Patient Resources

The American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The American Heart Association provides its members a number of educational and professional development opportunities, including access to its peer-reviewed journal, research funding opportunities, scientific meetings and legislative advocacy opportunities. 

American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology (ACC), a 39,000-member nonprofit medical society, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of cardiovascular patients through continuous quality improvement, patient-centered care, payment innovation and professionalism. Comprised of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers, the College bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet its stringent qualifications. Above all, the ACC’s commitment to its members and their patients has driven the College to be a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines, and a steadfast supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care.

Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Since its inception in 1991, CRF has played a major role in realizing dramatic improvements in the lives of patients by establishing the safe use of new technologies, drugs, and therapies in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

Guided by visionary physicians who are passionate about advancing the field, CRF is dedicated to discovering and developing innovative therapies to improve the survival and quality of life for those suffering from heart disease around the world.

CRF’s role in interventional cardiovascular medicine is unique: conducting research on therapies, pharmacology, and devices during the earliest stages of development, confirming safety and efficacy in human clinical trials, and educating the medical community regarding appropriate use of these new procedures and technologies.

Heart Failure Society of America

The Heart Failure Society of America, Inc. (HFSA) represents the first organized effort by heart failure experts from the Americas to provide a forum for all those interested in heart function, heart failure, and congestive heart failure (CHF) research and patient care.

American Society of Hypertension

ASH is the largest organization of hypertension researchers and health care providers in the United States committed to preventing and treating hypertension and its consequences. ASH has a domestic and international membership of basic science & clinical investigators, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, as well as individuals with a scientific interest in hypertension.

The American Society of Hypertension, Inc. (ASH) was founded in 1985 in order to provide a forum for the exchange of information among basic scientists, clinical investigators and others involved in the study or management of high blood pressure. The specific focus of the Society is to translate current research findings on hypertension into effective treatment strategies, in order to better address the needs of hypertensive patients.

American Society of Heart Failure Nurses

The AAHFN is a specialty organization dedicated to advancing nursing education, clinical practice and research to improve heart failure patient outcomes. Heart failure is our exclusive interest and passion. Our goal is to set the standards for heart failure nursing care.

We unite the full spectrum of nurses and other health professionals interested in heart failure. We serve as the interface for sharing ideas, translating research findings into practice and setting priorities for the future. We welcome and value all professionals involved in heart failure care. We focus on patients across all environments of care from the hospital, to the clinic, to home.

American College of Chest Pain Physicians

As the global leader in providing education in cardiopulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, the ACCP will promote diversity to optimize health, advance patient care, and support research while fostering health equity.

Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals

Founded in 1993, The Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) was formed with encouragement from The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) who recognized the need for a professional society to create and maintain professional standards, promote continuing education, and to act as an advocate for the non-physician members of the invasive cardiovascular care team.

Catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories are staffed by allied health professionals from various disciplines. This diversity of disciplines and highly skilled professionals complements and strengthens the ability to provide a high standard of patient care. The SICP is an inclusive professional group, representing members of all these various disciplines.

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is a professional organization of physicians, cardiac sonographers, nurses and scientists involved in echocardiography, the use of ultrasound to image the heart and cardiovascular system. The organization was founded in 1975 and is the largest international organization for cardiac imaging.

International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery

The International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery was formed to organize and centralize the various surgical centers concerned with patient outcomes, techniques, and progessive development of less invasive forms of heart surgery. Formed on May 31, 1997 by the participants of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at the Palais Des Congres, Paris France, the new ISMICS is taking the leadership role in shaping the direction of less invasive cardiac surgery on a global basis.The founding membership includes representatives from all continents. The first President chosen by the meeting participants at the World Congress was Robert W. Emery, M.D. of the Minneapolis Heart Institute. Advisory Panel members were selected, a listServ was created for communication, and an official journal was designated. At the completion of the Paris meeting, the Advisory Panel recommended that future meetings of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery alternate between Paris and Minneapolis, with additional venues on every 3rd or 4th year.