More than 16,000 individuals attended the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) annual meeting last weekend, March 16-18, in New Orleans. While ABIM has attended ACC’s annual meeting and those of other medical specialty societies in the past, this year was of particular importance because it marked the official launch of a Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) for cardiologists who wish to maintain their ABIM Board Certification via an ACCSAP-based educational curriculum and performance assessment beginning in fall 2019.
ABIM and ACC published a press release on Friday, March 15 ahead of the opening plenary on Saturday morning, during which ACC President, Dr. C. Michael Valentine, reiterated the novel integration of lifelong learning and assessment via the new CMP, followed by positive reactions from the community online:
Progress in Education: now 3 options for ABIM MOC. Great work @ABIMFoundation and @ACCinTouch Thank you for listening to your members! #ACCMember #ACC19 pic.twitter.com/aNtYI4pT4E
— Ami Bhatt (@AmiBhattMD) March 16, 2019
At #ACC19; this is big news… changing maintenance of certification – will no longer have to have 10 year exam – but 2 year knowledge check-in or online with performance assessment. This is so much better – dynamic assessments. @ACCinTouch
— Harlan Krumholz (@hmkyale) March 16, 2019
Had lots of fun working with @FrederickWelt on the @ACCinTouch Collaborative Maintenance Pathway. An alternative to taking the 10y board recertification exam. Thanks to all the chapter authors and question writers! pic.twitter.com/vyzzJMguUu
— Sunil V. Rao (@SVRaoMD) March 16, 2019
Later that afternoon at the “Heart to Heart” stage, ABIM’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Richard Battaglia, and Cardiovascular Disease Board Chair, Dr. Olakunle Akinboboye, spoke on a panel with representatives from ACC, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), and Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA). The society leaders from HRS, SCAI and HFSA expressed their excitement about working together with ACC and ABIM on the new assessment pathways for Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Interventional Cardiology and Advanced Heart Failure, and Transplant Cardiology that are anticipated in 2020.
“It was my honor to represent ABIM as ACC unveiled the CMP this weekend,” said Dr. Battaglia reflecting on the annual meeting “The pathway garnered enthusiasm from the physicians present and, just as important, society leaders expressed an eagerness to continue partnering and innovating together. As we face the challenges of upcoming discussions with additional societies, this experience heartens me and provides further perspective on what is possible.”
