Last weekend, nearly 150 new ACC leaders took part in the College’s annual Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. Each year the ACC welcomes a new group of leaders, and the Leadership forum is their opportunity to learn more about their roles and responsibilities, the ACC, its policies and available resources.

Given the rapid and massive changes to the health care landscape over the last several years, the ACC has been working to transition the Leadership Forum into what essentially serves as the equivalent of pre-season training for a sports team. This year’s Leadership Forum focused on providing participants with the tools to successfully lead a team.

Some of the event’s highlights:

• ACC President Ralph Brindis, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.C. and CEO Jack Lewin, M.D., outlined the challenges facing the CV community and highlighted the need for leadership in changing times.
• Joseph Grenny, author of Crucial Conversations, provided a lunchtime address that focused on ways leaders/influencers “have the power to change anything.”
• Dan Reeves, former pro football player for the Cowboys and coach, talked about how his leadership experience as a winning football coach and player coupled with his ability to achieve team camaraderie has enabled him to achieve success.
• ACC Chapters were also recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in the areas of Quality, Advocacy, Education, and Membership and Community.

As chair of the BOG, I’ve seen the challenges facing cardiovascular professionals in academia, private practice, hospitals and integrated systems across the country. Incoming leaders need to know how to adeptly manage these changes, while at the same time continuing to ensure quality, appropriate cardiovascular care. The need for strong and effective leaders at all levels of the College, as well as within the CV profession in general, has never been greater. This year’s Leadership Forum is testament to the fact that there are great leaders, who are in a position to help lead the new cardiovascular team into the future.

Take a look at the January/February issue of Cardiology magazine, which is all about leadership, and leave your thoughts in the Cardiology Discussions forum.

Here are some pictures from the event, taken by Thomas Haffey, D.O., F.A.C.C., governor of Colorado Chapter of the ACC:

	BOG Steering Committee member Margo Minissian, ACNP-BC, MSN, CNS, and ACC President Ralph Brindis, M.D., F.A.C.C.
	Brindis and former NFL Player and coach Dan Reeves
	Brindis, Dan Reeves’ cardiologist Charlie Brown, M.D., F.A.C.C., Reeves, Robert Vincent, M.D., F.A.C.C., Gov. of GA, Board of Trustees member C. Michael Valentine, M.D., F.A.C.C.