The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is now accepting nominations for the Rick Nishimura, MD, MACC and Patrick T. O'Gara, MD, MACC Emerging Faculty Leadership Academy scheduled for April 27-29, 2025, at the ACC's Heart House in Washington, DC.

The Academy provides experiential learning and feedback on educational and presentation skills for promising ACC faculty educators. After successful participation, graduates will possess skills to effectively develop and deliver engaging educational content to ACC members and other learners through a variety of in-person and virtual formats.

Course Goal
The goal of this course is to enhance participants' knowledge and skills as ACC educators. Upon completing this experiential course, participants will be considered by the ACC leadership as exceptional candidates for educational activities and ACC committees. This is a tremendous opportunity for promising early career faculty to develop their teaching skills and to "open the door" for ACC leadership opportunities.

A grant from The Michael Wolk Heart Foundation, along with a direct investment from the ACC, supports this course, providing tuition, hotel accommodations and meals for each participant (participants are responsible for their own travel and transportation expenses to/from Washington, DC). Additionally, an ACC W. Proctor Harvey, MD, Young Teacher awardee will be selected from the Emerging Faculty participants, receiving a $5,000 award and complimentary registration and transportation for the subsequent ACC Annual Scientific Session.

Application Deadline
Nomination materials are due by Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. Please submit your application information through the application portal. Applicant decisions will be shared by Dec. 2024.

Eligibility
Physician and CV Care Clinician candidates must be ACC Fellows or Associate Fellows in good standing who have not yet attained the academic rank of professor. Ideal candidates are at an early or early-to-mid career stage with a strong track record of peer education at their home institution, their ACC state chapter, and/or the national level (e.g. ACC Annual Meeting).

Importantly: Only one (1) applicant per institution is permitted.

Application Process
Interested applicants should complete the online application and submit the following documents as a single combined PDF via email to Tom Guarino (tguarino@acc.org):

1. Curriculum Vitae.
2. A nomination letter from the institution's Chair of Cardiology or a Fellow of the ACC who is familiar with the candidate's teaching abilities and potential as an ACC educator. If this nomination letter is not provided by the Chair of Cardiology, a signed statement or letter must be included from the Chair of Cardiology approving the nomination and attesting that this applicant is the sole institutional applicant.
3. A personal letter from the candidate explaining why they wish to be selected as a course participant. The letter should address the candidate's prior successes as a peer educator, personal goals for presentation skill development, as well as their goals for future ACC educational engagement.

Selection Criteria and Process
Exceptional talent and dedication to teaching (assisting and supporting the learning process) will guide the selection of participants. Past participation and future potential to serve as leaders of ACC-delivered educational products will be considered in candidates' applications for admission. The Emerging Faculty Planning Committee will review all nominations and make final selections of participants. Applicant decisions will be shared by Dec. 2024.

Questions may be directed to Tom Guarino at 202-375-6443 or tguarino@acc.org.