Hypertension Message from the Chair

R. Ariel Gomez, MD, FAHA

The goal of the American Heart Association is “to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.” The Council on Hypertension aligns wholly with such goals by supporting excellence in research, education and patient care.

Hypertension poses a threat to the well-being of a vast sector of the world’s population. If untreated, it may lead to stroke, cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Unfortunately, and in spite of our increased knowledge, the incidence of hypertension continues to increase—a public health challenge we must overcome. Solving this problem will require the concerted effort and engagement of basic and clinician scientists, practitioners, nurses, nutritionists, epidemiologists, educators, our patients, and their communities. We realize that while working to understand the roots and pathogenesis of this syndrome, we also need to eradicate health inequities, improve access to health care and education. Working with our communities will prove paramount to improve healthy choices as regards nutrition, exercise, and weight control. One critical aspect of this effort is to develop and implement the most effective initiatives and interventions to promote hypertension awareness, early detection and prevention.

One of the most important activities of the Council on Hypertension is our fall specialty conference, Hypertension Scientific Sessions, held in conjunction and collaboration with the Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease (KCVD). Through this event, we bring together diverse experts to share novel research, discuss innovative therapies, provide educational sessions and discuss opportunities for career development. We place particular emphasis on nurturing the participation of early-career individuals, particularly those from historically marginalized groups. We foster an inclusive, welcoming, and pluralistic environment, which we hope extends to our international collaborations with other councils and societies interested in hypertension worldwide.

As your new Chair of the Council on Hypertension, I am honored to work with trainees, early-career investigators, and the best scientists and clinical minds in our field. We will continue to foster successful career planning in an inclusive and nurturing environment, promote health equity, and advance support for child and dependent care so that early career scientists can attend and participate fully in our scientific meetings, including the Hypertension Scientific Sessions.

Together with our leadership committees and the AHA administration, we are committed to serving the needs of our members and achieving our shared objectives of promoting healthier lives for our patients. We will continue to work with our journal, Hypertension, to disseminate crucial information that advances our understanding of the root causes and pathogenesis of hypertension.

Becoming a Professional Member of the Council on Hypertension is paramount to contributing to our mission to reduce the incidence of hypertension worldwide. Now, it would be an excellent time to join our team as we stand at the forefront of hypertension management

R. Ariel Gomez, MD, FAHA
Chair, Council on Hypertension