New Document Outlines 'Pathway' to Tobacco Cessation

The ACC's Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on Tobacco Cessation Treatment published late last year provides a comprehensive and structured approach to evaluating and treating tobacco dependence.

The pathway focuses on the assessment of cigarette smoking, nicotine dependence, and other forms of combustible tobacco products (i.e., cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco and hookah) in adults. The delivery of behavioral, pharmacological and supportive interventions in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, secondhand smoke exposure, and alternative tobacco products – such as electronic cigarettes – are also discussed.

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Members on the Move: Ileana Piña, MD, MPH, FACC

Congratulations to Ileana Piña, MD, MPH, FACC, on her new position as regional and national director of heart failure and director of cardiovascular research and academic affairs at the Detroit Medical Center (DMC).

"We are thrilled to have Dr. Piña join forces with the DMC. As a trusted and passionate physician, researcher, and academician, we know that she will not only strengthen our cardiovascular service line as a whole, but also contribute to the DMC's overall mission of creating a community built on care," said Tony Tedeschi, MD, chief executive officer of DMC.

Prior to her position at the DMC, Piña served as a professor of medicine and professor of epidemiology and population health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine; and the associate chief for academic affairs and cardiology director at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Not only is Piña a well-respected physician and teacher, but also a contributor to more than 200 scientific publications, who has received dozens of honors and awards throughout her career.

In Memoriam: Shahbudin H. Rahimtoola, MD, MACC

Shahbudin H. Rahimtoola, MD, MACC, a visionary educator and mentor, passed away on Dec. 10, 2018. Born in Bombay, Rahimtoola moved to the U.S. from the United Kingdom in 1963. In the U.S. he was associated with the Mayo Clinic, University of Illinois and Cook County Hospital, and the University of Oregon, before becoming chief of the division of cardiology at University of Southern California from 1980 to 1992. In 1984 he became the first George C. Griffith Professor of Cardiology and in 1993 he became distinguished professor at the Keck School of Medicine.

Rahimtoola is best known for his work in valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, results of cardiac surgery, and arrhythmias along with cardiomyopathy and congenital heart disease. He served the ACC as a trustee, as well as a member of the editorial board of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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2018 Top Clinical Trials

The past year was a big year for prevention, especially in lipids and diabetes, according to Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, senior associate editor of ACC.org. There were also important advances in electrophysiology, interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery. Not to mention, that we continue to still learn about aspirin. The following are the top clinical trials from 2018 on ACC.org.

• ARRIVE: Aspirin to Reduce Risk of Initial Vascular Events
• ASCEND Aspirin: A Study of Cardiovascular Events in Diabetes
• ASCEND Omega-3: A Study of Cardiovascular Events in Diabetes
• CABANA: Catheter ABlation vs ANtiarrhythmic Drug Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation
• CIRT: Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trial
• COAPT: Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation
• DECLARE-TIMI 58: Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 58
• ODYSSEY OUTCOMES: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab
• REDUCE-IT: Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With Icosapent Ethyl-Intervention Trial
• REGROUP: Randomized Endovein Graft Prospective
• SMART-DATE: Safety of 6-Month Duration of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes

Don't see a trial on this list? Share your picks for 2018 hot clinical trials on Twitter using #CardiologyMag.

Scam Alert!

The ACC has received several reports of members receiving letters from a group called the American Board of Cardiology or the American Board of Cardiovascular Disease requesting dues payments. These groups are NOT affiliated with the ACC in any way, and all requests for payments should be ignored.

Before joining any organization, check to see if it has a history of affiliation with another established organization, board or accredited educational body. In addition, be cautious of organizations that do not provide a phone number or physical location when contacting you.

Additionally, there are several reports of fraudulent websites posing as official websites for ACC.19. Use caution and avoid sharing any personal or financial information with unfamiliar websites. Registration and housing for ACC.19 can be accessed via the official meeting website at accscientificsession.acc.org.

ACC members are encouraged to contact ACC Member Care to report suspicious messages, requests or use of the College's name or logo. The ACC Member Care can be reached by phone at 202-375-6000, ext. 5603 or by email at resource@acc.org.

Renowned Cardiologist Roberto Canessa, MD, to Kick Off ACC.19

Born in Uruguay in 1953, Roberto Canessa, MD, is arguably best known for surviving a horrific plane crash in the Andes when he was a 19-year-old medical student. Since then, he has added world-renowned pediatric cardiologist to his accomplishments.

In October 1972, Canessa, a member of the Uruguayan rugby team, was flying with the team to a match in Chile when their plane went down. After battling extreme conditions and a rising death toll for two months, Canessa and teammate Fernando Parrado hiked through the Andes into Chile to get help for their 14 remaining team members. This experience went on to inspire Canessa's lifelong work in pediatric cardiology. His efforts over the last many decades have saved the lives of countless infants with severe heart defects, previously considered untreatable.

As ACC's 2019 Simon Dack Keynote, Canessa will talk about these experiences and accomplishments during the Opening Showcase Session in New Orleans, LA.

Pack Your Bags for ACC's Cardiovascular Summit

ACC's Cardiovascular Summit: Contemporary Strategies for Leadership, Quality Improvement, Operational Excellence and Finance is fast approaching. The three-day meeting taking place Feb. 13-16 in Orlando, FL, will provide innovative approaches and practical solutions for meeting cardiovascular management and leadership challenges.

In addition to sunscreen, attendees should plan for the following:

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