The Smart Heart Sports Coalition announced the launch of a new program, AEDs for Youth, offering new AEDs, essential accessories and device management support to K-12 schools and youth sports organizations at substantial discounts, according to a Good Morning America segment that aired Sept. 23. ACC Sports and Exercise Cardiology Member Section Chair Jonathan H. Kim, MD, FACC, was featured in the segment, and provided clinical perspective on the benefits of improved AED access for sudden cardiac arrest survival. For more on sudden cardiac arrest, explore CardioSmart patient resources and ACC's Early Heart Attack Care program.

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!

There's still time to save on registration for the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) Sports Cardiology Course, taking place Sept. 3 in London and virtually! Learn from lectures, interact with global sports cardiology experts and participate in quizzes from the comfort of your desk. Plus, access the presentations on demand for two months after the meeting. ACC members get 10% off registration – register here.

Join leading sports cardiology experts and Course Chair Meagan Wasfy, MD, MPH, FACC, and Vice Chair Jeffrey Hsu, MD, PhD, FACC, at Care of the Athletic Heart taking place in Washington, DC, or virtually, June 6-8.

The University of Washington is inviting you to become an official contributor to the Outcomes Registry for Cardiac Conditions in Athletes (ORCCA).

The ACC is seeking the next Vice Chair for the Care of the Athletic Heart Planning Committee. The position is a four-year commitment: two years as Vice Chair followed by two years as Chair.

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) has established a research funding opportunity for scientific researchers surrounding the Boston Marathon.

The 2023 ACC Care of the Athletic Heart Conference discussed key controversies in sports cardiology. Leaders in the sports cardiology field delivered presentations and held expert panel discussions on a range of highly debated topics within the sports cardiology field.

Although rare, a sports-related sudden cardiac arrest (SrSCA) and/or sudden cardiac death (SCD) in an athlete is a devastating, heartbreaking event with significant emotional and societal impact.

The ACC, along with 26 other organizations, has joined The Smart Heart Sports Coalition, a collaboration convened by the National Football League (NFL) to encourage the adoption of health policies that will prevent death from sudden cardiac arrest among high school students through increased CPR education, AED access and emergency action plan requirements.

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

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

ACC’s Care of the Athletic Heart returns June 8-10 in person in Washington, DC, and virtually!

Join Matthew W. Martinez, MD, FACC; Michael J. Ackerman, MD, PhD, FACC; and Erica Spatz, MD, for Real-World Shared Decision Making Conversations: Sudden Cardiac Death in HCM in Stop 5: HCM Shared Decision Making: Conversations That Count.

The latest issue of JACC: Case Reports features the first-ever focus issue highlighting sports cardiology. Clinical cases include cardiac arrest in a softball player following a collision, swimming-induced pulmonary edema, acute deep vein thrombosis in a cyclist with iliac vein compression from psoas muscle hypertrophy, and more.

The full Route HCM online course is available now! Join Matthew W. Martinez, MD, FACC, Michael J. Ackerman, MD, PhD, FACC, and Erica Spatz, MD, for Real-World Shared Decision Making Conversations: Sudden Cardiac Death in HCM in Stop 5: HCM Shared Decision Making: Conversations That Count.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common genetic cardiovascular diseases. The good news is HCM is highly treatable once it is recognized. The HCM: Accelerating Guideline-Driven Care online course provides educational resources to improve patient outcomes.

At Emory University School of Medicine, the cardiovascular disease fellowship – led by Program Director, B. Robinson Williams III, MD, FACC, and Associate Director, Puja Mehta, MD, FACC – offers a 4-year clinical investigator track.

Did you miss attending this year's Care of the Athletic Heart?

The ACC's Accelerating Innovation for Medical Excellence in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (AIME HCM) initiative is designed to amplify education, research efforts, clinical guidance and practical tools to increase awareness and understanding of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and optimize treatment and outcomes.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common genetic cardiovascular diseases. The good news is HCM is highly treatable once it is recognized. Part of the Accelerating Innovation for Medical Excellence in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (AIME HCM) initiative, this online course will ease the challenge of adopting new ACC/AHA guidelines and simplify the patient journey.

The month of June, known as the "gateway to summer," heralds ACC's annual Care of the Athletic Heart meeting. This year, the flagship meeting of the Sports and Exercise Cardiology Section will take place virtually on June 3.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common genetic cardiovascular diseases. The good news is HCM is highly treatable once it is recognized. Part of the Accelerating Innovation for Medical Excellence in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (AIME HCM) initiative, this online course will ease the challenge of adopting new ACC/AHA guidelines and simplify the patient journey.

JACC: Case Reports will publish a special themed issue on sports cardiology in 2022. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts in the form of clinical cases, clinical case series and clinical vignettes for consideration.

A new Expert Consensus Decision Pathway released by the ACC addresses the evaluation and management of some of the more common cardiovascular sequelae in adults with COVID-19.

Join your colleagues virtually and register for Care of the Athletic Heart on June 3 for live sessions, panel discussions, debates and a Q&A!

JACC: Case Reports will publish a special themed issue on sports cardiology in 2022. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts in the form of clinical cases, clinical case series and clinical vignettes for consideration by March 14.

In October 2020, the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) Sports & Exercise Cardiology Council put forth revised consensus recommendations regarding return-to-play (RTP) for athletes after SARS-Coronavirus-2 (COVID-19) infection.

ACC's Electrophysiology and Sports and Exercise Cardiology Member Sections are teaming up to mark Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month in October with a new webinar.

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.

Access Care of the Athletic Heart Virtual On Demand today and learn fundamental cardiovascular diagnostic and management strategies through cases, research and treatment options.

Use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to screen competitive collegiate athletes with COVID-19 may increase detection of clinical and subclinical myocarditis, according to a study published May 27 in JAMA Cardiology.

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

There are an estimated 5 million active athletes at the high school, collegiate, professional and master's levels in the U.S. In a recent poll, cardiologists indicated they see an average of five patients who are athletes per week.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about the cardiovascular sequalae associated with COVID-19 infection drove discussions about the potential impact on recovered athletes returning to play.

In case you missed it, the recording for MedAxiom's webinar, "Cardiovascular Care for Athletes in the COVID Era" is now available.

As critical data to advance the understanding of COVID-19 outcomes in athletes is currently being collected, thoroughly rehearsed emergency action planning represents the best strategy to save lives, according to a paper published Oct. 26 in JAMA Cardiology.

Join the ACC for a webinar, Oct. at 7 p.m. ET, discussing the uncertainties regarding COVID-19 infection on the heart in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients, including athletes.

As global health measures designed to control the transmission of COVID-19 have limited public gatherings, the continuum of athletics has been necessarily disrupted.

Interest in sports and exercise cardiology has witnessed a significant rise in recent years. However, there are only a few dedicated sports cardiology programs in the U.S. and limited opportunities for training.

Join the Sports and Exercise Section for a webinar, Sept. 3 at noon ET, to discuss returning to youth sports after COVID-19 infections.

ACC's COVID-19 Hub is your resource for "Quick Tips" videos that address emerging and persistent issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As societies have embarked on their reopening plans, a central question among sports medicine and cardiology practitioners has been: How can we safely resume sport and exercise in the current pandemic environment?

On Saturday, June 20, ACC's Sports and Exercise Council led a virtual version of the Care of the Athletic Heart: From Elite to Exercise Enthusiast annual meeting. Thus far, more than 500 registrants have accessed the education, which will continue to be available on demand through the end of the year.

While the resumption of competitive sport in the U.S. ultimately depends on public health policy, it is evident that the cardiovascular management of athletes recovering from COVID-19, including return-to-play, poses numerous and significant challenges.

The ACC is excited to host Care of the Athletic Heart Virtual on Saturday, June 20 to give the sports cardiology community the opportunity to connect and learn from and support one another.

In addressing the need for more dedicated sports and exercise cardiology education, support for providers in this field, and related policy advocacy at the state level, the ACC California Chapter – led by Chapter President Ramin Manshadi, MD, FACC, and Matthew T. Wheeler, MD – formed the ACC California Chapter Exercise Health and Sports Cardiology Committee in 2019.

Connect with other Sports and Exercise Section members at the Sports and Exercise Section Meeting, taking place March 27 at 6 p.m. CT, at ACC.20 Together With World Congress of Cardiology.

Join course director Jonathan Kim, MD, FACC, and other sports cardiology experts from around the world at ACC's Care of the Athletic Heart: From Elite to Exercise Enthusiasts course, taking place June 18 – 20 in Washington, DC.

It is well recognized that exercise is one of the most powerful tools for improving health overall. Yet, for a small number of individuals who harbor cardiac conditions, exercise can sometimes be associated with the risk of sudden death, what is also called the exercise paradox. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most frequent medical cause of sudden death in athletes, and estimates vary widely based on the population.

The 2019 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions (AHA), held in Philadelphia last month, featured a joint session with the ACC dedicated to the "Care of the Athletic Heart," along with a number of sports and exercise cardiology-related research.

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.

ACC Past President Alfred A. Bove, MD, PhD, MACC, a true cardiovascular innovator, educator and patient advocate, passed away on Oct. 17. Aside from a short period of time at the Mayo Clinic, Bove spent the majority of his cardiovascular career at Temple University, serving in positions ranging from associate dean to section chief in cardiology.

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

The ACC (@ACCinTouch) and the Heart Rhythm Society (@HRSonline) are partnering to mark AFib Awareness Month with a Twitter chat on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. ET. Use the hashtags #AFibAwareness and #LifestyleAndAFib to ask questions, share knowledge and have your say!

Sports cardiology experts from around the world convened at ACC's Care of the Athletic Heart course last month to provide contemporary care and practice management strategies needed to care for patient athletes.

In a recent article, Eugene H. Chung, MD, FACC, provided key points to remember from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology Position Statement on recommendations for participation in competitive and leisure sport in athletes with cardiomyopathies, myocarditis and pericarditis.

Two resolutions addressing screening of scholastic athletes and chemical variability in pharmaceutical products, respectively, were introduced by the ACC and considered during the American Medical Association's House of Delegates meeting last month in Chicago, IL.

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.

Check out the ACC.19 Meeting Coverage Page for new post-meeting content on sports and exercise cardiology.

Top experts from around the world will come together to meet the growing demands for professional, recreational, occupational and tactical athletes at ACC's Care of the Athletic Heart course, taking place June 20 – 22 in Washington, DC.

Join sports cardiology experts at Care of the Athletic Heart: From Elite to Exercise Enthusiasts as they provide you with contemporary care and practice management strategies you need to care for your patient athletes.

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.

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 ACC held its annual sports cardiology conference, "Care of the Athletic Heart: Contemporary Concepts, Cases and Controversies," in June 2018 with more than 150 sports cardiology and sports medicine practitioners in attendance.

Enhance your knowledge and earn credit on the eligibility and disqualification recommendations for competitive athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities in a recent Certified Patient Case on ACC.org.

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!

A series of eight state-of-the-art reviews is now publishing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). One review is publishing each week, examining the top risk factors affecting the cardiovascular health of patients: diet, tobacco, lipid control/cholesterol, blood pressure, psychological health, weight, physical activity and blood sugar.

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 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!

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against preventative screening with resting or exercise electrocardiography in asymptomatic adults at low risk of cardiovascular disease events in an updated recommendation statement published June 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the number one medical cause of death in young athletes and often happens in those who do not know they have a heart problem. To raise awareness about this issue and help patients learn more about this condition, ACC’s CardioSmart team has created an infographic as well as a new sports and SCA condition center.

Join sports cardiology experts from around the world at the Care of the Athletic Heart course in Park City, UT, June 21 – 23, as they provide attendees with the most contemporary strategies needed to care for patient athletes.

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.

The ACC, along with the American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society, have published new guidelines for the treatment of adult patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) or who are at risk for sudden cardiac death. The new guidelines replace the 2006 ACC/AHA/SC Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death and provide recommendations regarding general evaluation of patients with documented or suspected VA; treatments, therapies and prevention of VA; acute management of specific VA; and VA in the structurally normal heart.

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!

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.

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!

Join sports cardiology experts at the Care of the Athletic Heart course in Snowbird, UT, June 22 – 24, as they provide attendees with the most contemporary strategies needed to care for patient athletes.

In a recent Expert Analysis, James Beckerman, MD, FACC, a member of the Sports and Exercise Cardiology Section Leadership Council, discusses how he created ‘Play Smart Youth Heart Screenings,’ a free youth heart screening program in Portland, OR, and how other clinicians can address the questions to consider when offering a screening program.

A recent Fellows in Training (FIT) and Early Career Page, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and authored by Maxwell Eyram Afari, MD, focuses on how sports cardiology became a subspecialty and the opportunities for FITs and Early Career cardiologists within the subspecialty.

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.

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.

The Summer 2016 issue of Cardiology magazine highlights the work of Benjamin D. Levine, MD, FACC, and his team at the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Resources in Dallas, as they investigate how sustained high-intensity exercise affects cardiovascular health.

The latest ACC Journal Club discussion is now available online. Click on the article to view slides and hear experts discuss “Etiology of Sudden Death in Sports: Insights From a United Kingdom Regional Registry,” recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The growing volume of exercise-driven baby boomers requires a larger contingent of practice-ready clinicians to provide high quality, cost efficient cardiovascular care to athletes across-the-lifespan. ACC’s course, Care of the Athletic Heart: Translating Clinical Science into Practice Strategies, June 17 – 18...

A new consensus statement, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, establishes guidance for conducting pre-participation screenings of college athletes and encourages emergency action plans for quickly responding to sudden cardiac arrest. The statement was developed by a 29-person task force convened by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in September 2014 that included multidisciplinary physician specialists and athletic trainers representing national sports and medical associations, including the ACC.

The ACC/AHA Task Force on Performance Measures has developed a prevention of sudden cardiac death measure set. The Task Force is seeking public comments on the measure set. Before completing the survey, please review the draft prevention of sudden cardiac measure set. To provide comments, please access the survey here. If you need to exit the survey before you have finished commenting, you can save your responses and return to the survey later.

Even small amounts of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, but more exercise may lead to an even greater reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a clinical perspective from the ACC Sports and Exercise Cardiology Leadership Council published Jan. 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

In a recent post on the ACC in Touch Blog, Alfred A. Bove, MD, PhD, MACC, discusses current research on the continued prevalence of the elderly in running races and the safety of exercise in older patients. “The older athletes don’t compete with the front runners, but remain committed to participating and competing among their peers or just improving their ‘personal best’... How should we approach the older man or woman who wants to exercise, or to continue exercising as a part of their daily life, with atherosclerotic risk and ischemia the major concern?”

Athletes with irregular heart beat caused by long QT syndrome and those with an implanted medical device may safely play competitive sports, according to new recommendations from the ACC and American Heart Association published Nov. 2 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Previous recommendations stated that the risk of sudden cardiac death was too high in athletes with Long QT syndrome or with heartbeat disorders treated by an implanted device, but new research indicates that the risk is lower than previously thought. These athletes may now be able to compete with the approval of their health care provider.

With four seconds on the clock, the rumble of the crowd is deafening. The entire school is on their feet, doused in green and gold, anxiously waiting for the play that will lead them to victory or defeat. The quarterback takes the snap, reads the coverage, sets up to pass and suddenly falls to the ground. This is no blitz. This is sudden cardiac death and it’s the last time the young quarterback will ever be sacked.

Dear Section Members, The Sport and Exercise Cardiology Section is committed to providing its members with exceptional resources to ensure the continued deliverance of premium cardiovascular care to athletes and exercising individuals of all ages.

In a recent post on the ACC in Touch Blog, Aaron L. Baggish, MD, FACC, explores ways to get to know athletic patients, including his own recent experience at a running race.

Did you know there are 20 Clinical Topic Collections on ACC.org, with editorial boards creating content every week? In each Clinical Topic Collection, you can find the latest news, guidelines, JACC articles, education, expert commentary, and more.

The cover story in a recent issue of Cardiology magazine provides an in-depth look at big data and its implications on the future of medicine. It also features an article about the CardioEncounters program, a new approach to patient-clinician interactions, and includes an exclusive interview with the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco Robert Califf, MD, MACC.

This resource explains how cardiovascular specialists can take a proactive approach and partner with the ACC Advocacy team to advance sensible policies and become trusted, expert constituents for state lawmakers.

What are the false positive and false negative rates in any particular cohort and what about the cost to players for these errors? I believe that image quality and the experience of the reader are the primary predictors of these errors; these are of the highest quality at the Combine.

Many of us on both sides of the screening debate are concerned about the risk of false positives. That is why we have refined our electrocardiogram interpretations, thanks to the development of the Seattle Criteria. In our own program experience, this criteria has resulted in us performing echocardiograms in only 3 percent of our screening population.