The ACC Peer Review Certificate Program creates a pipeline of trained peer reviewers who will actively contribute to the editorial process for JACC. As such, the program is offered to potential peer reviewers who meet the eligibility criteria below.

Eligible participants:

1. Are an MD or PhD.
2. Are currently undergoing or have previously completed cardiology training.
3. Have a career interest in Academic Publishing.
4. When invited, intend to contribute peer reviews for JACC.
5. Have completed fewer than ten peer reviews for JACC to date.
6. Are committed to completing all required components of the ACC Peer Review Certificate Program by Dec. 9, 2025.

Interested learners who do not meet the above eligibility criteria may submit a written request to the program chair to be considered for inclusion in the program. Learners will be asked to address which of the criteria do not apply to them, describe what interests them about the program and why the certificate would benefit them, and how they plan to apply the learnings in their career and in service of JACC.

Need
Due to constant evolution in data acquisition (e.g., enterprise data warehouse or electronic case report forms vs paper chart; SQL vs other self-serve software platforms, e.g., MDClone, etc.) statistical techniques (e.g. machine learning), increasing complexity of statistical analyses (e.g. IPTW, use of splines, etc.), and changing focus areas within cardiology, pressure to submit and publish data (e.g., COVID-related cardiovascular impacts) has accelerated.

Formal training on peer review is not usually provided during medical training. There are currently no widely available programs on peer review or evaluation of research designed specifically for cardiology fellows or early career cardiologists. While the ACC offers a mentoring program operated through the Membership team, this program has a different goal. It does not focus specifically on the peer-review ecosystem and publishing. In the Membership program, mentees work directly with mentors to identify major career goals and then work with their mentor for feedback on achieving these goals.

Goal
Equip participants with the knowledge and skills to conduct high-quality peer reviews by critically evaluating study design, data validity, statistical interpretation, and conclusions, while providing constructive feedback that advances scientific rigor and communication in cardiovascular research.

Target Audience
Cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists, members of the cardiovascular care team (nurses, advanced practice providers), early-career researchers and clinicians seeking peer review experience, learners who are interested in becoming a prospective JACC reviewer, medical professionals interested in improving statistical literacy and manuscript evaluation.

Learner Objectives
After participating in this program, the participant should be able to:

• Demonstrate essentials of statistical analysis including statistical controversies in RCT reporting and interpretation, the fundamentals of study design, and statistical challenges in design and monitoring.
• Assess the validity of data and science.
• Determine whether the conclusions are supported by the results.
• Identify criteria on the JACC Reviewer Template Rubric.
• Provide constructive written communication of how the manuscript can be improved.
• Offer perspective on whether the findings are novel, important, and likely to advance the field.
• Explain special considerations for sponsored research for peer review.
• Identify the considerations for reviewing a case report and its multimedia.
• Assess case reports and associated multimedia elements using established criteria for instructional value, clinical relevance, image/figure quality, and appropriateness of conclusions.

Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation Statement

Physicians
The ACCF designates these online enduring materials for a maximum of 6.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

While offering CME credits noted above, this program is not intended to provide extensive training or certification in the field.

MOC
Successful completion of this CME/MOC activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 6.75 Medical Knowledge MOC point in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.

Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

While offering credits noted above, the course is not intended to provide extensive training or certification in this field.  AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Enduring Materials

The American College of Cardiology Foundation has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 4/30/2029.   PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Method of Participation and CME Certificate
This ACC CME/MOC activity features an article and self-assessment questions.

Requesting AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credit™ and/or MOC credit for this Activity

To request credit, you must:

1. Read all educational components of the program.
2. Answer the post-test questions. After you have answered all the questions in the post test, you need to have achieved a passing score in order for the Evaluation link to become activated. If you did not achieve a passing score, please click on the Posttest link in the left navigation bar and retake the exam.
3. After you complete the Evaluation, click on the Claim Credit button in the left navigation bar.
4. For CME or COP credit, enter the total amount of time you actually spent in the activity in the box provided. Please note that you may only claim once for this activity. Click Claim.
5. For MOC credit, click the Claim button in the row for MOC. Please note that you may only claim once for this activity. Confirm your ABIM number and date of birth.
6. The page will be updated with the date and time that you claimed your credit.
7. To view your credit, or to print a certificate, please go to ACC.org and navigate to the My Transcript section of My ACC.

This CME/MOC-certified activity may contain links to other educational resources such as clinical trial summaries, journal articles, guidelines, etc.; that may not be CME/MOC certified. Please note that clicking on the links provided to view these resources will open new windows, which are outside of this CME/MOC-certified activity.

Issued Date: 5/1/2026

Term of Approval/Date of CME/MOC Expiration: 4/30/29

Credit and Course Evaluation
Your feedback from this American College of Cardiology (ACC) educational activity will help us to better target ACC educational initiatives and efforts to support you and your future learning needs. In order to receive your CME, MOC certificate or certificate of attendance (and to claim your MOC points), you must complete a brief evaluation survey online. This evaluation appears after you have successfully passed the last assignment.

ACCF Learner Bill of Rights
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) recognizes that you are a life-long learner who has chosen to engage in continuing medical education to identify or fill a gap in knowledge or skill; and to attain or enhance a desired competency. As a participant in an ACC activity, you have the right to expect that your continuing medical education experience with ACC includes the following. Content that:

• Promotes improvements or quality in healthcare
• Is current, valid, reliable, accurate and evidence-based
• Addresses the stated objectives or purpose
• Is driven and based on independent survey and analysis of learner needs, not commercial interests
• Has been reviewed for bias and scientific rigor
• Offers balanced presentations that are free of commercial bias
• Is vetted through a process that resolves any conflicts of interest of planners and faculty
• Is evaluated for its effectiveness in meeting the identified educational need

A learning environment that:

• Is based on adult learning principles that support the use of various modalities
• Supports learners' abilities to meet their individual needs
• Respects and attends to any special needs of the learners
• Respects the diversity of groups of learners
• Is free of promotional, commercial and/or sales activities

Disclosure of:

• Relevant financial relationships that planners, teachers and authors have with commercial interests related to the content of the activity
• Commercial support (funding or in-kind resources) of this activity

Disclaimers
Abstracts and articles contained in this course guide have been reprinted with permission.

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a clinician relative to diagnostic and treatment options for a specific patient's medical condition.

The American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) does not warrant the completeness, accuracy or usefulness of any opinions, advice, services or other information provided through this activity. In no event will ACCF be liable for any decision made, or action taken, in reliance upon the information provided through this activity.

Accredited status does not imply endorsement by ACC of any commercial products displayed in conjunction with this activity.

ACCF reserves the right to modify faculty and program without notice.

Disclosure/Conflict of Interest Statement
As a provider jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) must ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of their directly provided or jointly provided/co-provided educational activities. Planners, presenters, and other contributors, in a position to control the content are required to disclose to the audience all relevant financial relationships he/she and/or his/her spouse or domestic partner may have, occurring within the past 24 months, with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. When an unlabeled use of a commercial product or an investigational use not yet approved for any purpose is discussed during an educational activity, the contributor should disclose that the product is not labeled for the use under discussion or that the product is still investigational.

ACCF is committed to providing its learners with high-quality activities and materials that promote improvements and quality in health care and not a specific proprietary business or commercial interest. The intent of this disclosure is not to prevent participation in educational activities by persons with a financial or other relationship, but rather to provide learners with information on which they can make their own determination whether financial interests or relationships may influence the education activity.

ACCF assesses conflicts of interest (COI) with its faculty, planners, managers, staff and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of certified activities. All relevant potential conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by course directors, ACCF education staff, and members of the Accreditation Compliance Workgroup (ACWG) through a process that includes appropriate peer review for fair balance, scientific objectivity and validity, and patient care and safety recommendations.

ACCF has taken the necessary steps to ensure that all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Please note ACCF staff and the ACWG members involved with this activity have nothing to disclose.

Planner Disclosures:

Chris Owen, MS, APRN, ACNP-BC, RNFA, FACC

Consultant Fees/Honoraria - SilkRoad 

Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FACC
Nothing to disclose

Helene Goldstein
Nothing to disclose

Tabitha Moe, MD, FACC
Nothing to disclose 

Faculty Disclosures:

Quinn Capers IV, MD, FACC
Nothing to disclose

Marc Cohn
Nothing to disclose

Soniel Guptha, MD, FACC
Nothing to disclose

Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FACC
Nothing to disclose

Douglas Mann, MD, FACC
Nothing to disclose

Tabitha Moe, MD, FACC
Nothing to disclose

Faculty Disclosures

Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FACC
Mayo Clinic
Disclosure:
This author has nothing to disclose.

Tabitha Grace Moe, MD, FACC
Arizona Cardiology Group
Disclosure:
Speaker's Bureau: Boerhinger Ingelheim; Novo Nordisk.

Quinn Capers IV, MD, FACC
Vice Dean, Rush Medical College
Disclosure:

Marc Cohn
Cornell University
Disclosure:

Soneil Guptha, MBBS, MD, FACC
4H-CARE LLC
Disclosure:

Douglas L. Mann, MD, FACC
Disclosure:

Mary M. McDermott, MD
Northwestern University
Disclosure

Feedback
As a participant in this activity, you may be contacted on behalf of the American College of Cardiology and asked to provide your feedback on various aspects of the program and its usefulness in your professional endeavors. Feedback may also be submitted at your convenience by clicking on the "Feedback" button at the bottom of the screen. Once you have made your comments, you may submit them electronically, or you may print them out and fax or mail them to ACC. Contact information is provided below.

Resource Center
American College of Cardiology Foundation
2400 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037

1-800-253-4636, x5603, or 202-375-6694 (outside the United States and Canada)
Fax: 202-375-7000

Copyright ©2025 American College of Cardiology
All Rights Reserved.
Please obey all copyright laws.
Made in the USA.

No part of this activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

Participation in this program includes access to confidential JACC documents, and observation of sensitive discussions between JACC Editorial Leaders. As such, participants are required to accept a Confidentiality Agreement upon beginning the program. Details of this confidentiality agreement are below:

ACC Peer Review Certificate Program
Confidentiality Agreement

This Confidentiality Agreement ("Agreement") constitutes a legal agreement between the American College of Cardiology Foundation ("ACCF") and each participant ("Participant" or "You") of the ACC Peer Review Certificate Program (the "Program"). By participating in the Program, You accept and agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. If You do not wish to accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement, You may not participate in the Program.

1. As a participant of the Program, You may have access to materials and information about the ACCF's Editorial Boards, peer review operations, its members, and other potentially sensitive, confidential, and/or embargoed materials. You may also have access to, learn about, and participate in discussions regarding confidential and/or proprietary matters before the ACCF. The terms and conditions of this Agreement are intended to ensure the confidentiality of all such matters, information, and materials unless specifically informed or directed otherwise by the Program faculty.
2. The term "Confidential Information" shall mean any and all ACCF information and materials, including, but not limited to, tangible and intangible information and materials regarding products, methods, events, software, business plans, finances, operations, personnel, membership, business information, non-public and/or embargoed manuscripts, any other information relating to the peer review operations and/or businesses of ACCF generally whether in oral, written, or electronic form provided to You or to which You have been exposed. Confidential Information shall not mean any information which: (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of an obligation under this Agreement; (ii) is rightfully acquired from a third party having the right to disclose such Confidential Information and without an obligation of confidentiality; (iii) is or has been independently developed by You without violation of this Agreement; or (iv) is disclosed pursuant to a court order or other administrative body or government agency of competent jurisdiction.
3. You agree to hold Confidential Information received from ACCF in strict confidence and will exercise the highest degree of care to prevent disclosure to others. You will not disclose or divulge either directly or indirectly the Confidential Information to others unless first expressly authorized to do so in writing by the Program faculty.
4. You will not reproduce or use the Confidential Information for any purpose whatsoever other than for purposes of participating in the Program. You shall not use or exploit such Confidential Information for your or any third party's benefit in any manner.
5. Upon the request of ACCF, You shall promptly return to ACCF, or destroy (and certify in writing as to such destruction) any materials or documents that have been furnished to You by ACCF as part of the Program, along with all copies thereof.
6. You agree that your obligations hereunder are necessary and reasonable in order to protect ACCF and ACCF's business, and expressly agree that monetary damages would be inadequate to compensate ACCF for any breach of this Agreement by You. Accordingly, You acknowledge and agree that any such violation or threatened violation will cause irreparable injury to ACCF and that, in addition to any other remedies that may be available at law, in equity or otherwise, ACCF shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the threatened breach of this Agreement or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages.
7. Nothing in this Agreement shall grant any rights to You in or to any patent, trademark, copyright, or proprietary property of ACCF, and this Agreement shall not grant any rights to You in or to any Confidential Information disclosed by ACCF, except as expressly set forth herein.
8. ACCF reserves the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including terminating You from the Program, for violations of this Agreement.
9. This Agreement shall be interpreted under and governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, without reference to conflict of laws principles.
10. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver thereof or of any other provision hereof. This Agreement may not be amended, nor any obligation waived, except by a writing signed by both Parties hereto.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the past awardees of the Peer Review Certificate, whose dedication and contributions will help the JACC Family of Journals efficiently support authors to produce high-quality science to advance cardiovascular care.

2025 Cohort

2024 Cohort

2023 Cohort

Hardware/Software Requirements
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Supporting Programs
Some portions of the product may require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Refund Policy
You may receive a full refund by canceling your order within 7 days of purchase.
Claiming any type of credit for the product during that time will make you ineligible for a refund.