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Must Attend Sessions at ACC.26: An Early Career Faculty Guide
Posted on 03/19/2026 12:00 am / March 2026
Each year the American College of Cardiology annual meeting brings together the latest science, practical clinical education, and emerging innovations shaping cardiovascular medicine. The ACC.26 Scientific Session in New Orleans is no exception. With hundreds of sessions across 11 learning pathways, navigating the program can be overwhelming—especially for early career faculty trying to balance clinical updates, skill development, and exposure to emerging technologies.
Below are 5 sessions that stand out as particularly high-yield, combining guideline updates, case-based learning, hands-on discussion, and future-focused topics like artificial intelligence and health system leadership.
- Cardiovascular Update for the Clinician: A Symposium by Valentin Fuster
Join Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, and an esteemed panel of leading experts for an in-depth symposium highlighting the most important advances shaping cardiovascular medicine in 2026. Designed to bridge groundbreaking research and everyday clinical practice, this course translates the latest scientific discoveries into practical, evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Across two focused sessions, faculty will present "The Five Advances" in ten critical areas of cardiovascular care — from early detection of coronary atherosclerosis and management of acute coronary syndromes to the latest therapies in heart failure, rhythm disorders, and valvular disease. Participants will gain up-to-date insights into evolving diagnostics, innovative treatments, and emerging challenges across the spectrum of cardiovascular disease.
This comprehensive update offers clinicians an unparalleled opportunity to stay at the forefront of cardiovascular science and apply the latest advancements directly to patient care.
- Pharmacology Program
Deepen your understanding of today's most innovative and impactful cardiovascular therapies in this year's Pharmacology Program, designed to help clinicians translate the latest evidence into practice.
In the first session, experts will explore the interconnected nature of cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic disease. Learn how emerging therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and MRAs deliver multisystem benefits — and gain practical guidance on identifying CKM patients, implementing treatment strategies, and improving access to care.
Then, in the second session, faculty will highlight cutting-edge management approaches for TTR cardiac amyloidosis and iron deficiency in heart failure. Through case-based discussions and real-world insights, participants will discover how to combine therapies effectively, navigate access challenges, and deliver the most advanced treatments to their patients.
Whether you're seeking to update your pharmacologic knowledge or optimize therapy selection in complex cardiovascular conditions, this course provides the latest data, practical pearls, and actionable strategies to elevate patient care. - Interactive Sessions
The Heart2Heart Stage, Fireside Chats, and Town Halls provide forums for conversation — offering direct access to experts, opportunities to ask questions, and seek practical advice. Knowledge meets action in the Personalized Skills zone where you can sharpen your clinical and procedural skills through hands-on learning. Together, these interactive formats immerse participants in the learning experience, fostering deeper understanding, stronger retention, and greater application of knowledge in practice. These experiences set the ACC Annual Scientific Session apart. - Artificial Intelligence based sessions
Artificial intelligence will be a major focus at the ACC.26 Scientific Session. Several sessions will explore how AI is moving from concept to real-world clinical application, particularly in cardiovascular imaging, decision support, and health system operations. The meeting’s Artificial Intelligence Intensive will highlight practical implementation strategies, including sessions such as “Augmented Intelligence at the Point of Care: From Hype to Daily Practice” and “From Code to Clinic: AI Transforming Cardiac Imaging.” In addition, keynote discussions will examine the broader impact of AI on the future of medicine, offering perspectives on how emerging technologies may reshape clinical workflows, diagnostics, and physician practice in the years ahead. Together, these sessions provide attendees with a concise but impactful look at how AI is poised to influence cardiovascular care.
- Guideline Focused sessions
Guideline-focused sessions remain a cornerstone of the ACC.26, offering clinicians the opportunity to hear directly from experts involved in developing the latest cardiovascular practice recommendations. These sessions highlight new and evolving guidance across a range of topics—including acute coronary syndromes, pulmonary embolism, hypertension, and imaging—while emphasizing how to translate evidence into real-world clinical decision-making. Through expert panels, debates, and interactive discussions, attendees gain practical insights into applying guideline-directed care while navigating areas where clinical controversy and uncertainty still exist.
