New Leader Takes Helm of American College of Cardiology

Richard Chazal, M.D., FACC, assumed his role as president of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) earlier this week during the Convocation Ceremony held at the organization’s 65^th Annual Scientific Session in Chicago, Ill.

Chazal is a senior cardiologist and medical director of the Heart and Vascular Institute for Lee Memorial Health System, a four hospital, not-for-profit system in Fort Myers, Fla. He also serves as courtesy assistant professor of medicine for the University of Florida and clinical assistant professor of medicine for Florida State University. Chazal has practiced clinical cardiology in Fort Myers since 1983 with expertise in echocardiography, diagnostic catheterization and coronary computerized tomography angiography. During his tenure, he has been a participant in multiple clinical trials.

During his presidency, Chazal said he plans to ensure the College keeps its focus on its mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health and on helping its members provide their patients with the best possible care.

“As a clinical cardiologist, I remain convinced that the College best achieves its mission by continually focusing on what is the best for our patients and embedding that in everything that we do as an organization,” he said.

Chazal received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. He received his medical degree and internal medicine training at the University of South Florida, followed by a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology at Indiana University, where he spent one year as a designated echocardiography fellow.

Chazal has been a member of the ACC since 1984, during which time he’s been involved both nationally and with the ACC’s Florida Chapter, where he served as councilor, treasurer and president. Chazal is a former chair of the ACC Board of Governors and served eight years on the ACC Board of Trustees, including as treasurer, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee. Over the course of his ACC membership, Chazal has served on over 50 College committees and workgroups.

Chazal has been the recipient of many professional honors. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and Omicron Delta Kappa honoraries through the University of South Florida. From the ACC Florida Chapter, he has received the Special Achievement Award, the Presidential Citation, the Distinguished Service Award and the Founder’s Award. In 2011, the Southwest Florida Affiliate of the American Heart Association awarded him their Golden Heart Award, and in 2014 he was designated Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He received the inaugural Community Teaching Award from the Family Medicine Residency Program via Florida State University School of Medicine Fort Myers Program in 2015.

Other officers for the ACC for 2016-2017 are President-Elect Mary Norine “Minnow” Walsh, M.D., FACC; Vice President C. Michael Valentine, M.D., FACC; Secretary and Board of Governors Chair Allen Seals, M.D., FACC; Treasurer Robert Guyton, M.D., FACC; and Immediate Past-President Kim Allan Williams, M.D., MACC.

The American College of Cardiology is a 52,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC helps form health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications.