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

Addressing these unsettling disparities, the American Heart Association (AHA) has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming cardiovascular and stroke health in rural communities. The organization announced an extension of its Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator program through June 2028. Since its inception in 2022, this initiative has been a cornerstone effort aimed at improving the quality of cardiovascular care within rural hospitals by fostering adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines and promoting systematic quality improvement.

Fundamentally, the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator leverages the AHA’s trademark “Get With The Guidelines®” platform, an extensively validated, research-powered approach designed to enhance in-hospital care and patient outcomes through consistent application of the latest scientific recommendations. By facilitating rural hospitals’ participation in this program at no cost, the Accelerator significantly expands access to best practices in cardiovascular disease management, stroke care, and heart failure treatment—conditions that are notoriously prevalent and deadly in rural settings.

A novel aspect of the extended program includes the provision of no-cost enrollment opportunities for new rural healthcare organizations in multiple Get With The Guidelines modules. These modules address coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke, with additional access granted specifically to federally designated Critical Access Hospitals for comprehensive participation across all five program areas, including atrial fibrillation and resuscitation protocols. This holistic approach empowers rural hospitals to implement a multidimensional cardiovascular care strategy, supported by ongoing education and peer collaboration.

To further enhance the impact of the Accelerator, the American Heart Association offers participants direct access to a spectrum of resources tailored explicitly for rural clinicians. These include the Rural Community Network—a peer-to-peer support system—along with dedicated Quality Program Consultants who assist hospitals in data validation and completeness, ensuring accuracy in performance measurement. Regular learning collaboratives and quality improvement workgroups provide dynamic platforms for knowledge exchange, skill refinement, and dissemination of emerging research findings relevant to rural healthcare environments.

The program’s tangible results manifest in broad participation and measurable improvements. As of mid-2025, over 430 rural hospitals have engaged in the Accelerator at no cost, contributing to a nationwide total exceeding 1,000 rural hospitals involved in more than 1,500 Get With The Guidelines initiatives. Recognition of quality improvement is evident as well, with more than 650 rural hospitals earning awards in 2025 alone—a nearly 30% rise compared to the previous year—indicating not only greater participation but also enhanced performance in implementing guideline-based care.

The significance of rural hospitals as essential healthcare access points cannot be overstated; they serve over 60 million individuals across varied and often underserved geographic regions. Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, chief medical officer for prevention at the AHA, emphasizes that the extension of the Accelerator program embodies the organization’s unwavering dedication to elevating rural cardiovascular and stroke care. This commitment includes providing collaborative opportunities, educational resources, and data-informed strategies integral to improving clinical outcomes and ultimately saving lives.

The extended program also promises several pivotal enhancements. Dedicated quality consultants will intensify support for data integrity, enabling rural hospitals to maintain high standards in documentation and benchmarking. Further advancements are targeted at the Rural Get With The Guidelines registry, with improvements aimed at aligning data reporting and analysis tools with the most current scientific insights, thereby ensuring continued relevance and applicability in rural clinical practice.

In addition to infrastructural and data-related progress, the initiative will introduce the Rural Accelerator Quality Improvement Challenge Scholarship. This competitive award mechanism is designed to recognize and support hospitals that innovate and share model practices at national conferences, fostering a culture of excellence and leadership within rural healthcare systems. The scholarship aims to incentivize ongoing improvements and highlight success stories that can be replicated in similar settings.

The comprehensive nature of the AHA’s approach reflects a deep understanding of the multifactorial challenges faced by rural populations, where factors such as provider shortages, limited access to specialized care, and socio-economic barriers complicate efforts to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. By establishing a robust framework for evidence-based care delivery, coupled with educational and collaborative infrastructure, the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator seeks to dismantle these barriers through sustainable, scalable interventions.

Finally, the American Heart Association invites healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community stakeholders to learn more about the extended program and its resources by visiting heart.org/ruralaccelerator. This platform serves as a hub for information, tools, and updates essential for driving continued progress and engagement in rural cardiovascular health improvement efforts.

Bold strides such as the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator exemplify how strategic partnerships and science-driven programs catalyze transformation in healthcare outcomes. In rural America, where the burden of cardiovascular disease remains disproportionately high, such initiatives not only close the gap but also set the stage for a future where equitable, high-quality care is accessible to all, regardless of geography.

Subject of Research:
Cardiovascular health disparities and improvement initiatives in rural populations.

Article Title:
American Heart Association Extends Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator to Address Cardiovascular Disparities Through 2028

News Publication Date:
August 26, 2025

Web References:
https://www.heart.org/en/professional/quality-improvement/rural-healthcare-outcomes-accelerator
https://www.heart.org/en/professional/quality-improvement/get-with-the-guidelines

References:
American Heart Association issues call to action for addressing inequities in rural health. February 10, 2020.
Call to Action: Rural Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Circulation. 2020;141:e615–e644. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000753

Keywords:
Rural populations, Cardiovascular disorders, Coronary artery disease, Heart disease, Heart failure