nancyatheart

Spend a day with me at #ScientificSessions26

On this Veterans Day, my heart is full of gratitude for the men and women who have worn our nation's uniform. That includes the military families who serve right alongside them. Thank you for your courage, your sacrifice and your service. The American Heart Association's Military Veterans Network and every veteran in our AHA family have my deepest thanks. Your dedication and heart power our lifesaving mission every day, and I am forever grateful. To all who have served, today and every day, thank you! @American_Heart #VeteransDay2026

Thank you, @JoChikweMD, for your extraordinary leadership as chair of #ScientificSessions26! Over the past two years, Jo has guided this meeting with vision, curiosity and heart. My deep appreciation also goes to vice chair Dr. @bnallamo for his insights and invaluable contributions.   With Jo at the helm, we looked squarely at what the science is telling us – from the promise of agentic AI to personalize care, to the lessons learned from late-breaking trials. Her commitment to asking "why" and learning from every result reminds us that every discovery, expected or not, moves us closer to helping people live longer, healthier lives.   Together, you turned a gathering of brilliant minds into lasting impact for patients and communities. Congratulations on a remarkable meeting.

My heartfelt thanks to Dr. @EricTopol for opening #ScientificSessions26 with such a thought-provoking keynote. Your vision for what’s possible in cardiovascular medicine set the tone for an incredible week. Throughout the meeting, you energized our community and sparked ideas that will stay with us well beyond Chicago. We’re deeply grateful for your leadership and for inspiring all of us to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

At #ScientificSessions26, I joined leaders from clinical and community organizations for a discussion on building stronger connections to support whole-person care. The conversation focused on real-world approaches to coordinating referrals, sharing data, strengthening community capacity, and helping address needs that extend beyond the clinical setting. This collaboration is essential to advancing cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health. When science, clinical expertise and community support connect, we turn evidence into action.

In a powerful Conner Lecture this afternoon, American Heart Association volunteer President Dr. Manesh Patel inspired us to close the “last mile” between discovery and delivery, so that today’s advances can reach people everywhere and improve lives more quickly and meaningfully. We also honored the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Eugene Braunwald, and we recognized today’s leaders whose remarkable achievements are advancing science, improving health and inspiring what comes next. @American_Heart @manesh_patelMD #ScientificSessions26

Heart health and brain health are inseparable. Today, we’re taking a bold step to advance both. Building on decades of leadership through the American Stroke Association, the new @American_Heart Center for the Brain™ will bring together science, expertise and action to deepen our understanding of the heart-brain connection and help people protect their brain health throughout their lives. We’ve helped generations of people live longer. Now, through the new Center for the Brain™, we’ll help people preserve the memories, independence and connections that make those years meaningful. #ScientificSessions26

Dr. @HeartBobH hosted a compelling conversation with @OpenAI’s Head of Health, Dr. @NG, exploring how AI is advancing healthcare and shaping the future of medicine. #ScientificSessions26

Congratulations to Dr. @EricTopol on receiving the 2026 James B. Herrick Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cardiology! A true luminary, Dr. Topol has transformed the practice of medicine and is helping redefine its future. Thank you for your extraordinary contributions to cardiovascular care. @HeartBobH @JoChikweMD @manesh_patelMD

The future of health is being shaped right now in Chicago. Step into the Science & Technology Hall at #ScientificSessions26 and join the conversations on the innovations that will help people live longer, healthier lives.

What a remarkable Opening Session! We heard from @American_Heart President Dr. @manesh_patelMD, Scientific Sessions Chair Dr. @JoChikweMD, and the legendary Dr. @EricTopol. We also had the opportunity to recognize pioneering researchers and hold the inaugural Dr. Eugene Braunwald Late-Breaking Science Session. #ScientificSessions26

Just wrapped up an energizing session with the next generation of clinicians, researchers and scientists. It’s clear the future of health is in great hands. Grateful to Drs. @HeartBobH, @manesh_patelMD, @JoChikweMD, @bnallamo, and @u_campia for sharing their career advice, mentorship and inspiration. #ScientificSessions26

Celebrate science on Sunday in Chicago with @manesh_patelMD’s must-hear Conner Lecture at #ScientificSessions26

Scientific Sessions 2026 is here, and there is so much to look forward to. @American_Heart President Dr. @manesh_patelMD and I are excited to experience the groundbreaking science, connect with our councils and scientific community, and hear the conversations advancing cardiovascular and brain health around the world. And throughout it all, we’ll be celebrating the remarkable volunteers whose passion, expertise and commitment fuel our mission and help make #ScientificSessions26 such an extraordinary gathering.

Congratulations, Bill, and thank you for your decades of leadership in fighting the tobacco industry’s efforts to addict new generations to its harmful products. @American_Heart has been proud to help create and stand alongside the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in advancing policies that prevent tobacco and nicotine use and help save lives. Your impact on public health will be felt for generations. We look forward to continuing our shared work with Chris Conley, Melissa Schulman, Yolonda Richardson, and the entire Tobacco Free Kids team.

Coach Jackie Sherrill has shaped generations of players, on and off the field. Congratulations, Coach, on receiving the @American_Heart’s Paul “Bear” @bryantawards Lifetime Achievement Award! newsroom.heart.org/news/foot…

Every girl and woman deserves care that sees her whole heart health picture—from puberty through pregnancy, menopause and beyond. Now, for the first time, @American_Heart, @AmerAcadPeds, @acog, and @MySMFM have united around a shared, science-based framework and clinical guidance to identify cardiovascular risk, act earlier and save women’s lives. My heartfelt thanks to @HeartDocSadiya for chairing this first-of-its-kind collaborative, and to the extraordinary clinicians who contributed their deep expertise and leadership to changing the future of women’s health. Read our press release to learn more: newsroom.heart.org/news/lead…

I spent an incredible evening with 22 entrepreneurs who aren't waiting for a healthier future. They're building it.   At the @American_Heart's Empowered to Serve Business Accelerator showcase, I met innovators whose ideas come straight from the communities they serve. They see gaps others miss, and they know what it takes to close them.   Congratulations to our winners, who received funding to help grow their businesses. My heartfelt thanks to @HamlinIsland and Bert Scott for your leadership, to the @WellsFargo Foundation for your incredible generosity and to @MATTERhealth for hosting such a special night.

Looking back at last year’s Scientific Sessions, I’m reminded how quickly science can advance when we work together.   Over the past year, @American_Heart, alongside the @ACCinTouch, @AmDiabetesAssn and @ASNKidney, released the first-ever clinical practice guideline for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. The guideline provides a more coordinated approach to earlier risk identification, prevention and whole-person care by recognizing the connections among cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health.   I’m proud of this progress and grateful to our volunteers, collaborators and healthcare community who make it possible. As we look ahead to #ScientificSessions26, I’m excited to build on this momentum, continue these important conversations and explore how we can better meet patients where they are. professional.heart.org/en/sc…

Exchanging ideas internationally and learning from one another advances cardiovascular care. I was proud to join Dr. @bradleymaronmd, editor-in-chief of @CircAHA, and Dr. Xin-Liang Ma of Thomas Jefferson University at the Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology.