Colleagues,

I recently returned from the Board of Governors meeting and Leadership Forum in Las Vegas. The focus of these meetings was, well, leadership. The speakers included ACC CEO Jack Lewin; ACC President David Holmes, Jr. MD, FACC; President-elect William Zoghbi, MD, FACC; and Vice President John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC. Most of the speakers encouraged and inspired those present to assume leadership roles and establish a direction for their group, their hospital, and our profession, and to motivate others to do the same. They discussed the previous leaders of the ACC and stated that we are "standing on the shoulders of giants" and recognized that none of our current accomplishments could have been achieved without the efforts of those who have preceded us.

Mentor a Future Leader

Many of the speakers recognized their own mentors who had helped and inspired them. It reminded me that my involvement within the ACC has been inspired and encouraged by others before me. I hope that I can inspire others to assume leadership roles in the Indiana-ACC. If you are a leader in your group or in the ACC, make an effort to identify future leaders. And if you are early in your career, find a mentor to lead you.

Make a Difference

We were honored to hear from Major General Hammond discuss his service in Iraq, and specifically, the battle of Sadr City. He told us a moving story about a young major who, at the lowest point in the battle when things were not going well and it seemed as if the battle would be lost, bravely stepped forward and said that he could make a difference. This major did indeed make a difference and turned the battle in the favor of our troops, even though it did cost him his life. Major General Hammond encouraged us to "make a difference." Finally, chapter awards were given for Quality, Membership, Advocacy, and Education. I was honored to accept an honorable mention for our efforts to improve Quality.

Cardiovascular Care Summit

The Cardiovascular Care Summit followed the Leadership Meeting. For those of you who are uncertain about the future of healthcare and of cardiology or who are leaders in your own group, I would encourage you to attend this event next year. Topics including payment models, healthcare reform, the importance of good data collection, management of the cardiovascular service line, how to interact with hospital administration, and the importance of monitoring your own data reporting (report cards) were all fascinating topics. The highlight of the meeting was a talk by Dr. Pramenko who described the success of physician-led healthcare reform in Grand Junction, Colorado. This meeting helped me to realize how well the ACC has prepared our profession for the uncertainties that lie before us. I believe we have good reason to be optimistic about our future.

John S. Strobel, MD, FACC
President

The STS/ACC TVT RegistryTM is a new benchmarking tool developed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) to track patient safety and real-world outcomes related to new and emerging transcatheter valve therapy (TVT) procedures. Launched December 1, the TVT Registry is the first national program to evaluate safety and efficacy of a transcatheter valve aortic replacement (TAVR) option for patients who are otherwise considered to be non-operable for conventional valve replacement surgery. The registry was developed in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with input from other professional societies including the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), and trial sponsors from industry. The TVT Registry is governed by a joint Steering Committee with representatives from the STS and ACC selected through each society's standard selection process. For more information, visit www.tvtregistry.org and read a blog post by ACC President David Holmes about the TVT Registry on the ACC In Touch Blog. 

We would like to invite you and two primary care clinician guests to attend the ACC Indiana Chapter's Mind the Gap Forum, which will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel at Keystone Crossing located at 87 Keystone Crossing in Indianapolis.  This special event will include a complimentary dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by an interactive program from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

As you may be aware the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), in cooperation with various ACC Chapters, has launched the Mind the Gap Forums to address the need that optimal care for atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly managed across a diverse range of providers. The Mind the Gap Forums will allow cardiologists and primary care physicians an opportunity to develop next-generation collaborative strategies regarding AF and optimal anticoagulation.  While information and knowledge is the first step in addressing this important issue, meaningful dialogue between referring primary care physicians and cardiologists is essential for practically managing anticoagulation in local communities. Convening such dialogue under the respected auspices of the ACC - while working in deep partnership with our primary care colleagues - is especially appropriate given the role of cardiologists, and the esteemed members of the ACC.

Dr. John Strobel will be presenting this 90-minute, non-accredited program along with Deepak Bhakta, MD, FACC, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Krannert Institute of Cardiology, IU. During this presentation, the audience will be encouraged to actively participate in discussing the local issues surrounding AF and anticoagulation. 

There is no charge to attend this exciting event but seating is limited! Contact Jackie Massey today at jmassey@acc.org to reserve a seat for you and your two primary care clinician guests.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, February 28!