Author: accprchapter

VIRTUAL ACC.20 World Congress of Cardiology

Post author By accprchapter
Post date March 17, 2020

VIRTUAL ACC.20 World Congress of Cardiology

Dear Colleagues,

As we were planning for ACC.20/WCC in Chicago we noted that American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) Annual Scientific Session is always evolving to make the most out of new technologies, educational formats, new science and more. Specifically, we said: “No meeting is the same as the one before [and] this year is no exception.”

We weren’t kidding. No one expected that a global pandemic would force the first-ever cancellation of an ACC Annual Scientific Session. This was absolutely the right decision given the need for cardiovascular clinicians around the world to be on the front lines helping patients and their communities address COVID-19. Over the last week the ACC has been hard at work creating a virtual experience that leverages new technologies, educational formats, and more to bring ACC.20/WCC science and education directly to cardiovascular clinicians and other key stakeholders worldwide.

The free “ACC.20/WCC Virtual” experience will kick off on Saturday, March 28 and will offer three days of science and learning. The meeting will feature “live” access to 23 education sessions including Late-Breaking Clinical Trials, Featured Clinical Research, Young Investigator Awards, and Keynotes. You’ll hear from ACC President Richard J. Kovacs, MD, FACC, and incoming ACC President Athena Poppas, MD, FACC. We will also be honoring our Distinguished Awardees and new Fellows of the ACC (FACC) and Associates of the ACC (AACC). More details on other exciting activities, as well as how to get involved, will be coming over the next week and posted to the ACC.20/WCC website.

We encourage you to mark your calendars and join us in real-time for all the events and engage in conversations on social media (#ACC20 / #WCCardio) and ACC’s Member Hub. Not able to attend? The sessions and presentations will be archived for future viewing. More details on other exciting activities, including abstracts and educational sessions on demand, as well as how to get involved, will be coming over the next week and posted to the ACC.20/WCC website.

This is new and unchartered territory for us all. A meeting the size of ACC.20/WCC is years in the making and we were all excited about Chicago as our local stage for bringing the global cardiovascular community together ‒ live and in person. However, the show must go on and to quote William Shakespeare: “All the world’s a stage.” We are excited about the opportunity to use this bigger and broader stage to provide the important, practice-changing science and education that is even more necessary now than ever before.

The ACC’s Mission is to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health – it is a privilege to help deliver on this mission with ACC.20/WCC Virtual. We are truly learning at the speed of now! See you online!

Sincerely,

Andrew M. Kates, MD, FACC
ACC.20/WCC Chair

Pamela Bowe Morris, MD, FACC
ACC.20/WCC Vice Chair

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Annual Meeting

CANCELED ACC.20 World Congress of Cardiology

Post author By accprchapter
Post date March 9, 2020

ACC.20 World Congress of Cardiology

Dear Colleagues,

After careful consideration, the College has made the difficult decision to cancel ACC.20/WCC in Chicago, IL, scheduled to take place March 28 – 30.

Our decision to cancel our flagship annual event was not taken lightly. The ACC has been closely monitoring updates and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as state and local governments. In the last week, we’ve also learned of the increasing number of travel advisories and restrictions being placed on health care providers and hospitals and institutions in the U.S. and globally.

The health, safety and well-being of our members, staff, exhibitors, faculty, and the patients we serve is of paramount importance. With an ever-increasing number of ACC members on the front lines of preparing and reacting to the COVID-19 outbreak, we believe it is in the best interest of everyone to cancel the meeting and ensure our members are able to do what they do best – help and heal.

This is a first for us. We have never not held an Annual Scientific Session live and in person in the last 69 years. The Annual Scientific Session is eagerly awaited by all members from seasoned experts to first time abstract presenters. Hundreds of participants have been preparing their work to present live. ACC.20/WCC is also the time to personally engage with experts, old friends and new colleagues, as well as personally visit exhibits of the newest technologies. With that in mind, ACC leadership and staff are hard at work to not only provide COVID-19 guidance and preparedness tips to the entire cardiovascular care team, we are also developing ways to recognize our award winners and deliver the important science and education from ACC.20/WCC directly to you.

Look for more details soon on our virtual plans for delivering elements of the ACC.20/WCC program, as well as refund processes and options in the coming days. We have prepared an initial FAQ document to help with answering travel, refund and other questions. This document will continue to be updated. Of note, existing embargoes and plans for simultaneous publications remain in place and are subject to the existing embargo policies.

This is a unique time for us all, but ACC members and the cardiovascular profession as a whole have a long history of innovation and rising to meet whatever challenges come our way. Please know that the College is here for you and we will not waver in our commitment to provide the resources, education and support you need to deliver the best care for your patients.

Last, but certainly not least, a meeting the size of ACC.20/WCC is years in the making and involves hundreds of member volunteers and staff, as well as generous support from partners and stakeholders and close collaboration with our host city. Please join me in recognizing all of these individuals, particularly ACC.20/WCC Chair Andrew Kates, MD, FACC, and Vice-Chair Pamela Morris, MD, FACC, as well as World Heart Federation President Karen Sliwa, MD, PhD, FACC, WHF President-Elect Fausto Pinto, MD, FACC, and WHF CEO Jean Luc Eisele and his team, for all of their work.

Thank you for all that you do every day to serve your patients and your communities.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Kovacs, MD, FACC
ACC President