Challenges and Future Directions in Arrhythmia Care

Interview With Keith Churchwell, MD, President of the American Heart Association

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EP LAB DIGEST. 2024;24(9):1,14.

Interview With Keith Churchwell, MD
President of the American Heart Association

In this interview, we talk with Keith Churchwell, MD, about his new term as president of the American Heart Association (AHA) for 2024-2025, including his longstanding work with the AHA, future trends and current challenges in arrhythmia care, and goals during his time as AHA president.

Congratulations on becoming the President of the American Heart Association for 2024-2025! How has your previous experience prepared you for this leadership role, and what are some key initiatives or projects you are excited to implement during your tenure?

Great question. My previous experiences in leadership have been in my daily work and in my time as a volunteer with the AHA. I have held a number of leadership positions at Vanderbilt Health and with the Yale New Haven Health System, most recently as President from 2020-2023. In all these roles, working in concert with colleagues, patients, and staff was key to the overall success of any initiative that was brought forward. With the AHA, I have been President of the Southeast Region and the former Founders Affiliate in the past, along with chairing the National Advocacy Committee for 4 years and being a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors over the past 3 years. These positions have given me a great understanding of the length and breadth of the AHA’s commitment and mission, as well as with its capabilities, as we start our second century.

In terms of key initiatives or projects for the year, being a part of helping to define the AHA’s mission and goals as we begin its next century of operation will be an exciting part of my work. Joining in and contributing to a number of important projects that have gotten underway, including the new Health Care by Food initiative and strategies for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health are examples of a number of projects that are in progress.
 
The field of cardiac electrophysiology (EP) is rapidly evolving. What do you see as the most promising future trends in this area?

EP has an important impact in the delivery of care across all aspects of cardiovascular disease. I think we have come to understand that EP is the “Swiss army knife” in our clinical bag of therapies in combating cardiac pathology. This includes the congenital heart patient at the beginning of their care as a baby to the dysrhythmic complications they have as an adult. It also includes the patient with heart failure who presents with complicated atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias in need of assessment and therapy, along with opportunities where device therapies can lead to improvement in function and quality of life. The development of ablative and medical options to better treat these conditions, along with the next generation of devices that can improve function, has been exciting to watch. We hope these options will better define populations most helped by these therapies.

Given your expertise, how do you envision the role of digital health technologies in improving arrhythmia detection and patient outcomes?

I doubt the utilization of technology to identify arrhythmias in the asymptomatic population or across large populations with minimal risk will be effective in decreasing the risk from arrhythmia or improving outcomes. Centering on populations at higher risk from complications and adverse events I think will be an important use of these emerging technologies. Those with known heart disease, heart failure, and higher risk of stroke will benefit the most for short- and long-term assessment detection in helping to focus therapy for optimal benefit. 
 
What are your primary goals for the AHA during your term as president, particularly concerning the advancement of cardiovascular health and reducing disparities in heart care? 

Our guiding values  are the roadmap for the work that the AHA wants to accomplish through each volunteer,¹ making an extraordinary impact and working to ensure equitable health for all is part of the work we all are engaged to accomplish. Growing our volunteer population, especially with clinicians and medical staff who are on the front lines of making the changes needed to bring better cardiovascular care for all, is a goal I am looking forward to help make happen in this coming year.
 
How do you plan to advocate for greater public awareness and education about heart health during your tenure, especially considering the ongoing impact of cardiovascular diseases on global health?

During the coming year, the presidency has a unique opportunity to speak and participant in multiple national and international forums. Those venues will give me the chance to play a larger role in speaking to and advocating for use of the guidelines that we know can improve care to a larger audience, as well as to campaign to larger and expansive patient populations (including urban and rural) to be positively impacted by these policies.
 
Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave as President of the AHA, and how do you envision the organization evolving under your leadership?

I have not yet given my legacy any real thought—I will leave that to those who come after me and who can objectively evaluate the impact of the coming year. The AHA is at the beginning of its second century—it is an exciting time for the organization as it plots its course on improving the health and lives of everyone we touch with our global reach. I look forward to being a part of this, in developing the plans, articulating the message, and growing the population of volunteers who believe in the mission and want to be a part of this positive change. 

Reference

1. Ethics Policy. American Heart Association. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/statements-and-policies/ethics-policy