The ACC celebrates the 34 centers that achieved the Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Quality Network Award for 2023! This recognition highlights each center's commitment to high standards and dedication to advancing care quality through data collection and quality improvement.

Join your colleagues at ACC.25, taking place March 29-31, 2025, in Chicago, IL, and get the knowledge you need to transform cardiovascular care for all! You'll have the opportunity to discuss the latest science with top experts, learn how clinical guidelines translate into your daily practice, and build lasting connections with your peers. Register by Nov. 20 to SAVE up to $300 with early bird discounts and get all-inclusive access to ACC.25!

NCDR is seeking comments on proposed updates to electrophysiology (EP) sections of the IMPACT Registry, including the addition of a dedicated section for capturing cardiovascular implantable electronic device procedures and improvements to the existing EP study module, both with and without ablation.

Transform the future of patient care by sharing your late-breaking clinical trial (LBCT) research with the global cardiovascular community at ACC.25, taking place March 29-31, 2025, in Chicago, IL.

The ACC congratulates the dedicated hospitals and clinics in the Adult Congenital & Pediatric Quality Network and the IMPACT Registry for their outstanding contributions to congenital cardiovascular care. As the U.S. News & World Report releases their list of children's hospitals, the ACC recognizes these sites and their commitment to improving the lives of children and adults with congenital heart disease. Parents seeking top-notch medical care can rely on these exceptional facilities for integrated cardiovascular services. View the full listing here.

The ACC is currently accepting submissions of abstracts, complex clinical cases and interventional challenging cases to be presented at ACC.25, taking place March 29-31, 2025, in Chicago, IL. Submit your research for a chance to transform the future of cardiovascular care by sharing your research with over 12,000 attendees from more than 130 countries. The deadline for all submissions is 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Don't miss your chance to be part of ACC.25 — submit your abstract or case today!

Join ACC on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. ET for a webinar discussing what can be done for artificial intelligence (AI) in limited resource settings.

As part of ongoing efforts to report meaningful outcomes and improve patient care, several important updates have been proposed for ACC's IMPACT Registry, including a revised set of procedural outcome modules...

Join Chair Natalie Bello, MD, MPH, FACC and Vice Chair Deirdre J. Mattina, MD, FACC at Cardio-Obstetrics Essentials, taking place Nov. 1-3 in Washington, DC or virtually. This interprofessional course will provide you with current recommendations for the evaluation, clinical management, treatment and risk stratification of people with, or at risk for, cardiovascular disease during pregnancy. This is your chance to join our efforts to improve both maternal and fetal outcomes! Advanced registration ends Oct.1. Register now.

Enhanced dashboards for all NCDR registries – including the IMPACT Registry – are now available. The new dashboards provide robust visualizations and a faster, more dynamic data customer experience to support facilities, health systems and clinical care teams in their commitment to optimizing cardiovascular patient care and outcomes. Learn more about the dashboards' capabilities to provide actionable insights here. Plus, current NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services participants can access an "Introduction to NCDR's New Dashboards" course in the QII Learning Center.

Join the Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section on June 26 at 5 p.m. ET for a webinar focusing on how to perform artificial intelligence (AI) through a multicenter approach for pediatric cardiology. Learn more.

MedAxiom has developed a confidential survey to identify trends in staffing levels, roles and compensation related to pediatric echo studies across the U.S. If your program (whether its focus is pediatric or adult congenital heart disease) offers pediatric echo studies, please have your echo department leader take five to 10 minutes to complete the survey. You can preview the survey questions, save your answers, and submit a survey response more than once for your program. By sharing your experiences, you will receive access to the benchmarking report and contribute to the collective knowledge that advances pediatric cardiac sonography. Take the survey here.

Connect with colleagues, learn from section leaders about key initiatives and discover ways to get involved at the Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section Meeting at ACC.24. Light refreshments will be served. The event will take place on Saturday, April 6 at 5:45 p.m. ET, at Omni Atlanta at Centennial Park, Dogwood A. Reserve your spot today.

Join your colleagues at ACC.24 for ACPC Community Day! Network with colleagues, discover the latest section activities and learn about strengthening the workforce, navigating residency training changes, and exploring leadership pathways. The event will take place Friday, April 5 at 1 p.m. ET at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Embassy C. Reserve your spot today.

Submit your challenging rheumatic heart disease (RHD) cases highlighting the global burden of cardiovascular disease for a forthcoming special issue or mini-focus issue planned for fall or winter 2024. Topics range from pediatric acute RHD to primary prevention strategies, complex valvular heart disease and more. Submissions in any format are welcome and are due by Tuesday, April 30. Learn more.

Submit your challenging rheumatic heart disease (RHD) cases highlighting the global burden of cardiovascular disease for a forthcoming special issue or mini-focus issue planned for fall or winter 2024. Topics range from pediatric acute RHD to primary prevention strategies, complex valvular heart disease and more. Submissions in any format are welcome and should be made by Tuesday, April 30. Learn more.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defect, with nearly 1 out of 100 babies born with some sort of structural heart defect. Thanks to advancements in CHD treatment, more than 2 million adults in the U.S. are living with CHD today. During Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, take advantage of ACC's CHD tools and resources, including ACC's IMPACT Registry, CardioSmart's CHD Hub, the latest research and more! These tools are geared toward providing clinicians with insights and helping to facilitate conversations with patients about their condition. Learn more.

Join your colleagues in Atlanta, April 6-8, for ACC.24 and explore the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Learning Pathway to learn from the strongest minds on new and fresh topics in the field of pediatric and CHD. This year, the learning pathway includes a special focus on pregnancy and the ongoing work to improve diversity in the workforce. Register by March 6 to SAVE and learn more about all ACC.24 has to offer!

Are you a cardiologist, surgeon or doctorate-level educated researcher interested in participating as an investigator and leader in cardiovascular clinical trials research? Apply by Friday, Jan. 12 to join the next cohort of the Clinical Trials Research Program and gain the tools you need to advance your career in clinical trial research. Selected participants will receive support for travel expenses and will be invited to write and submit an original research proposal to be considered for a one-year research award. Learn more and apply.

Join ACC's Adult and Congenital Pediatric Cardiology Section on Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET for a discussion on how to get started using artificial intelligence (AI) in pediatric cardiology...

The ACC is seeking two qualified candidates to serve as Writing Committee Co-Chairs for a new multi-societal advanced training statement on adult congenital heart disease (ACHD): one co-chair who is board certified in cardiovascular disease and ACHD; and one co-chair who is board certified in pediatric cardiology and ACHD.

U.S. News & World Report recently released the 2024 edition of the "Best Hospitals" guidebook, featuring more than 2,000 hospitals, health systems and facilities participating in NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services.

Join us virtually for Cardio-Obstetrics Essentials: Team-Based Management of Cardiovascular Disease and Pregnancy on Dec. 15. This interprofessional course is focused on providing a basic to intermediate level of education on the evolving field of cardio-obstetrics and will convene a uniquely qualified and diverse group of cardiologists, maternal-fetal specialists and cardio-obstetrics team members.

Support the 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery by signing a Call to Action on Addressing the Global Burden of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Diseases.

Information on new clinical practice algorithm tools is now available on the ACPC webpage.

We invite you to join the ACPC section as we participate in the 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

The ACC has recognized 32 centers for their commitment to quality improvement through metric submissions to the ACPC Quality Network.

As U.S. News & World Report releases its 2023-2024 "Best Children’s Hospitals" list, the ACC would like to congratulate these hospitals and clinics and their doctor and care team champions. It is through their dedication to improving patient lives that change happens for the better.

JACC: Case Reports is inviting submissions of challenging cardio-obstetrics cases for a special issue or mini-focus issue(s). Topics of interest include valvular heart disease, arrhythmias and congenital heart disease in pregnancy; peripartum cardiomyopathy; and peripartum spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Highlights from the March issue of JACC: Advances include a state-of-the-art review investigating the opportunity to improve congenital heart disease (CHD) care with wearable biosensors; a Cardio-Obstetrics state-of-the-art review on the impact of cardiovascular contributions like cardiac arrest, arrythmia and acute myocardial infarction on severe maternal morbidity; an expert panel paper on the identification and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in South Asian populations in the U.S., and more.

Showcase your work during ACC’s Care of the Athletic Heart, returning June 8-10 in person in Washington, DC, and virtually!

Join Reproductive Health & Cardio-Obstetrics Section Co-Chairs Natalie Bello, MD, MPH, FACC, and Ki Park, MD, FACC, for the inaugural Section Meeting at ACC.23/WCC on Friday, March 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT at the Hilton Riverside, Kabakoff Room.

In an effort to share data, collaborate and develop best practices, ACC's Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology Quality Network is providing an open comment period concerning new adult congenital heart disease metrics.

Join your colleagues at ACC.23 Together With WCC to learn from the strongest minds in the field and engage with both the nuts and bolts of clinical practice...

Join ACC’s Cardio-Obstetrics Work Group on Monday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. ET, for a webinar on the recent JACC: Advances article "The Utilization and Interpretation of Cardiac Biomarkers During Pregnancy."

Join ACC’s Academic Cardiology Section for a “Heart Tank” event on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. ET, focused on congenital heart disease.

Did you know, all of the hospitals on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 list of the top 10 children's hospitals participate in ACC's IMPACT Registry? Hospitals participating in the IMPACT Registry are known for high-quality care and data is put at clinicians’ fingertips.

Don’t miss our next virtual roundtable on June 1 at 6 p.m. ET, where we will discuss the unique challenges, opportunities, and next steps for implementing AI in pediatric and adult congenital cardiology.

JACC: Case Reports is accepting applications for an associate editor specializing in structural heart disease with a focus in adult congenital heart disease. The ideal candidate will have a background as a recognized researcher with a strong track record of original scientific contributions in these clinical areas, experience in editorial and peer review, and a demonstrated ability to work productively in multi-disciplinary team collaborations.

The first issue of JACC: Advances published on April 1. Led by editor-in-chief, Candice Silversides, MD, the online, open-access journal covers the evolving aspects of cardiology, including emerging cardiovascular fields, diagnostics and treatments.

Connect with colleagues and discuss the topics that matter to your daily practice: Register for ACPC Community Day at ACC.22! This event will take place Friday, April 1 from 1 – 5 p.m. ET at the Marriott Marquis, Archives Room.

The Healthcare Innovation and Adult Congenital Pediatric Cardiology Sections are co-hosting a webinar on real-world implementation of artificial intelligence.

The newest JACC Journal, JACC: Advances, is now accepting submissions.

The Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section of the American College of Cardiology, together with colleagues worldwide, mourns the loss of Professor Gary Douglas Webb, MD, FRCPC, FACC, on October 19, 2021.

What role does artificial intelligence (AI) have to play in pediatric cardiology and adult congenital heart disease? ACC's Health Care Innovation and Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Member Sections are partnering on a webinar that examines this question.

Tune in on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. ET for the Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Virtual Career Day!

Improve your knowledge in the field of adult clinical cardiology with ACCSAP. This self-assessment program offers 160 CME/MOC credits and includes over 600 case-based practice questions, 130 modules of text and 50 video presentations from the ACC Cardiovascular Overview and Board Prep course.

The new issue of JACC: Case Reports features a mini-focus issue dedicated to the latest in congenital heart disease.

Have thoughts about the Late Breaking Clinical Trials and Hot Topics? We want to hear them!

Join the Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section on Friday, May 7, at 2 p.m. ET for an interactive, virtual congenital heart disease (CHD) community day.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 26 approved the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve as the world’s first nonsurgical heart valve to treat pediatric and adult patients with a native or surgically-repaired right ventricular outflow tract.

The latest issue of JACC: Case Reports includes a mini-focus section on congenital heart disease (CHD).

Join the ACC in recognizing Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Awareness Week from Feb. 7 – 14 as part of American Heart Month. CardioSmart’s CHD Condition Center provides information for patients to better understand their condition, resources to find support, questions to ask their physicians, and more. In addition, clinicians can easily explain long-term challenges and how to live well with a CHD with CardioSmart’s CHD infographic.

The new decade began with anticipation, but little did we know that we would be blind-sided by events yet unseen by the modern world.

A new MedAxiom publication examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped the future of pediatric cardiology care delivery.

Despite the fact that the majority of medical students are now women, there still exists a major gender gap within several fields, including the specialty of cardiology. For adult cardiology, practicing women physicians make up only 18% of the work force. Even pediatric cardiology remains a male-dominated field within pediatrics; only one-third of board-certified practitioners are female. It naturally follows that these disproportions become even more profound in academic leadership; currently, there are six female division chiefs of pediatric cardiology out of more than 50 academic programs in the U.S.

The newest issue of JACC: Case Reports features a mini-focus issue on congenital heart disease (CHD).

Now live via online open access, the September issue of JACC: Case Reports is divided into three mini-focus issues highlighting coronary pathology, congenital heart disease (CHD) and electrophysiology clinical cases.

Join the ACC in recognizing Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month in partnership with the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation to call attention to the signs, symptoms and risk factors for cardiomyopathy.

Who are among the hidden victims of the COVID-19 pandemic? Patients with congenital heart disease, because of diversion of resources to address the pandemic, potentially leading to these patients being at risk of dying at home or developing complications from their cardiac conditions.

After approving a new specialty designation for "Adult Congenital Heart Disease" (ACHD) in March, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has completed the necessary steps to create the code and make it available for physicians to use in their provider enrollment, effective Oct. 1.

This July will mark 50 years since the beginning of my fellowship in pediatric cardiology. At the American Academy of Pediatrics meeting last Fall, I – along with six other past winners of the Founders Award – was asked to talk about "advice to my younger self."

Welcome to the new reality, a situation far removed from our modern way of life just a short month ago. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented devastation worldwide, resulting in school closures and cancelation of weddings, funerals, the Summer Olympics and all professional meetings, including ACC.20 Together With World Congress of Cardiology (ACC.20/WCC).

A new designation for "Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Specialists" has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The ACC requested this new designation code, which will allow CMS to distinguish ACHD Specialists from clinical cardiologists when billing for Medicare services.

Discuss some of the most pressing issues facing cardiovascular professionals who specialize in congenital heart disease (CHD) at CHD Community Day, taking place March 27 at 1 p.m. CT at ACC.20/Together With World Congress of Cardiology (ACC.20/WCC).

Join the ACC in recognizing Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Awareness Week from Feb. 7 – 14 as part of American Heart Month. CardioSmart's CHD Condition Center provides information for patients to better understand their condition, resources to find support, questions to ask their physicians and more.

Fifteen years ago, the ACC established the Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Section with the mandate to engage like-minded practitioners who care for individuals with congenital heart disease – from fetal life to adulthood – and pediatric patients with acquired heart disease.

New Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) from the ACC, published Jan. 6 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, provide important guidance on the appropriate use of noninvasive cardiac imaging for surveillance and evaluation of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

There are a lot of big ways to get involved with the College – being on a Section Leadership Council, participating on a taskforce or committee, or serving as faculty for a live course, to name a few. However, we know that not everyone has the time for some of these larger-scale commitments. That's why the ACC is excited to announce the launch of our Microvolunteering Platform.

Applications are now being accepted for the ACC Leadership Academy Cohort IV, which will launch at ACC.20/World Congress of Cardiology in Chicago, IL.

Join world-renowned cardiologist and course director Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, at ACC's New York Cardiovascular Symposium, taking place Dec. 6 – 8.

Join the ACC in recognizing Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month in partnership with the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation to call attention to the signs, symptoms and risk factors for cardiomyopathy.

MedAxiom's CV Transforum Fall'19 conference is the perfect opportunity to attend presentations from the nation's top thought leaders and transformational programs to help you learn how to stay ahead in today's rapidly changing health care environment.

ACC's Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section is offering a comprehensive board certification review course to help you prepare for the American Board of Internal Medicine Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Certification Exam schedule for this upcoming November.

Cardiology is the ACC's flagship member magazine — your member magazine — providing cardiovascular professionals with a comprehensive source for clinical and professional news. Find links to all of the July issue's articles and share on social media!

The ACC has made a select number of travel awards available to cover expenses for members to travel to ACC's 2019 Legislative Conference, Nov. 3 – 5, in Washington, DC.

The ACC.19 Meeting Coverage Page on ACC.org now features post-meeting content on congenital heart disease (CHD) and pediatric cardiology to reinforce the teaching points and education presented during ACC.19.

Four members of ACC's Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Section recently were among the six recipients of research grants from the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) to advance the science of congenital heart disease (CHD) in adults.

Get a unique perspective on ACC.19 by following this year's Learning Pathway Tweeters.

Join the ACC in recognizing Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Awareness Week from Feb. 7 – 14 as part of American Heart Month.

As we gear up for ACC.19, don't miss out on the many ACC ACPC Section gatherings and networking opportunities that take place at the meeting.

Join us at the ACC.19 All-Section Reception, March 17, from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Grand Ballroom A.

In a recent Expert Analysis, Beth Foreman, DO, and Saurabh Rajpal, MBBS, MD, discuss pulmonary hypertension in congenital heart disease (CHD) and pregnancy.

Take advantage of free, online certified educational activities to fulfill your 2018 CME requirements and earn MOC credit at the same time!

In the latest issues of Cardiology, deep-dive into the emerging risk factors of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

In this deep-dive video discussion, Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC; Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC; Anne B. Curtis, MD, FACC; Peter Libby, MD, FACC; and Marc Ruel, MD, MPH, share their perspectives on the most significant science released during AHA.18.

The September 2018 issue of Cardiology, YOUR member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

ACC.19 registration is NOW OPEN exclusively for ACC members. Nonmember registration will open Wednesday, Sept. 26. Register early for the lowest rates and best selection of hotel rooms!

While heart failure is an uncommon complication of breast cancer treatment, the risk may be higher in patients treated with certain types of chemotherapy and lower in younger patients, according to a study published Aug. 6 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

On Valentine’s Day 1994, I was 5 years old and carefully crafting a card for my grandparents in art class. I remember gluing a white lace heart onto a red sheet of construction paper, excited to share my masterpiece. My grandfather picked me up from the bus stop that afternoon. Once home, he held his chest and reported pain. He tragically died in route to the hospital from a massive myocardial infarction at the age of 61. While I cannot recall if my grandfather’s early death was the impetus for my longstanding aspiration to become a cardiologist, it undoubtedly influenced my interest in preventive cardiology.

The ACC and the American Heart Association have released an updated guideline for the management of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients. The 2018 AHA/ACC Guideline for the Management of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease, published Aug. 16 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, replaces the original guideline published in 2008, and incorporates new data and growing ACHD expertise.

The August 2018 issue of Cardiology, YOUR member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

In a recent expert analysis, Roberta G. Williams, MD, MACC, addresses the status of diversity within pediatric cardiology and provides strategies for a balanced workforce.

Three new metrics for ACC's Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology Quality Network were recently developed that measure image quality, study comprehensiveness and diagnostic accuracy of echocardiograms.

ACPC's Quality Metric Work Group recently developed the CHD Young Adult Transition Policy and the CHD Young Adult Transfer Policy Quality Metrics for use in internal quality improvement programs.  These metrics determine whether or not an institution or clinic has official transition/transfer policies in place for young adults with congenital heart disease available in print or online.

Leave room on your ACC.18 schedule for the Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section meeting on Sunday, March 11, from 5 – 6:30 p.m. ET, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. This is your chance to interact with Section leadership, connect with colleagues and explore opportunities for involvement.

Embarking on its third year at the ACC, the Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology Clinical Topic Collection on ACC.org will continue to be the professional home for the entire congenital and pediatric cardiology cardiovascular team. Over the past year, the Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology Clinical Topic Collection has provided practical clinical guidance for patient care, trainee education and quality improvement.

In the latest ACC Cardiology Hour, Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, is joined by Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC; Rachel J. Lampert, MD, FACC; Prediman K. Shah, MD, MACC; and Chadwick W. Stouffer, MD, in a roundtable discussion of the hottest trials from AHA 2017 in Anaheim, CA. Among the trials discussed are DACAB, CANVAS, EXSCEL, POISE-2 and more.

Physicians participating in the American College of Cardiology’s Adult Congenital and Pediatric (ACPC) quality network can earn Part IV Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits by collecting and submitting data, and meeting meaningful participation requirements outlined by the ACC and American Board of Pediatrics.

In conjunction with the ACC Committee Nominations cycle, the College’s Membership Committee is now accepting applications through Sept. 22. The Membership Committee was established as part of the 2015 College’s governance transformation and serves as standing committee of the College, reporting directly to the Board of Trustees.

The August 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

On July 14, the ACC and the American Heart Association (AHA) published the first extensive data dictionary for the outpatient domain of pediatric and congenital cardiology, the 2017 AHA/ACC Key Data Elements and Definitions for Ambulatory Electronic Health Records in Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Test your knowledge and earn continuing medical education credits with the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Case Series on ACC.org. This series of cases focuses on the imaging of rare cases presented as adults for the first time, and includes the pros and cons of different imaging modalities.

The July 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

The ACC is seeking qualified candidates to serve as vice chair of the Annual Scientific Session for a two-year term of office for ACC.19 and ACC.20, moving on to assume another two-year term as chair of ACC.21 and ACC.22.

We recently attended a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored workshop titled, Inclusion Across the Lifespan, on behalf of the ACC. The 21st Century Cures Act, signed by Former President Barack Obama in December 2016, mandated the NIH convene a workshop of experts to provide input on appropriate age groups to be included in research studies involving human subjects and acceptable justifications for excluding participants from a range of age groups from human research studies.

The June 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

Ninety percent of the one million children born with congenital heart disease (CHD) each year lack access to the care they need. Far too many of them are dying preventable deaths.

Attending ACC.17? Join us for the All-Section Meeting & Reception at ACC.17! The event happening THIS Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis will give you a chance to learn more about what ACC's 19+ Member Sections are working to accomplish and to connect with members in your specialty or interest areas.

Don't miss the ACPC Section Meeting THIS Friday, March 17 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. at the Washington Marriott Marquis. Engage with Section leadership, network with your colleagues and have your say on the Section’s goals for 2017. We’ll see you on Friday!

ACC's Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Section Leadership Council successfully developed quality measures for pediatric ambulatory care, which led to the development of the ACPC Quality Network as a mechanism to test existing metrics for pediatric cardiology, according to a Council Perspective published Jan. 30 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Mark your calendar for the ACPC Section Meeting on Friday, March 17! Taking place at the Washington Marriott Marquis hotel from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., this event is an unrivaled opportunity to network with your peers and hear from ACPC Member Section leadership on accomplishments and initiatives over the past year and where the Section is headed in the future. RSVP now.

Save the Date for the All-Section Meeting & Reception at ACC.17! Happening on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis, this event will give you a chance to learn more about what ACC’s 19+ Member Sections. Submit your RSVP to attend.

Fellowship training positions in the field pediatric cardiology should be contained at their current levels due to increased competition in the field, according to the U.S. Pediatric Cardiology 2015 Workforce Assessment released Nov. 28 by the ACC, the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, and the Society for Pediatric Cardiology Training Program Directors.

The Summer 2016 issue of Cardiology magazine features an article on Daniel James Penny, MD, PhD, FACC, who organized a collaboration that included a comprehensive teaching program that eventually led to the creation of an international-caliber heart institute in Hué, Vietnam.

One out of every 100 Americans are born with some type of congenital heart defect (CHD), making these the most common birth defects. There are at least 35 known types of heart defects, ranging from relatively minor issues to complex, life-threatening problems.

In the latest issue of CardioSource WorldNews, Gerard R. Martin, MD, FACC, medical director of Global Services of Children’s National Health System and chair of ACC’s Population Health Policy and Health Promotion Committee, discusses challenges in global access to care for pediatric patients.

Earlier this year a team of pediatric and adult congenital specialists, patients and patient advocates collaborated to develop transition tools to provide resources for congenital heart disease (CHD) specialists, families and young adult patients with CHD...

The Spring issue of Cardiology magazine features a story of how team-based care made a life-saving difference in the care of one ACC staff member’s unborn son. Just 20 weeks into her pregnancy, Autumn Niggles, and her husband, Andy, received the unexpected news that their unborn son, Lachlan, had a serious congenital heart defect (CHD). “The most perspective-altering piece of this is that now I see how, when these teams work well, they can make a positive and life-altering difference,” states Autumn...

The IMPACT Registry – ACC's registry assessing the prevalence, demographics, management and outcomes of pediatric and adult congenital heart disease (CHD) patients who undergo diagnostic catheterizations and catheter-based interventions – recently welcomed its 100th participating hospital. Launched as a pilot project in 2009, the registry was implemented in December 2010 and now contains five years of robust data....

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the Cheatham Platinum Stent System for the prevention and/or treatment of aortic wall injury in patients with coarctation of the aorta involving a compliant aortic isthmus or first segment of the descending aorta where there is adequate size and patency of at least one femoral artery and balloon angioplasty is contraindicated or predicted to be ineffective....

As a service to adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) programs and interested applicants, ACC’s Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Section has compiled an ACHD training program directory. In order to allow applicants to interview broadly before they are asked to commit to a program...

ACC’s ACPC Section has developed the ACPC Quality Network (QNet), which gives participants and practices an avenue to review and pilot sets of congenital heart disease (CHD) quality metrics across several domains in pediatric cardiology and CHD.

The cover story in the latest issue of Cardiology magazine offers a historical look at the concept of medical professionalism, as well as resources from the ACC for cardiovascular professionals. This issue also highlights news from ACC’s member sections, including a unique perspective on the impact of team-based care for a pediatric patient born with dextro-transposition of the great arteries.

In a recent Review Topic of the Week, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Michelle Gurvitz, MD, MS, FACC, et al., discuss the high-priority research topics for adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), as identified by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute/American Heart Association working group.

In a recent post on the ACC in Touch Blog in recognition of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week, Marion McRae, ACNP-BC, discusses the importance of transitioning adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients into specialty care. "All cardiac care providers can help get ACHD patients back into specialty care by ensuring that they are referred to ACHD clinics where the expertise exists to evaluate and treat everything from simple to complex congenital heart disease."

The Adult Congenital Heart Association, Children’s Heart Foundation, and Pediatric Congenital Heart Association are collaborating to provide an essential opportunity to unite the congenital heart community and inform policy in Washington D.C. on Feb. 1 – 2. The Congenital Heart Legislative Conference provides an opportunity to engage grassroots advocates while also providing targeted education about congenital heart disease (CHD) to U.S. legislators.

In a recent post on the ACC in Touch Blog, Ada Stefanescu, MD, a fellow in training and a member of ACC’s Adult Congenital Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Section, discusses her experience at ACC’s 2015 Legislative Conference, as well as the renewal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The American College of Cardiology is looking for a new tie design and would like to use this effort to raise awareness for Congenital Heart Disease. As such, the ACC is hosting a contest for patients, parents and CHD colleagues who are willing to share their artistic flair.

The Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Section was one of the two founding Member Sections in the College. During the last decade, ACPC has made exceptional strides in launching quality programs and initiatives to advance salient issues within the ACPC community, in both the ACC and the cardiovascular field as a whole.

Clinical application of the first pediatric appropriate use criteria (AUC) for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is feasible and found most pediatric TTE to be appropriate, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Overall, 85 percent of TTEs were normal.

In a recent Board of Governors Update, Geetha Raghuveer, MBBS, FACC, current Governor of the ACC Missouri Chapter, discusses current public health challenges in the field of pediatric cardiology, as well as the pivotal role the ACC can play in advocating for cardiac patients and care providers. “The politics and business of medicine is changing rapidly for all of us, and it is best that we direct our own change,” explains Raghuveer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 16 issued a warning for Proglycem (diazoxide) after reports of pulmonary hypertension in infants and newborns treated for low blood sugar with the drug. The FDA reports that the pulmonary hypertension improved after Proglycem was stopped. The agency urges health care professionals to closely monitor infants and newborns being treated with the drug and stop treatment if pulmonary hypertension occurs.

In response to input provided by the ACC and other cardiology specialty societies (SCAI, HRS and HFSA) around the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM’s) new requirements for Maintenance of Certification (MOC), the ABIM today announced it is eliminating the requirement to maintain underlying certification in a foundational discipline in order to remain certified in a subspecialty. The ABIM Council unanimously passed the proposal to eliminate this “double jeopardy” provision, noting it was clearly an important topic to the internal medicine community.

In a recent post on the ACC in Touch Blog, Robert H. Beekman, III, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC’s Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section and Leadership Council, examines the principle of patient autonomy as it relates to informed decision making and transparency of medical data. “Transparent sharing of medical data is a hot topic in 2015. Patients are pleading for it.

After years of medical specialty societies and patients advocating for universal screening of critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) in newborns, pulse oximetry testing has finally become routine in the majority of states. Since 2012, 30 states have adopted CCHD screening laws and 39 states will have laws requiring newborn screening for CCHD using the pulse oximetry test by July 1, 2014.

A network of children's hospitals, data partners, and specialty networks is moving forward thanks to an award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to develop and expand its work as part of PCORnet: the National Patient-Centered National Clinical Research Network.

The responsibilities of pediatric cardiologists are no longer limited to seeing that an infant with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) survives to childhood. Today, there are more adults than children with complex CHD, and the numbers continue to increase by about 5 percent a year.

Robert H. Beekman, III, MD, FACC, is the new chair of the ACC's Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section and is currently a professor of pediatric cardiology at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. He is passionate about improving care for patients born with congenital heart disease, and throughout his career he has been an active clinician and educator. His academic interests include cardiac catheterization and quality improvement, and he has published more than 200 manuscripts in cardiology and pediatric journals.