Reflections on the ACC IM-Cardiology Program

July 5, 2022   |  Carolyne N Kuria, MD

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Cardiology Magazine

Carolyne Njeri Kuria, MD, and her ACC IM-Cardiology mentor, Helga Van Herle, MD, FACC.

I first felt the weight of being an under-represented minority (URM) when I applied to medical school. I bested the hurdles of becoming a first-generation physician, only to realize that pursuing cardiology would be an even bigger challenge. Only 12.8% of adult cardiology fellows met the Association of American Medical College's definition for URMs in 2016. Representation in subspecialty fellowships was even lower: 9.2% of interventional cardiology (IC) fellows and 10.3% of electrophysiology fellows.2 As the only Black internal medicine resident at my institution — where there are three women cardiologists and zero Black cardiologists — I realize my journey to interventional cardiology is a giant dream that will require a village. I found mine through the ACC's mission to increase URMs and women choosing cardiology as a career.1

When I joined the ACC, I yearned to find a group of peers and leaders within the organization with a passion to diversify cardiology to keep up with expanding demographics in the U.S. Due to cardiology's inability to recruit successfully across the entire internal medicine talent pool, the ACC's Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion Initiative was formed in 2017. One of its major tasks included pipeline programs to recruit and retain URMs in cardiology.3 I was accepted to the first cohort: The ACC's 2021 African American/Black Internal Medicine Cardiology Program, led by Quinn Capers IV, MD, FACC. This is where I found strong giants in cardiology that engendered the welcoming village I had been searching for.

The virtual program began with a cameo by former ACC president, Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, MACC, followed by six sessions:

  • Career Trajectory as an African American/Black Cardiologist
  • How to Navigate a Path Through Fellowship/Overcoming Obstacles
  • Academic vs. Private Practice
  • Personal Stories
  • Cardiology Subspecialty Round Robin
  • Q&A With Program Directors

Hearing cardiology fellow, Laurette Mbuntum MD, speak about balancing motherhood while pursuing IC with the help of her mentor, brought tears to my eyes. IC has been known to be less attractive to women due to the bias regarding reproductive years in the lab. Yet, here was a tangible symbol that I, too, could breakthrough all the misconceptions with the right guidance.

"This program provided an enlightening, eye-opening, networking platform for mentorship and collaboration."  — Solomon Badejoko, MD, MPH, Inaugural Member

Each speaker shared how they would be uniquely valuable to us and enthusiastically shared their contact information, even reminding all 80 of us to write down their emails and personal numbers. I admit, I briefly turned off my camera to dab at my eyes several times, especially before the group photo.

Endeavors beyond the virtual program included individual pairing with a mentor and sponsorship to the ACC's 2022 Annual Scientific Sessions in Washington D.C., where we were able to celebrate in-person at The Future of Cardiology Reception. This program is a step towards building equitable environments for candidates like myself, from of diverse backgrounds, matriculating into cardiology to better serve patients and promote health equity.

References:

  1. Douglas PS, Williams KA Sr, Walsh MN. Diversity Matters. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Sep 19;70(12):1525-1529. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.08.003. PMID: 28911516.
  2. Douglas PS, Walsh MN. Increasing Diversity in Cardiology: It Will Take a Village. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Sep 8;76(10):1223-1225. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.07.030. PMID: 32883416; PMCID: PMC7458526.
  3. American College of Cardiology diversity and inclusion strategy. https://www.acc.org/%7E/media/Non-Clinical/Files-PDFs-Excel-MS-Word-etc/About%20ACC/Diversity/2018/03/Diversity-Inclusion-Strategy-Summary.pdf

This article was authored by Carolyne Njeri Kuria, MD, an internal medicine resident at the California University of Science & Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Kuria is an inaugural member of the ACC-IM Cardiology Program.

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