Last week I was at Heart House for the December Board of Trustees meeting.  We had a packed agenda and a lot of great ideas were discussed about the future of the College. Among them, the Board approved financing of our digital strategy (highlighted in latest issue of Cardiology magazine), saw a preview of the exciting new design and functionality of the CardioSmart.org website to be launched at ACC.13, heard a compelling ACC Internal Value statement from ACC staff, celebrated reaching more than 6,000 international members, and approved the formation of ACC’s Italy Chapter, our 25th International Chapter! 

The BOT also congratulated the newly elected Board of Governors and its new Chair, Dr. David May, and Chair-Elect, Dr. Michael Mansour. I am also pleased to share that the BOT made its recommendations for the 2013-2014 officers and trustees of the College.  Congratulations to the slated officers Drs. John Gordon Harold, Patrick T. O’Gara, Kim Allan Williams, BOT members Drs. Blair D. Erb and Michael J. Mack, and our new public member trustee Debra L. Ness, MS.  The College is proud to have, for the first time in its history, a public member on its Board of Trustees, who would bring a closer public and patient perspective.  The term of the above nominees will start during ACC.13 in San Francisco.

I can also share that the CEO candidate search is moving along as we spent much of the weekend interviewing our first round of candidates.  As I assured the ACC staff during a presentation on Monday, we have an astounding selection of candidates, but as Aesop once said, “slow and steady wins the race.” We are doing very well and do not want to rush the decision making process. However, we should be on track for a CEO to be chosen hopefully by ACC.13.

On Dec. 4, I flew to New York to attend the first Forbes Healthcare Summit. It was a great full day meeting at the Time Warner Center, assembling key stakeholders within the healthcare debate. Many prominent physicians, CEOs of Pharma, healthcare professionals and patient advocates addressed current challenges and opportunities to make our healthcare system more sustainable. Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief, Forbes Media assembled great panels and presenters, and emphasized putting the consumer in the center of our healthcare industry, to improve affordability, accessibility and transparency.

From there I attended the 45th Annual New York Cardiovascular Symposium chaired by Dr. Valentin Fuster. The symposium was attended by close to 2,000 individuals, half of whom were international participants from all over the world. I gave opening remarks, highlighting our digital strategy, how ACC is sharing knowledge using digital media that complements important face-to-face meetings like the Symposia and our Annual Scientific Session. The NYCV Symposium was started 45 years ago by Dr. Henry I. Russek, and has been chaired by Dr. Fuster for the past 23 years!  Kudos to these two giants for carrying the torch of education for almost half a century.

Speaking of digital media, have you downloaded the Cardiology Magazine App yet? You can easily access the magazine on your tablets or smart phone.  Also, if you haven’t flipped through the Nov./Dec. issue of Cardiology magazine yet, there are a number of articles worth reading including the many values of ACC membership beyond the FACC and ACC designations, solutions for an evolving clinical environment that involve the entire cardiac care team, latest chapter and international news, and more. Download the App here or check out the online issue at CardioSource.org/Cardiology.