The American College of Cardiology's (ACC) Hani Najm Global Scholar Awards program was announced at the opening session of the Saudi Heart Association Annual Conference on Oct. 8, 2020. Part of the ACC's Campaign for the Future, the Hani Najm Global Scholar Awards will allow young cardiologists from the Middle East and North Africa regions to elevate their training by visiting hospitals in the United States for observership programs.
"The American College of Cardiology believes that non-communicable disease trends, including heart disease, are alarming, unacceptable and most importantly reversible through concerted efforts by leaders in global health, including our own organization," said John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC, chair of the ACC's Campaign for the Future and an ACC past president. "It is only through educating the next generation of cardiovascular leaders that we will ultimately reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease worldwide. The Hani Najm Global Scholar Awards will allow young cardiologists to learn from their colleagues in the U.S., but also share effective solutions from their home institutions."
Hani K. Najm, MD, MSc, FACC, currently serves as the chair of the ACC's Assembly of International Governors, which consists of global cardiovascular leaders from ACC's International Chapters, representing over 80 countries around the world. Najm will join the ACC Board of Trustees in 2021. He is the chair of pediatric and congenital heart surgery at Cleveland Clinic. Najm also served at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center in Saudi Arabia.
"One of the most common requests from international physicians is the opportunity to train in the United States with the help of the American College of Cardiology. I feel privileged to be able to sponsor this award, as the sharing of knowledge is the best way to combat the devastating effects of cardiovascular disease worldwide," Najm said.
Recipients of the Hani Najm Global Scholar Awards will allow two early career cardiologists--one from a Gulf country and one from another Middle East or North African country--to come to the U.S. for a four weeks long observership at a major health system, which will culminate with attendance at that year's ACC Annual Scientific Session. Award winners will be invited to Early Career Section programming and be recognized during Convocation.
The Hani Najm Global Scholar Awards are currently scheduled to be awarded annually from 2022-2025.
The ACC's Campaign for the Future is a $10 million member-driven campaign designed to unite cardiovascular clinicians worldwide around the shared goals of tangibly addressing global health, fostering diversity and inclusion, and ensuring leadership in cardiovascular care.
In addition to the announcement of the Hani Najm Global Scholar Awards, ACC leaders will be offering their expertise during sessions at the Saudi Heart Association Annual Conference. ACC Vice President Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, FACC, and past ACC Board of Trustees member B. Hadley Wilson, MD, FACC, will participate in a session on "Current Controversies in the Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome" with Saudi experts.
###
The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.