The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has announced a landmark moment in the pursuit of equity in cardiovascular health with the inauguration of the Thad and Gerry Waites Rural Cardiovascular Research Fellowship Award. This fellowship, established through the generous endowment of Dr. Thad F. Waites and in honor of his wife, Gerry, seeks to address persistent disparities in cardiovascular care that affect rural and underserved populations across the United States. The fellowship aims to catalyze impactful research and community engagement initiatives, underlining the critical need for tailored interventions in rural cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Plicy Perez-Kersey emerges as the inaugural recipient of this fellowship, a distinguished early-career cardiologist and advanced cardiac imaging fellow at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She also serves as an acting instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington. Dr. Perez-Kersey’s selection underscores her profound commitment to health equity and her extensive experience serving medically underserved populations. Her clinical and research endeavors, particularly focused on congenital heart disease, offer promising pathways toward mitigating health disparities unique to rural settings.
The Thad and Gerry Waites Rural Cardiovascular Research Fellowship grants up to $70,000 in funding designed to empower fellows-in-training or early-career cardiologists dedicated to rural cardiovascular care. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment not only to clinical excellence but also to community engagement and advancing health equity. This pioneering award exemplifies a strategic step toward reshaping health outcomes by supporting those on the frontline of care in areas historically lacking adequate cardiovascular resources.
Dr. Waites himself articulated the philosophical foundation underpinning this initiative, emphasizing a lifelong dedication to service and the power of giving back to the community. The fellowship represents more than financial support; it embodies a mission to dismantle structural barriers impeding rural populations from accessing quality cardiovascular care. It reinforces the transformative potential of clinical research that is deeply intertwined with the real-world complexities of societal determinants of health.
Perez-Kersey’s journey exemplifies the integration of clinical care, advocacy, and research. Early in her medical education, she co-managed a free clinic in Harlem, focusing on uninsured and homeless populations, which laid a cornerstone for her understanding of health disparities. Later, during her pediatric residency at the University of Washington, she delivered culturally responsive care to Alaska Native communities via the Alaska Medical Track program. These experiences informed her current research agenda, which probes the social drivers influencing outcomes for patients with congenital heart disease across both pediatric and adult populations.
Her current research, supported by this fellowship, will pivot toward maternal and fetal cardiac care deficiencies prevalent in rural communities, an area historically neglected in cardiovascular research. By establishing a community-based screening program for pregnant patients, Dr. Perez-Kersey aims to identify latent cardiac risks early and facilitate timely intervention. This approach not only advances clinical care but also fosters a preventative framework rooted in community empowerment and sustainable health infrastructure development.
The ACC’s honor, through its CEO Cathy Gates, highlights the fellowship’s alignment with the organization’s broader mission: transforming cardiovascular care globally and ensuring no population is left behind. With cardiovascular disease remaining the leading cause of mortality worldwide, rural health disparities represent a critical frontier where research and clinical practice must evolve. The Waites fellowship integrates this vision with actionable support for emerging leaders focused on this imperative.
The fellowship’s introduction at ACC.26, scheduled for March 28 – 30, 2026, in New Orleans, coincides with a major global cardiovascular meeting where the latest innovations and discoveries in cardiovascular medicine will be discussed. This platform offers an invaluable opportunity to amplify voices and research efforts dedicated to closing the equity gap in cardiovascular outcomes, highlighting the intersection between rural health and cutting-edge medical science.
The American College of Cardiology’s initiative reflects a broader trend in medicine emphasizing social determinants of health as integral to patient care. Dr. Perez-Kersey’s work epitomizes this approach, blending advanced cardiac imaging technologies with community-based health strategies. This fusion is essential to developing precision medicine approaches that account for environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic contexts influencing disease trajectories.
Beyond the immediate financial award, the fellowship fosters a network of collaboration and mentorship for fellows committed to rural health. This ecosystem is designed to accelerate scientific discovery while ensuring practical translation to community settings. By seeding such support, the ACC is not only addressing present disparities but also nurturing a generation of cardiologists who will carry the mantle of health equity into future decades.
In summary, the launch of the Thad and Gerry Waites Rural Cardiovascular Research Fellowship Award marks a significant milestone in cardiovascular medicine. It champions a critical, yet underrepresented area of research and care—rural cardiovascular health—while honoring a legacy of commitment to underserved populations. Dr. Plicy Perez-Kersey’s groundbreaking work in this field not only promises to enhance maternal and fetal cardiac care but also sets a precedent for how evidence-based medicine, community engagement, and health equity can intersect to transform outcomes in vulnerable populations.
Subject of Research: Rural cardiovascular disparities, maternal and fetal cardiac care in underserved populations, congenital heart disease outcomes influenced by social determinants.
Article Title: American College of Cardiology Honors Dr. Plicy Perez-Kersey with Inaugural Thad and Gerry Waites Rural Cardiovascular Research Fellowship Award
News Publication Date: Not specified; anticipated announcement during ACC.26 in March 2026
Web References: https://www.acc.org/Membership/Join-Us/Benefits/Award-Programs/Waites-Rural-Cardiovascular-Research-Fellowship; http://www.ACC.org
Keywords: Cardiology, Rural Health, Cardiovascular Research, Health Equity, Maternal Cardiac Care, Congenital Heart Disease, Community Health, Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiovascular Imaging, Underserved Populations, Medical Fellowship, Health Disparities
