As our world spins through tumultuous adversity with COVID-19, we pause. Human suffering, inequality, racism, injustice and poverty unmasks itself, and cannot be unseen. I can’t help but wonder whether the recognition of a need for enlightenment, equality and humanism will help heal our world, bring optimism, a much needed renaissance; similar to the ones seen after catastrophes such as plague, famine or wars.

HFSA provided a statement expressing its stance against racism and hate in all its forms, commitment to address disparities and alignment with our cardiovascular partners in calling for justice. Stay tuned, we are now working on development of initiatives to examine and eliminate disparities in heart failure and health care.

HFSA Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting 2020

As we enter July, we are gearing up for the launch of registration for the HFSA Virtual ASM 2020, which is currently anticipated for mid-July. The Board of Directors was able to see a preview of the platform through which the meeting will be held and I can state that it is a very impressive and different platform! It’s exciting, robust, and will certainly allow for us to create a new, refreshing experience that will bring our heart failure teams together in a totally new, and exciting virtual gathering place. We will have the standard activities you’ve come to associate with ASM, but delivered and brought to you in new ways at the comfort of your home. Get ready, this will be a very exciting event!

Calling on debaters, trialists and award nominations: To keep our program hearty, I want to remind you of critical deadlines approaching in July. If you plan to submit for these activities, please do so soon. Visit hfsa.org/annualscientificmeeting to find information on submitting.

Upcoming Deadlines 

• July 6 - Hyde Park

• July 15 - Nursing Awards

• July 20 - Late Breaking Clinical Trials

• July 31 - Clinical Trial Row

HFSA Virtual Board Certification Review 2020

I’m pleased to report that we’re right on track for our HFSA Virtual Board Certification Review 2020. The new virtual format will bring our presenters right into your home, office, or wherever you choose to participate in this important board exam prep course. Our faculty is phenomenal, the course outline is dynamic, and you can earn valuable CME credit while preparing for your boards.

If you cannot participate in livestreamed sessions in real time, recordings will be available within 24 hours – so this program is accessible all around the world, regardless of time zone. The pre-meeting webinar series will be available in early July for you to get started. I encourage you to register if you haven’t already signed up. Even if you’re not preparing for the boards, the content is very useful for an overall heart failure review for all clinicians. Register to see the most recent development in heart failure and please do not forget to refer the course to your fellows or other colleagues.

HFSA Membership Needs Assessment Survey 

We have a new Membership Needs Assessment Survey going out in July and I hope we will get a strong response. The survey will allow leadership to refine programs HFSA offers to ensure you’re getting the most for your membership dues. It gives you a voice in your membership, so I hope that you will all participate. If you complete the survey, you will also be entered into a drawing for a $250 Amazon gift card! Keep an eye on your inboxes for a link to the survey coming soon.

Universal Definition of Heart Failure

HFSA is embarking on an important initiative. In collaboration with the Heart Failure Association of ESC and Japanese Heart Failure Society, HFSA will spearhead development of a Universal Definition of Heart Failure. We believe this important initiative will standardize terminology used for heart failure. We will be holding a virtual workshop in August 2020 and envision to release the final definition by our Annual Scientific Meeting.

Journal of Cardiac Failure

June was an exciting month for the Journal of Cardiac Failure with nine open access articles centered on COVID-19 and heart failure. The issue also featured a number of non-COVID-19 studies, so be sure to go online to catch up on the latest in research.

We look forward to exciting papers in the July issue, with a study on how music affects quality of life for people living with heart failure, complemented by an editorial co-authored by a world-renowned opera star, whose connection to heart failure is quite interesting.

In addition to these issues, the call for papers for the focus issue on pregnancy and heart failure has been extended to August 15. We invite submission of original research studies, reviews, brief reports, and research letters that address any aspect of heart failure and pregnancy, including (but not limited to) basic mechanisms, epidemiology, pathophysiology, prevention, diagnosis, management, and prognosis. To submit your paper, please go to the Journal website, www.onlinejcf.com, indicating in your cover letter that the paper is intended for the focus issue.

Advocacy 

We continue to advocate for our patients and clinicians. HFSA has sent a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee regarding telehealth in medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter, references a paper on virtual visits written by HFSA members and recently published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.

News

We hope you all enjoyed the Heart Failure News Round-Up compiling science, practice, education, advocacy news in heart failure delivered by email last week. It is a practical synopsis we hope will be useful for all heart failure clinicians.

I would like to send my thanks to the heart failure community and best wishes for a healthy and happy July 4th!

Best Regards,

Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FHFSA
HFSA President
@BiykemB