Indiana-ACC Message from Dr. Parin Patel

News from the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology

Indiana-ACC Newsletter, September 2026

President's Message

Parin Patel, MD, FACC

Dear Indiana-ACC Colleague,

You're Invited to the Indiana-ACC Annual Meeting

Mark your calendar for the 2026 Indiana-ACC Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Marriott Indianapolis North. This remains the signature event for Indiana's cardiovascular community, bringing together a full day of top-tier education, valuable networking, and the kind of collegial connection that makes our chapter special.

Why This Meeting Matters

Whether you're a cardiologist, fellow, or member of the cardiovascular team, this meeting is built to help you stay ahead. Over the course of the day, you'll hear directly from leading voices across cardiology's many subspecialties, dig into the latest trial data and guideline updates, and reconnect with colleagues from around the state.

You can also look forward to:

Dedicated breakout sessions for Women in Cardiology and CV Team members
An exhibit hall featuring the latest innovations in cardiovascular care

Honor Our 2026 Career Achievement Award Winner
Please join us as we celebrate Dr. Elisabeth von der Lohe's outstanding contributions to cardiovascular care. The Indiana-ACC Career Achievement Award recognizes an Indiana-ACC member who has practiced for 25+ years, for her/his contributions to cardiology in Indiana and support of the Chapter.

Highlights Include

Congenital Heart Surgery: A Journey of Innovation and Courage & ACC Update

Insights on the latest advances in congenital heart surgery alongside a direct update from the ACC on current trends, challenges, and priorities shaping cardiovascular practice.

Novel Pathways to Blood Pressure Control

Practical exploration of emerging strategies for hypertension management, including the pros and cons of renal denervation and the latest therapeutic agents entering the space — with real-world implications for patient selection and clinical decision-making.

Rapid-Fire Review: 2025's Breakthrough Trials and Latest Practice-Changing Guidelines

A high-energy, multi-speaker session distilling the most impactful clinical trials and guideline updates from 2025, covering the findings clinicians need to know and how they translate into everyday practice.

Broadening the Clinical Toolkit: Essentials in ACHD and Cardio-Oncology

Key updates for the general cardiologist on managing adults with congenital heart disease, alongside a case-based look at cardio-oncology — navigating cardiovascular risk and toxicity in the oncology patient population.

Integrating Intelligence: Real-World Uses of AI in Cardiology Workflows

A practical look at how artificial intelligence is being applied across cardiology practice today — from workflow optimization to clinical decision support — and what that means for the modern cardiovascular team.

Lipoprotein(a) is Actionable Today: Advancing Guideline-Aligned Lp(a) Screening and Management in the Cardiology Setting

A look at how to integrate current guideline recommendations for Lp(a) testing into comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessments and formulate effective patient counseling strategies to communicate the clinical value of Lp(a) testing and the rationale for cascade screening of first-degree relatives

Take a look at the full agenda and start planning your day. Spots fill up quickly, so don't wait — Register Now.

We can't wait to see you there!

Governor Election Opens September 21st

Please vote in the Indiana-ACC Governor Election!

Candidates:

Julie Clary, MD, MBA, FACC

Ryan Daly, MD, FACC

Voting Timeline

Paid Indiana-ACC members will receive e-ballots directly from the National ACC (look for email address ACC@intelliscanvotes.com).
Elections open on Monday, September 21st.
Elections close on Friday, October 16th.
Leadership Transition: The winner will become Governor-Elect in April 2027 and Governor in April 2028.

The Ambulatory Specialty Model for Heart Failure: A Reminder

CMS has established a mandatory five-year Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) for heart failure, set to launch January 1, 2027. This is not a voluntary program. Cardiologists who have historically managed at least 20 original Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure and who practice within CMS-selected geographic areas will be held financially accountable for the management of chronic congestive heart failure — evaluated across cost, quality, improvement activities, and interoperability performance categories.

Review the CMS preliminary participant list to determine if you are included.
Familiarize yourself with the ACC's comment letter and key takeaways from the ACC's meeting with the CMS Innovation Center.
Access the ACC's ASM for HF presentation slides to share with your practice leadership.
Submit your questions to ACC directly — they are actively gathering clinician feedback to guide ongoing advocacy.
For full details on the model and ACC's ongoing advocacy efforts, visit the ACC's ASM for Heart Failure page. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions.

Plan to Attend

Indiana-ACC Cardio-Oncology Case Dinner
Thursday, November 12th
Ruth's Chris Steak House, 2727 E 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240

Indiana-ACC Fellows in Training Networking Dinner
Thursday, November 19th

Ruth's Chris Steak House, 45 South Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204

If Gwen Goldfarb, our chapter executive, or I can be of assistance to you, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Parin J. Patel, MD, FACC

Governor, Indiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology

Congratulations to

Our Newest FACCs and Associates

FELLOWS OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY – FACC

Michael Broman, MD, PhD, FACC

Samuel Huxley, MD, FACC

Kunal Jha, MD, FACC

Mark Kauth, MD, FACC

Adam Kean, MD, MPH, FACC

Lindsay Panah, MD, BS, FACC

Andrea L. Price, MS, CPHQ, FACC

Irfan Shafi, MD, FACC

Jamario Skeete, MD, FACC

Alexander Slaten, DO, BS, FACC

Nathan Wheeler, MD, FACC

ASSOCIATES OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY – AACC

Patricia Easton, NP-C, CCK, AACC

Jennifer Sposito, MS, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, AACC

Sara Szynal, APRN, AACC

Attend ACC Legislative Conference

Join cardiovascular clinicians from across the country at ACC Legislative Conference 2026, happening Oct. 4-6 in Washington, DC. This is your opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers, deepen your understanding of the federal health policy landscape and build on our momentum this Congress.

Thanks to your engagement in our advocacy efforts, the ACC has had an impact on Capitol Hill. Following last year’s conference – where 400+ clinicians attended – ACC Advocacy has helped advance meaningful progress, including:

A two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities and restoration of virtual, in-home cardiac rehabilitation services.
More than 100% increase in co-sponsorship for various ACC-priority bills in both the House and Senate.
Introduction of several Medicare payment reform bills to promote system stability and comprehensive long-term solutions.

While these wins are significant, there is more work ahead. Join us this October to continue supporting ACC Advocacy. Together, we can strengthen the voice of the cardiology community on Capitol Hill.

The Indiana-ACC has a limited number of travel stipends available; please contact us if you are interested.

Get complete details about the ACC Legislative Conference.

Best Practice Series

Best Practices Series

Have you checked out our latest Best Practices Series?

TEE vs. CT in the Evaluation of the Left Atrium

In conversation with Ryan Daly, MD, FACC; Bruno Lima, MD, PhD, FACC; and Parin Patel, MD, FACC

Pharmacist-Led Heart Failure GDMT Clinic

In conversation with Josh Rajkumar, PharmD, BCPS and Vijay Rao, MD, PhD, FACC

Same-Day Discharge in EP Procedures

In conversation with Chandrashekar Kumbar, MD, FACC and Parin Patel, MD, FACC

Quick Hits

Updated Global Definition of HF Aims to Improve Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment

The newly released AHA/ACC/ESC/WHF Expert Consensus Document: Second Universal Definition of Heart Failure (HF) addresses “changes in disease manifestations, diagnostic strategies and understanding of pathophysiology” and seeks to align terminology by providing one unified definition for use by clinicians, researchers, health systems, and policymakers globally.

"HF remains a major challenge that continues to grow globally, and inconsistencies in how it is defined have limited progress in research and treatment," said Mary Norine Walsh, MD, MACC, co-chair of the consensus document. "The new framework introduces a universal classification of causes of HF with a focus on earlier identification of risk in order to facilitate prevention. There is also a shift away from rigid measurement thresholds in favor of a focus on disease trajectory." Read more.

ACC Scientific Statement Guides Use of Antiplatelet Therapy in Managing ASCVD

A new ACC Scientific Statement published in JACC provides clinicians with guidance on balancing ischemic and bleeding risks in using antiplatelet medications for managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). It synthesizes key clinical trials and compares ACC/AHA and ESC guideline recommendations across acute and chronic coronary syndromes. The statement also offers consensus recommendations on antiplatelet strategies, aspirin use, perioperative care, and long-term management, while emphasizing the importance of improving medication adherence through targeted, patient-centered interventions. Read more.

ACC Scientific Statement Addresses DOACs in Primary and Secondary Prevention of Thrombotic Events

A new ACC Scientific Statement published in JACC highlights the underuse and inconsistent dosing of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) despite strong evidence of their safety and effectiveness, offering guidance across primary and secondary prevention of thrombotic events. It provides recommendations for diverse patient populations and emphasizes practical considerations – such as dosing, bleeding risk, adherence, and cost – to support more individualized and equitable use. Read more.