External Resources

Patients sometimes research topics on their own by reading articles published on the Internet. Be mindful that the articles are published by a reliable source. Below are some recommended websites.

American Heart Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. Founded in 1924 by six cardiologists, AHA is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to this cause. The organization includes millions of volunteers and supporters. They are leaders of public health education in numerous ways and are advocates for changes to protect and improve the health of our communities.

American College of Cardiology (ACC) is a non-profit medical association that was established in 1949. The organization is located in Washington, D.C. The ACC is dedicated to enhancing the lives of cardiovascular patients through continuous quality improvement, patient-centered care, payment innovation and professionalism.

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is a professional organization of physicians, cardiac sonographers, nurses and scientists involved in echocardiography, the use of ultrasound to image the heart and vascular system. Founded in 1975, this is the largest international organization for cardiac imaging. The ASE is committed to excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound, applying its standards through patient care education, advocacy, research, innovation and service.

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) is a non-profit professional association devoted to the study of nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular computed tomography, which are subsets of nuclear medicine. ASNC is the international leader in education, advocacy, and quality in cardiovascular imagine. Founded in 1993, the organization’s mission is to improve cardiovascular outcomes through image-guided patient management.

Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) is an international non-profit organization. The purpose of the society is to promote education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and their patients. This society is a leading resource on cardiac pacing, electrophysiology, and other cardiac rhythm disorders.

Mended Hearts is a support organization for heart patients, families and caregivers with a particular interest in helping people deal with the emotional recovery from heart disease. It is a national, community-based non-profit organization. To offer hope, Mended Hearts provides a variety of programs. Their mission is to inspire hope and improve the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH) and contains information for professionals and the general public about heart and vascular diseases, lung diseases, blood diseases.

National Stroke Association provides stroke education and programs to stroke survivors, caregivers, and healthcare providers. The mission of the National Stroke Association is to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke by delivering education and other programs focused on the prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for all impacted by stroke.

Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) was established in 1976. This society promotes excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through education and representation and the advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. Its founders, Drs. F. Mason Sones and Melvin P. Judkins, were scientists whose contribution led to the development and implementation of invasive cardiology. Their vision was to create an organization that would service and advance the discipline further.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing thousands of surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide. The society was founded in 1964. Its members are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The society’s core values include quality, innovation, professionalism, inclusiveness, and teamwork. Their mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons so that they provide the highest quality patient care. They do this through education, research, and advocacy. 

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease was founded by three women, who had heart attacks in their 40s and who did not previously know one another, started this organization. That was in 1998. Today, they provide education, hope and support to millions of women who have similar stories. The goal is to give women access to prevention and early detection, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. This rich website is a gift from which we can all learn.