Dear Members: 

As we approach the end of 2024, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the achievements we have accomplished together this year, a period that has been notable for tremendous progress and innovation in interventional cardiology. With the strides we have made together, I look forward to an impactful and successful upcoming year. 

Interventional Cardiology Match 

The first-ever Interventional Cardiology Match occurred just a few weeks ago, marking a pivotal moment in our field. It’s hard to understate the importance of this structured and equitable process, which will benefit our fellows for generations to come.  

The inaugural Match saw an impressive participation rate, with 164 programs committing 326 positions, representing 89% of the identified training programs and 80% of the available interventional cardiology positions. In all, 290 applicants participated in the Match, with 272 (94%) securing a position on Match Day. Of course, SCAI actively works with programs to match remaining candidates with unfilled positions.  

The success of the Interventional Cardiology Match is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our members, who worked on this initiative for years. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to this success, from the program directors and faculty members to the fellows and residents who participated in the Match.  

SCAI Is Advocating for You 

Our advocacy efforts have yielded substantial victories this year. Through the SCAI Advocacy Committee, we successfully removed Drug-Coated Balloons (DCBs) from the investigational list, facilitated the passage of the "Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024 into law, and gained traction for the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act. These legislative achievements are a testament to our unwavering commitment to representing the interests of our profession, practices, and patients at the federal level.   

In 2025, We will intensify our advocacy efforts to address emerging challenges and opportunities in interventional cardiology. Key among them is fighting against Medicare cuts. Remember to support SCAI PAC as the year comes to an end! 

Commitment to Physician Wellness 

Physician wellness remains a top priority for SCAI, and for me as your president. We have implemented several wellness programs to support our members in managing the unique challenges they face as interventionalists.  

We are committed to moving our profession from a "tolerable" to an "optimal" working environment, one that dramatically reduces radiation exposure while freeing operators and staff from the burdens of wearing protective leaded gear. Our initiatives include resources and training for minimizing exposure to occupational hazards, such as radiation and orthopedic injuries, as well as webinars and workshops focused on self-care strategies, stress management, and achieving a healthy work-life balance. Our SCAI Wellness Webinar Series recently published a conversation on tackling grief and depression, freely available on the SCAI website.  

We will expand our wellness initiatives to provide even more support for our members' mental, emotional, and physical well-being. 

Educational Opportunities 

Our SCAI SHOCK program, which provides a step-by-step guide to building a contemporary cardiogenic shock program, broke attendance records this year, with a 16.5% increase over 2023. The next session is Sept 18-20, 2025, in Tampa, FL. 

We are excited to invite you to the 2025 SCAI Scientific Sessions, May 1–3, in Washington, DC, where we will share the latest clinical data, procedural guidance, and advanced expertise in interventional cardiology. You can expect interactive sessions on clinical practices, from routine to complex cases, and valuable opportunities to expand your peer network and engage with SCAI's committees. With our attendance continuing to break records, this will be the place to be for interventional cardiology. 

Efforts to Advance Diversity  

We remain committed to increasing diversity in interventional cardiology. An innovative “micro fellowship” launched this year, LEED: LAAO (Leadership Exchange to Promote Equity and Diversity: Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion). The program pairs experienced LAAO operators with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) champions in a novel bidirectional exchange of expertise to address unmet needs in interventional cardiology. 

In addition, we began the SCAI Women in Innovations (WIN) Radiation Safety Campaign in an effort to address the gender disparity in those who practice interventional cardiology. The goal is to provide accurate information and support to female cardiologists considering our field, to support them and encourage more women to join our specialty. These efforts are ongoing. 

Public Awareness  

As a founding member of the PAD Pulse Alliance—a partnership with the Association of Black Cardiologists, the Society of Interventional Radiology, and the Society for Vascular Surgery—SCAI led the way in raising awareness about Peripheral Artery Disease in 2024, particularly during PAD Awareness Month in September. 

In addition to a patient-focused media outreach campaign, we developed PADPulse.org, an online resource offering a wealth of information and tools for you and your patients. With your help, we featured video testimonials to highlight success in getting the best patient outcomes. The campaign generated significant media pickup in February and during PAD Awareness Month in September. 

JSCAI Achievements 

JSCAI reached a significant milestone this year by being approved for indexing in PubMed Central, elevating the visibility and impact of JSCAI and underscoring our journal's growing influence and its essential role as a publishing outlet for interventionalists. 

JSCAI entered new frontiers in the multimedia space, launching a new video series, Pioneers of Interventional Cardiology, which highlights the stories and accomplishments of influential figures in the interventional cardiology field. Episodes release quarterly. JSCAI also launched a new podcast, JSCAI Beats, which explores the latest breakthroughs, insights, and exclusive interviews from JSCAI. You can subscribe on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts. 

Published in JSCAI, we released an expert consensus Expert Consensus Statement on the Management of Patients with STEMI Referred for Primary PCI. The consensus statement provides detailed suggestions for clinicians, particularly for novel situations not covered by general guidelines.  

Through JSCAI, we continue to publish the timely research and essential consensus documents that our field needs to thrive. 

Moving Forward 

As always, we remain focused on you, our members. In the new year, we will further develop the SCAI Member Community and refine the membership process to make it easier to navigate. 

As we look back on a year filled with accomplishments, we are filled with optimism for the future. I am excited to see what we will accomplish in 2025 and beyond. Thank you for your continued dedication and contributions to SCAI.  

Together, we will continue to advance the field of interventional cardiology and improve the lives of our patients. I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season and a prosperous new year. 

Warm regards, 

James B. Hermiller, MD, MSCAI 
2024–25 SCAI President