Joseph D. Babb, MD, FACC, a pioneer in interventional cardiology and prominent Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), died recently at age 79.

Babb served as ACC Governor of North Carolina and was instrumental in the founding of the North Carolina Regional Approach to Cardiovascular Emergencies (RACE) project — a statewide system for providing rapid artery reperfusion for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. He served as president of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI), from 2001 to 2002. In 2005, Babb received SCAI’s Distinguished Service Award.

“Joe was a tremendous physician, educator, mentor and friend,” said ACC President C. Michael Valentine, MD, FACC. “ACC Governor and SCAI President, he was a tireless advocate for his patients, quality care, and Interventional Cardiology. He will be sorely missed by all those he touched in a long, successful career.” Read more on ACC.org.