Convocation has long been a time for celebration. For 71 years we have welcomed new members to the ACC family, recognized the incredible achievements of award winners, and ushered in the College's new leaders.

This year is no different. However, this year we have added reasons to celebrate. The fact that so many of us are here – in this room – after two years of virtual ceremonies is special on its own.

I challenged us last year at my inaugural speech to come together as a cardiovascular community. Social connection and emotional connectivity is so important – particularly after the social isolation and distancing and the multitude of emotions from fear to sadness to fatigue brought by the pandemic.

I have said we cannot help each other without taking care of ourselves. I challenge us to share our stories and look for inspiration.

This past year, I sought to address these challenges and bring us together in meaningful ways. My monthly "Coffee with the ACC President" events, featuring informal discussions with thought leaders in the world of cardiology, medicine, health care and beyond, were designed to inspire and connect our global community.

Despite the pandemic, we also came together in more ways than ever to collaborate, connect locally, nationally and globally. Our State and International Chapters, Member Sections and our partner cardiovascular societies have all been important collaborators in these efforts.

We found out how truly stronger we are together. And, it's fitting that my year is culminating with this incredible meeting that we've all been a part of over the past three days.

Besides underscoring the importance of collaborating and connecting, the global nature and the impact of COVID-19 has also taught us other important lessons. We pivoted rapidly to promote innovation and digital transformation by launching remote care and embracing teleheath to continue to provide access and care.

We began to appreciate health inequities and the role of social determinants of health.

We saw the strengths and weakness of our systems of care and drove care transformation. We continue to accelerate the transition to value by shifting more inpatient care to outpatient care.

We reshaped our clinical workforce and proved that that team-based care works and is necessary.

And we persevered to care not only for our patients but ourselves with a focus on providing tools and resources to address clinician well-being.

As I mentioned in my Opening Showcase address on Saturday – we have handled the pandemic with extraordinary grace – Gratitude, Resilience, Aspiration, Courage and Empathy. But now is the time for us to take Grace and apply it to other areas undergoing change and transformation.

We need to embrace innovation and embrace each other. We need to value the diverse perspectives, experiences and views that we bring to the table to learn how to think differently and approach challenges from new angles.

We need to be our own Heroes – sharing and fostering Hope, Efficacy, Resilience and Optimism so that we can achieve our Vision of a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes for EVERYONE.

Throughout this year, I sought to think big and bold. I sought to lay the groundwork for issues that will transform our profession and have lasting value.

To all of the new Fellows and Associates in the audience, I encourage you to think of ways to meet our challenges and move the profession to new heights. Do not to be afraid to try new things, ask questions and/or take advantage of opportunities that present themselves, no matter how small or how big.

I like the quote from Roy Bennett that says: "Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart."

Examples of this in action, include the transformational work on TAVR that pioneers like Professor Cribier started 20 years ago. It wasn't easy, but they persevered and have changed the lives of thousands of patients.

Think of the NCDR, and how hard it must have been to make the decision to put money aside for a project to collect data that could expose our weaknesses. Yet we persisted and now we have a treasured asset that is respected by lawmakers, health systems, industry, and us.

Throughout my presidential year, I strived to lay the groundwork for other exciting endeavors like these that can move the College and the profession forward.

What if we fully embrace digital transformation and what if that helps us scale health equity, clinician well-being and the other goals of the Quintuple Aim, including better outcomes, improved care and lower costs? What if we really do health care rather than just sick care?

I would like to see these goals realized in my lifetime. It will require upping our game and building on the work we have done this past year to address the health inequities in the U.S. and the around the world.

It will mean growing and expanding our profession, along with the pipeline of future leaders who may someday stand on this very stage.

There are so many ways to contribute to this profession, and I challenge you to think big and help in our journey to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health

This is our future. YOU are the future. We will go far because of each of you and the work we can do together. A leadership lesson I have learned is that you cannot do it alone.

You are only as strong as the team around you. The ACC is an incredible team and it has truly been an honor to work with all of you and to lead the College during this unprecedented time in our history.

Before I close, I want to reiterate my thanks to our Member Sections, our Assembly of International Governors, and our Board of Governors for their tireless work to ensure the needs of cardiovascular clinicians everywhere are met. I also want to thank our society partners around the world for your shared commitment to science, education, and improving the lives of patients living with heart disease.

To my colleagues on the Board of Trustees – thank you for your leadership, your wisdom and your friendship. Thanks to each of you, the College was able to flourish during a year where "languishing" was cited as the dominant emotion.

Most importantly, I'd like to thank my family and my husband for their unwavering support. I also want to thank ACC CEO Cathy Gates and all of our incredible ACC staff. Additionally, thank you to my California ACC family with Lianna Collinge at the helm, and my friends Drs. Thad Waites, Rick Chazal, Mike Valentine, and Sam Jones for their support.

I stand here with gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president of the ACC – this has been one of the biggest highlights of my career and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to help shape the College's history.

Thank you for your trust in me and I look forward to our continued work together.

Keywords: ACC Annual Scientific Session, ACC22, ACC International

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