Jan 19, 2016 | Franklyn Agustin Colon Arias, MD
International

Guadalajara-Boo is one of Mexico’s most prominent cardiologists, making great contributions to the Mexican school of cardiology and internationally. With more than 50 years of experience, Guadalajara-Boo has published over 101 original articles in Mexican and foreign indexed journals. He is the author and coauthor of 16 cardiology books and related topics. He is also a member of several cardiology societies around the world.  Guadalajara-Boo is currently the director of education of the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chavez in Mexico City, and is the past-governor of the ACC Mexico Chapter. In this interview, Guadalajara-Boo, who has been a Fellow of the ACC since 1977, shares his insights on the impact of his ACC membership on his cardiology career in Mexico.

What benefits have been offered to you by the ACC during your professional career?

Membership to the ACC has been very important in my professional trajectory since it has connected me to great personalities of the Mexican and foreign cardiology world, and with it the benefits of academic contact and personal relationship exchange. Several big national and international congresses have been organized through the ACC. I remember the National Cardiology Congress that I organized in 1997 and thanks to being a FACC, we had the presence of the ACC. This elevated the scientific quality of the congress. The coexistence of Mexican and American cardiology has been very successful thanks to the ACC. It has served not only to raise the level of academics but also as motivation for all new cardiologists to become better professionals.

What impact has the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) had on your clinical practice?

It is one of the best cardiology journals that exists worldwide, even though it is relatively new compared to other journals. Its scientific quality, in clinical cardiology as well as in the technological aspects and basic science, allows cardiologists to be up-to-date.

As the director of academics of the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chavez what benefits have been offered to you by the Mexican Chapter of the ACC in the formation of your residents?

It has been very beneficial having the ACC Mexico Chapter since it has allowed diverse activities to take place such as congresses and courses which have greatly helped in the formation of future cardiologists all over Mexico. The idea of ​​including a cardiologist during their fellowship training is a way to introduce young cardiologists to the science that shapes our specialty. Being able to access information from the articles in JACC, among other benefits, has enriched the academic background of our cardiologists in training.

Do you have any inspiring words for future cardiologists around the world?

Compared to any other cardiovascular society, the ACC has made the significant efforts to partner with multiple cardiology societies around the world. These connections have had a significant impact on cardiovascular specialties around the world. All members of the ACC are top cardiologists due to the high level of requirements to become a fellow. From the beginning of their training, cardiology residents know the College and are motivated to belong to it. I think that cardiologists should be linked to the ACC as a fellow in training, as ACC membership has great benefits for training and encourages them to belong in the future as a fellow of the ACC. In other words, early ACC membership enables cardiology trainees enter a career that will lead them to become great specialists.

This article was authored by Franklyn Agustin Colon Arias, MD, an international fellow in training (FIT) at the Instituto Nacional Cardiologia Ignacio Chavez in Mexico City, Mexico, and a member of the ACC Mexico Chapter.