News

Dr. Jonathan Kim has co-authored guidelines for Clinical Considerations for Competitive Sports Participation for Athletes with Cardiovascular Abnormalities. This scientific statement integrates 40 years of scientific progress in this field and updates the previous statement published in 2015. Thank you Dr. Kim!

Dr. Paul Douglass has been appointed inaugural Chair, ACC Health Equity Committee. Congratulations Dr. Douglass!

Jeff Marshall, MD, FACC

Appointed by ACC to Chair-Elect of the Health Affairs Committee for 1 year and then Chair beginning in April 1, 2026.

Heval Kelli, MD

The Emory Medical Alumni Board has selected Dr. Kelli as a recipient of this year’s Distinguished Medical Achievement Award. This award honors distinguished medical alum from the Emory School of Medicine who have provided extraordinary service to their community, fulfilling the obligations of their education through creative citizenship and exemplary leadership.

Jason Grady, NRP, AACC

Selected by ACC to participate in the 2025 ACC Emerging Faculty Leadership Academy.

ACC Appointed:

• Snigdha Bhatia, MD – Adult Congenital & Pediatric CV Section
• David Kandzari, MD, FACC – NCDR Clinical Science and Quality
• Anant Madawat, MD, FACC – Cardio-Oncology Section Leadership Council
• Corrin McCloskey, CCMA – Cardiovascular Management Section Leadership Council
• Modele Ogunniyi, MD, FACC – Diversity and Inclusion Committee
• Ifeoma Onuorah, MD, FACC – Prevention of CV Disease Section Leadership Council
• Rajesh SAchdeva, MD, FACC – Accreditation Oversight Committee
• Jeffrey Wang, MD – Critical Care Section Leadership Council
• Faisal Merchant, MD, FACC – NCDR EP Registry Steering Subcommittee

Congratulations to all members appointed to
ACC committees and leadership!

GA ACC writers Included:

• Tanveer Rab, MD, FACC, MSCAI (additional roles included document leadership group, liaison, developing core content and providing edits)
• Abhinav Goyal, FACC, FAHA
• Ijeoma Isiadinso, FACC, FAHA

ACS Guideline peer reviewer:

Faisal Merchant, MD, FACC

Your ACC Advocacy team worked diligently alongside the broader Smart Heart Sports Coalition to advance this legislation, which includes components of the Access to AEDs Act, another ACC-supported bill. Our Advocacy efforts included:

• Over 1,200 messages sent from ACC members to their lawmakers through our grassroots alert system
  
• More than 250 meetings with lawmakers during ACC’s 2024 Legislative Conference
  
• Over 150 HeartPAC events with lawmakers, where education about the benefits of AEDs in schools was a prominent topic

As we celebrate this achievement, we want to thank you for your contributions in advancing this issue. We also remain committed to pushing our remaining priorities, such as Medicare payment cut relief and prior authorization reform, across the finish line before the conclusion of the 118th Congress.

How can you continue to support our Advocacy efforts?
ACC currently has two live federal action alerts, urging lawmakers to advance Medicare payment cut relief and prior authorization reform. If you haven’t participated yet, please take a moment to do so. It’s quick and easy to do – we have already provided a pre-written message, so all you need to do is add your information and click send!

• Urge Congress to Advance the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 10073)
• Urge Congress to Advance the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702/S. 4532)

We’ll keep you updated on any significant developments through email, social media, and our weekly newsletter, the Advocate. Thank you once again for your support of ACC Advocacy.

The ACC Georgia Chapter spearheaded legislation to establish sudden cardiac emergency response plans and require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all public schools, K-12. Read below GA ACC’s success in expanding the state’s AED laws to include all Georgia students beyond those in high school.

Quote from Dr. Kim:
“I truly think this will represent model legislation for the rest of the country,” said Dr. Jonathan Kim. “Not many states have these laws in place, and this is really something we can all be proud of.”

On Tuesday, April 23, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 874, which mandates automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all public schools. 

READ: ACC HeartPAC Update
Spotlight on AED Access Legislation

Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Committee
Joshua Rosenblum, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr

Cardiac Surgery Committee
Michael Halkos, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr.
Allison Ward, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr.

Cardiovascular Committee
Puja Mehta, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr.
Amy Simone, PA-C, Chair Elect: 1 yr.
Kyle Fortman, MBA, PA-C, Member: 3 yr.

Critical Care Section Committee
Steven Hollenberg, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr

Education Standards Committee
Priya Kohli, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr

Health Affairs Committee
J. Jeffrey Marshall, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr

Lifelong Learning Committee
Patricia Keegan, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr

Membership Committee
Anekwe Onwuanyi, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr

NCDR Clinical Committee
Vinod Thourani, MD, FACC, Member: 3 yr

NCDR EP Registry Committee
Faisal Merchant, MD, FACC, Chair Elect: 1 yr

Women in Cardiology Committee
Gina Lundberg, MD, FACC, Chair: 1 yr