The Section on Cardiology was founded in 1955 and is committed to improving the care of infants, children, and adolescents with regard to pediatric cardiology. The Section was combined with the Section on Cardiac Surgery in 2002. Objectives for the Section on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery include providing an opportunity within the Academy for the presentation and discussion of investigations and scientific observations pertaining to the cardiovascular system in children. The Section holds its organizational meetings and hosts educational programs for the pediatric cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeons at the Academy's National Conference and Exhibition (Annual Meeting). The format for the National Conference scientific program includes three days of scientific symposia, abstract presentations, and posters on current topics in the field.

The Section consults to the AAP Board of Directors and makes recommendations for programs, policy statements and other actions on matters relating to pediatric cardiology. They also work collaboratively with various AAP committees and sections such as Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Nutrition and Sports Medicine and Fitness. These relationships have led to joint policy statement development and educational programming. The Section on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery has a liaison with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and The American Heart Association (AHA) and the three groups work collaboratively on position papers, policy statements, advocacy, and quality improvement.

In terms of special projects, the Section has formed a Pediatric Cardiac Device Task Force, the goals of which are: 1) to increase dialogue and awareness between the FDA and the pediatric cardiology community about the regulatory pediatric cardiac device approval process and, 2) to develop efforts between the FDA and Section that could increase device availability with full labeling for pediatric indications in the U.S.

The Section has also demonstrated continued progress with the pediatric cardiology leadership alliance, the Joint Council on Congenital Heart Disease (JCCHD).  They have developed a National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC) intended to “Improve Survival and Quality of Life of Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome During the “Interstage” Period Between Discharge from Stage 1 Norwood and admission for Stage 2 bidirectional Glenn”. 

RESEARCH AND AWARDS

The Section presents four annual awards: the Founders Award, the Research Fellowship Award, the Young Investigator Award, and the Education Travel Grant.

The Founders Award (named after the "founders" of the Section) recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery.

The Research Fellowship Award is awarded to a trainee in an accredited US pediatric cardiology fellowship training program to promote the understanding of a basic mechanism of cardiovascular disease in the young. The Research Fellowship Award provides a $35,000 stipend to reward the recipient for his or her efforts in basic science or clinical research.

The Section also presents Young Investigator Awards to the best scientific abstracts presented at the National Conference and Exhibition meeting in clinical research and basic science categories.

The Section also offers Education Travel Grants for the top two scientific abstract submissions for the Young Investigator competition. This grant covers the expenses associated with travel and lodging to the National Conference and Exhibition.

Please refer to Meetings and Awards page for information pertaining to our Annual Meeting abstracts and symposium.