To Members of the Heart Failure Society of America:

One of the highlights this spring was the ability to attend ACC.22 and ISHLT 2022. Both were highly successful conferences with excellent scientific content and a palpable sense of energy arising from in-person interactions with friends and colleagues. I congratulate the organizers on their efforts. Now, we pivot, and focus on our Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Washington, DC, from September 30 to October 3, 2022, at the Gaylord National Harbor.

Behind the scenes, the work of the ASM Planning Committee has been ongoing, beginning almost immediately upon completion of last year’s meeting in Denver.

Drs. David Lanfear (Chair), Rob DiDomenico, Daniel Garry, and Cheryl Westlake (Co-Chairs), in conjunction with 18 other committee members, have been working with HFSA staff to develop the content for an outstanding meeting. We already have very strong support from our corporate partners, for which we are most grateful. All Industry Expert Theaters are sold out and other opportunities are following suit rapidly. Abstract grading is nearly finalized. New initiatives are planned so stay tuned for those details. As a teaser, for the first time, there will be a Providers-in-Training (PIT) Lounge, where fellows and other trainees can congregate and listen to panel discussions with content geared to their interests, all while enjoying complimentary snacks and beverages. Registration for the meeting has opened, the buzz is building for a great meeting, and I look forward to seeing you there.

While we are gearing up for ASM, the work of the HFSA continues on many other important fronts. For example, HFSA is committed to disseminating the valuable information in the 2022 ACC/AHA/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. This month, my Presidential Message in JCF is a call-to-action to you, our membership, to lead the charge in the implementation of these guidelines for the benefit of our patients. I also had the privilege of moderating a live discussion with Drs. Paul Heidenreich (Chair of the HF Guideline committee) and Biykem Bozkurt (Vice-Chair), and several other HFSA leaders, where we reviewed the process of developing the guidelines as well as highlighting key aspects of its content. That recorded session can be viewed on Twitter. The JCF team has developed a series of videos discussing the guidelines from various perspectives, e.g., a general cardiologist or pharmacist, and made them available on the JCF YouTube channel. The Top 10 Take-Home messages, outlining the most critical points that providers need to know to apply the guidelines in practice, can be downloaded in this PowerPoint presentation.

I’d like to provide two additional updates regarding ABIM board certification and HFSA CEO John Barnes. First, the HFSA Virtual Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant Cardiology (AHFTC) Board Certification Review 2022 course is rapidly approaching, scheduled for August 12-14, 2022. This is the “go-to” board review course for those preparing for the ABIM certification or recertification examinations. The meeting is virtual in format and will include embedded sessions with live question and answer capability, allowing  interaction with faculty to clarify any material. I vividly recall attending this very board review course before I took the initial offering of the ABIM examination in AHFTC, and learning from the esteemed faculty, many of whom were luminaries who had helped establish our field as a recognized specialty. This legacy of providing an outstanding educational opportunity has persisted throughout the years, and I am confident will also be true this year. For those preparing to take the ABIM certification or re-certification AHFTC examinations, or for anyone just interested in a comprehensive overview of heart failure and transplant, including the recent guidelines, registration remains open. 

The second update centers on John Barnes, our CEO since 2019. John has substantially improved many operational aspects of the HFSA, including how its Board of Directors functions in fulfilling its duties and obligations. I’m sure many of you look forward to receiving the CEO Weekly Report, an initiative he spearheaded (especially to hear how his beloved sports teams are performing). Recently, John and the Board agreed to a new three-year contract. Having John as our CEO, at least through December 2025, provides the organization important stability in the coming years, allowing us to benefit from his expertise as we continue our upwards trajectory of success in improving and expanding the care of patients with heart failure. 

Mark H. Drazner, MD, MSc, FHFSA
HFSA President 2021-2022