‘Sparking hope,’ celebrating a century of heart health advances at AHA 2024
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Key takeaways:
- The American Heart Association is marking its 100th anniversary this year.
- Special sessions will highlight advances in CVD research and AHA’s history.
CHICAGO — When the American Heart Association was founded by six clinicians in June 1924, there was no treatment — and little hope — for people living with heart disease.
Fast forward a century later, and what began as a small medical association has grown to include millions of volunteers and supporters advancing innovative research in CV health and CVD prevention.
“If you ask me for a single word that describes why I come to [the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions] every year, it is hope,” Amit Khera, MD, AHA 2024 program chair and the Dallas Heart Ball Chair in Hypertension and Heart Disease, professor of internal medicine and director of preventive cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, said during an opening presentation at the AHA Scientific Sessions. “In fact, sparking hope was among the reasons the American Heart Association was founded 100 years ago.”
Since the very first AHA Scientific Sessions held in May 1925 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, AHA has focused on improving the treatment and prevention of CVD, Khera said.
“It quickly become the global CV event,” Khera said.
A crucial inflection point in AHA’s evolution came in 1948, Khera said, when the organization decided to fund CV research and award its first grant.
“One of the main reasons we are here is to disseminate and share the most impactful science and research,” Khera said.
AHA has planned a range of events and special presentations to mark its centennial, including the Centennial Collection, a series of short articles across the 14 AHA journals.
“No matter what number of [AHA Scientific Sessions] this is for you, here is a question,” Khera said. “When you think about the future, what word comes to mind that fills you with optimism? What gives me hope for the future? My word is ‘you.’”
Reference:
- AHA. The AHA turns 100. https://www.heart.org/en/bold-hearts-the-centennial. Accessed Nov. 16, 2024.
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Khera A. LBS.01. Presented at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions; Nov. 16-18, 2024; Chicago.
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