for some of these larger-scale commitments. That's why the ACC is excited to announce the launch of our Microvolunteering Platform.

Alfred (Fred) A. Bove, MD, PhD, MACC

In Memoriam: Alfred A. Bove, MD, PhD, MACC

October 21, 2019

In Memoriam

ACC Past President Alfred A. Bove, MD, PhD, MACC, a true cardiovascular innovator, educator and patient advocate, passed away on Oct. 17. Aside from a short period of time at the Mayo Clinic, Bove spent the majority of his cardiovascular career at Temple University, serving in positions ranging from associate dean to section chief in cardiology.

Twitter

Join the ACC and HRS For AFib Awareness Twitter Chat

August 26, 2019

Member Engagement Opportunities at the ACC

The ACC (@ACCinTouch) and the Heart Rhythm Society (@HRSonline) are partnering to mark AFib Awareness Month with a Twitter chat on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. ET. Use the hashtags #AFibAwareness and #LifestyleAndAFib to ask questions, share knowledge and have your say!

Conceptual Image; Runners; Track Race

FIT Perspectives: ACC’s Care of the Athletic Heart 2019

July 26, 2019

Educational Opportunities

Sports cardiology experts from around the world convened at ACC's Care of the Athletic Heart course last month to provide contemporary care and practice management strategies needed to care for patient athletes.

Eugene H. Chung, MD, FACC

Sport Recommendations For Athletes With Cardiomyopathies, Myocarditis, Pericarditis

July 26, 2019

Quick Reads and Recommendations

In a recent article, Eugene H. Chung, MD, FACC, provided key points to remember from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology Position Statement on recommendations for participation in competitive and leisure sport in athletes with cardiomyopathies, myocarditis and pericarditis.

Cardiology Magazine; July 2019

Check Out the July Issue of Cardiology; Your Member Magazine

July 23, 2019

Cardiology Magazine Highlights

Cardiology is the ACC's flagship member magazine — your member magazine — providing cardiovascular professionals with a comprehensive source for clinical and professional news. Find links to all of the July issue's articles and share on social media!

Care of the Athletic Heart

Virtual Registration Now Open For ACC's Care of the Athletic Heart

May 30, 2019

Educational Opportunities

Top experts from around the world will come together to meet the growing demands for professional, recreational, occupational and tactical athletes at ACC's Care of the Athletic Heart course, taking place June 20 – 22 in Washington, DC.

Care of the Athletic Heart

Learn Contemporary Strategies to Care for Your Patient Athletes

February 21, 2019

Educational Opportunities

Join sports cardiology experts at Care of the Athletic Heart: From Elite to Exercise Enthusiasts as they provide you with contemporary care and practice management strategies you need to care for your patient athletes.

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Top 10 Key Questions Addressed at Care of the Athletic Heart 2018

November 9, 2018

Quick Reads and Recommendations

The ACC held its annual sports cardiology conference, "Care of the Athletic Heart: Contemporary Concepts, Cases and Controversies," in June 2018 with more than 150 sports cardiology and sports medicine practitioners in attendance.

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Incidental Murmur on Screening Physical Exam

November 9, 2018

Educational Opportunities

Enhance your knowledge and earn credit on the eligibility and disqualification recommendations for competitive athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities in a recent Certified Patient Case on ACC.org.

Cardiology Magazine, Sept. 2018

Sports and Exercise Cardiology Section | The September Issue of Cardiology, YOUR Member Magazine, is Live! Read it All Online!

September 21, 2018

Cardiology Magazine Highlights

The September 2018 issue of Cardiology, YOUR member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

ACC.19 Update

ACC Members, ACC.19 Registration is Now Open!

September 12, 2018

ACC20WCC

ACC.19 registration is NOW OPEN exclusively for ACC members. Nonmember registration will open Wednesday, Sept. 26. Register early for the lowest rates and best selection of hotel rooms!

ACC Member Section Thumbnail Image

JACC CV Health Promotion Series Address Top 8 Risk Factors

September 7, 2018

JACC Family of Journals

A series of eight state-of-the-art reviews is now publishing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). One review is publishing each week, examining the top risk factors affecting the cardiovascular health of patients: diet, tobacco, lipid control/cholesterol, blood pressure, psychological health, weight, physical activity and blood sugar.

Tina Varghese, MD

Feature | Why I Chose Preventive Cardiology

August 23, 2018

Feature Article

On Valentine’s Day 1994, I was 5 years old and carefully crafting a card for my grandparents in art class. I remember gluing a white lace heart onto a red sheet of construction paper, excited to share my masterpiece. My grandfather picked me up from the bus stop that afternoon. Once home, he held his chest and reported pain. He tragically died in route to the hospital from a massive myocardial infarction at the age of 61. While I cannot recall if my grandfather’s early death was the impetus for my longstanding aspiration to become a cardiologist, it undoubtedly influenced my interest in preventive cardiology.

Cardiology Magazine August 2018

Sports and Exercise Cardiology Section | The August Issue of Cardiology, YOUR Member Magazine, is Live! Read it All Online!

August 16, 2018

Cardiology Magazine Highlights

The August 2018 issue of Cardiology, YOUR member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

Member Benefits

Young Athletes and Heart Health Infographic Now Available

May 7, 2018

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the number one medical cause of death in young athletes and often happens in those who do not know they have a heart problem. To raise awareness about this issue and help patients learn more about this condition, ACC’s CardioSmart team has created an infographic as well as a new sports and SCA condition center.

Meetings

Learn From and Network With Top Sports Cardiology Experts

May 7, 2018

Join sports cardiology experts from around the world at the Care of the Athletic Heart course in Park City, UT, June 21 – 23, as they provide attendees with the most contemporary strategies needed to care for patient athletes.

Meetings

Hear From the Experts on the Hottest Trials From AHA 2017

November 28, 2017

In the latest ACC Cardiology Hour, Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, is joined by Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC; Rachel J. Lampert, MD, FACC; Prediman K. Shah, MD, MACC; and Chadwick W. Stouffer, MD, in a roundtable discussion of the hottest trials from AHA 2017 in Anaheim, CA. Among the trials discussed are DACAB, CANVAS, EXSCEL, POISE-2 and more.

Member Benefits

New Guidelines Focus on Ventricular Arrhythmias, Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention

November 2, 2017

The ACC, along with the American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society, have published new guidelines for the treatment of adult patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) or who are at risk for sudden cardiac death. The new guidelines replace the 2006 ACC/AHA/SC Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death and provide recommendations regarding general evaluation of patients with documented or suspected VA; treatments, therapies and prevention of VA; acute management of specific VA; and VA in the structurally normal heart.

Join Us

Apply for ACC’s Membership Committee by Sept. 22

September 13, 2017

In conjunction with the ACC Committee Nominations cycle, the College’s Membership Committee is now accepting applications through Sept. 22. The Membership Committee was established as part of the 2015 College’s governance transformation and serves as standing committee of the College, reporting directly to the Board of Trustees.

Cardiology August 2017

The August 2017 Issue of Cardiology, ACC's Flagship Member Magazine, is LIVE!

August 21, 2017

The August 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

Cardiology Magazine, July 2017

The July 2017 Issue of Cardiology, ACC's Flagship Member Magazine, is LIVE!

July 20, 2017

The July 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

Meetings

Call For Applications: Annual Scientific Session Vice Chair

July 20, 2017

The ACC is seeking qualified candidates to serve as vice chair of the Annual Scientific Session for a two-year term of office for ACC.19 and ACC.20, moving on to assume another two-year term as chair of ACC.21 and ACC.22.

Cardiology

The June 2017 Issue of Cardiology, ACC's Flagship Member Magazine, is LIVE!

June 27, 2017

The June 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

Meetings

Get the Most Current Sports Cardiology Education

April 14, 2017

Join sports cardiology experts at the Care of the Athletic Heart course in Snowbird, UT, June 22 – 24, as they provide attendees with the most contemporary strategies needed to care for patient athletes.

Join Us

To Screen or Not to Screen: Not the Only Question

April 14, 2017

In a recent Expert Analysis, James Beckerman, MD, FACC, a member of the Sports and Exercise Cardiology Section Leadership Council, discusses how he created ‘Play Smart Youth Heart Screenings,’ a free youth heart screening program in Portland, OR, and how other clinicians can address the questions to consider when offering a screening program.

Join Us

The Emergence of Sports Cardiology as a Specialty

April 14, 2017

A recent Fellows in Training (FIT) and Early Career Page, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and authored by Maxwell Eyram Afari, MD, focuses on how sports cardiology became a subspecialty and the opportunities for FITs and Early Career cardiologists within the subspecialty.

ACC.17

This Saturday: All-Section Meeting & Reception at ACC.17

March 14, 2017

Attending ACC.17? Join us for the All-Section Meeting & Reception at ACC.17! The event happening THIS Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis will give you a chance to learn more about what ACC's 19+ Member Sections are working to accomplish and to connect with members in your specialty or interest areas.

Runners

Sports Cardiologist Explores the Outer Limits

September 15, 2016

The Summer 2016 issue of Cardiology magazine highlights the work of Benjamin D. Levine, MD, FACC, and his team at the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Resources in Dallas, as they investigate how sustained high-intensity exercise affects cardiovascular health.

Meetings

Expert Journal Club Faculty Discuss Etiology of Sudden Death in Sports

August 22, 2016

The latest ACC Journal Club discussion is now available online. Click on the article to view slides and hear experts discuss “Etiology of Sudden Death in Sports: Insights From a United Kingdom Regional Registry,” recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Meetings

Prepare For Pre-Participation Sports Assessments

May 18, 2016

The growing volume of exercise-driven baby boomers requires a larger contingent of practice-ready clinicians to provide high quality, cost efficient cardiovascular care to athletes across-the-lifespan. ACC’s course, Care of the Athletic Heart: Translating Clinical Science into Practice Strategies, June 17 – 18...

Sports and Exercise

Consensus Statement Offers Guidance on Preventing Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes

April 22, 2016

A new consensus statement, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, establishes guidance for conducting pre-participation screenings of college athletes and encourages emergency action plans for quickly responding to sudden cardiac arrest. The statement was developed by a 29-person task force convened by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in September 2014 that included multidisciplinary physician specialists and athletic trainers representing national sports and medical associations, including the ACC.

Meetings

ACC/AHA Task Force Seeks Comment on Sudden Cardiac Death Measure Set

February 25, 2016

The ACC/AHA Task Force on Performance Measures has developed a prevention of sudden cardiac death measure set. The Task Force is seeking public comments on the measure set. Before completing the survey, please review the draft prevention of sudden cardiac measure set. To provide comments, please access the survey here. If you need to exit the survey before you have finished commenting, you can save your responses and return to the survey later.

Runners

ACC Sports Council Encourages Exercise For Heart Health

February 2, 2016

Even small amounts of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, but more exercise may lead to an even greater reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a clinical perspective from the ACC Sports and Exercise Cardiology Leadership Council published Jan. 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Runners

Sports in the Elderly: Our Duty to Assure Safety and Provide Guidance

December 10, 2015

In a recent post on the ACC in Touch Blog, Alfred A. Bove, MD, PhD, MACC, discusses current research on the continued prevalence of the elderly in running races and the safety of exercise in older patients. “The older athletes don’t compete with the front runners, but remain committed to participating and competing among their peers or just improving their ‘personal best’... How should we approach the older man or woman who wants to exercise, or to continue exercising as a part of their daily life, with atherosclerotic risk and ischemia the major concern?”

Sports and Exercise

New Recommendations May Allow Some Athletes With CVD to Compete

December 10, 2015

Athletes with irregular heart beat caused by long QT syndrome and those with an implanted medical device may safely play competitive sports, according to new recommendations from the ACC and American Heart Association published Nov. 2 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Previous recommendations stated that the risk of sudden cardiac death was too high in athletes with Long QT syndrome or with heartbeat disorders treated by an implanted device, but new research indicates that the risk is lower than previously thought. These athletes may now be able to compete with the approval of their health care provider.

Best of ACC.org

Best of ACC.org: Breaking Down the Mandatory Electrocardiogram Debate

December 3, 2015

With four seconds on the clock, the rumble of the crowd is deafening. The entire school is on their feet, doused in green and gold, anxiously waiting for the play that will lead them to victory or defeat. The quarterback takes the snap, reads the coverage, sets up to pass and suddenly falls to the ground. This is no blitz. This is sudden cardiac death and it’s the last time the young quarterback will ever be sacked.

Sports and Exercise

Fall 2015 Sports and Exercise Section Update

October 22, 2015

Dear Section Members, The Sport and Exercise Cardiology Section is committed to providing its members with exceptional resources to ensure the continued deliverance of premium cardiovascular care to athletes and exercising individuals of all ages.

Runners

Sports Cardiology 101: The Porta Potty

October 19, 2015

In a recent post on the ACC in Touch Blog, Aaron L. Baggish, MD, FACC, explores ways to get to know athletic patients, including his own recent experience at a running race.

ACC Member Publications

Latest Issue of Cardiology Focuses on Big Data

May 26, 2015

The cover story in a recent issue of Cardiology magazine provides an in-depth look at big data and its implications on the future of medicine. It also features an article about the CardioEncounters program, a new approach to patient-clinician interactions, and includes an exclusive interview with the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco Robert Califf, MD, MACC.

Sports and Exercise

The Inner Workings of the NFL Combine

January 23, 2015

What are the false positive and false negative rates in any particular cohort and what about the cost to players for these errors? I believe that image quality and the experience of the reader are the primary predictors of these errors; these are of the highest quality at the Combine.

Heart

A Viewpoint From the Front Lines of Heart Screenings

December 10, 2014

Many of us on both sides of the screening debate are concerned about the risk of false positives. That is why we have refined our electrocardiogram interpretations, thanks to the development of the Seattle Criteria. In our own program experience, this criteria has resulted in us performing echocardiograms in only 3 percent of our screening population.