News | ACC | July 15, 2022

ACC Names Dr. Melvin Echols as Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

The ACC has named Melvin R. Echols, MD, FACC, as its new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

Melvin R. Echols, MD, FACC 


July 15, 2022 — The ACC has named Melvin R. Echols, MD, FACC, as its new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, effective July 18. Echols will lead the College’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy and programs, while also maintaining a portion of his current clinical and research responsibilities at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. 

"Fostering a diverse and inclusive cardiovascular workforce, while also advancing solutions to improve health equity among individual patients and populations, is fundamental to achieving ACC’s Mission of transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all,” said ACC CEO Cathleen C. Gates. “As both a cardiologist and a cardiovascular disparities researcher, Dr. Echols brings a deep understanding of the profession, as well as demonstrated success in effectively advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and driving cultural change – competencies that will undoubtedly ensure we are able to deliver on our strategic diversity, equity and inclusion goals now and into the future.” 

Echols is currently an associate professor of cardiovascular disease at Morehouse School of Medicine and serves as program director for the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship. He is also a practicing cardiologist specializing in heart failure and brings more than a decade of experience as a clinical trial investigator focusing on heart failure, quality improvement, social determinants of health, and health care disparities. In his role as Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Echols will use his expertise and experiences to work with ACC members, staff, external partners and other stakeholders to identify and implement programmatic goals and develop actionable and sustainable solutions to achieving a more diverse, equitable and inclusive College and cardiovascular profession. Specifically, he will lead and facilitate ACC efforts to mitigate barriers to entry into the field of cardiology; build and expand educational initiatives like the new Internal Medicine Program; and lead and coordinate the diversity and inclusion efforts and training of both staff and members across the College. 

“In a time where polarization continues to permeate our society, we need the implicit core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion now more than ever,” Echols said. “I expect this role will permit me to listen actively, learn vigorously, and allow the needs of our society to lead the ACC towards impactful change.” 

Echols graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2002 and completed Internal Medicine at Duke University in 2005. He completed his cardiovascular fellowship training at Duke University Medical Center. He is a member of the ACC, Association of Black Cardiologists, the Heart Failure Society of America, the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, and the American Heart Association

“The discovery of commonalities between people and culture while providing quality cardiovascular care to all is strengthened by diversity, and will ultimately improve health equity in our society,” Echols said. “Everyone has a part to play in this mission and should feel included in helping to make our society and the world better than yesterday.” 

For more information: www.acc.org 

Find more ACC22 conference coverage 


Related Content

News | ACC

March 21, 2023 — As part of its extensive coverage, the editorial team at dicardiology.com/DAIC has shared summary ...

Home March 21, 2023
Home
News | ACC

March 16, 2023 — The American College of Cardiology (ACC) announced the winners and finalists of its 2023 Young ...

Home March 16, 2023
Home
News | ACC

March 12, 2023 — As part of its ongoing news coverage of ACC23, the DAIC/dicardiology.com editorial team has condensed ...

Home March 12, 2023
Home
News | ACC

March 9, 2023 — C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, FACC, professor of cardiology and the director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s ...

Home March 09, 2023
Home
News | ACC

March 9, 2023 — Positive results from a Mineralys Therapeutics study, the Target-HTN Phase 2 trial, demonstrated ...

Home March 09, 2023
Home
News | ACC

March 8, 2023 — B. Hadley Wilson, MD, FACC, is the new president of the American College of Cardiology. Today marks the ...

Home March 08, 2023
Home
News | ACC

March 6, 2023 — In findings presented from the STELLAR Phase III Trial during the American College of Cardiology’s 2023 ...

Home March 06, 2023
Home
News | ACC

March 7, 2023 — A virtual care team-guided strategy for guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) optimization was found ...

Home March 06, 2023
Home
News | ACC

March 5, 2023 — Making a connection between the flu and the risk of subsequent heart problems significantly increased ...

Home March 05, 2023
Home
Feature | ACC | Christine Book

March 4, 2023 — Of the immense volume of valuable information offered and exchanged during the first day of the American ...

Home March 04, 2023
Home
Subscribe Now