President’s Message

Dear Fellow Members,

I am honored to serve as your president and grateful for the trust you have placed in me. The American Association of Cardiologists of Indian Origin (AACIO) is a premier organization representing cardiologists of Indian origin in the USA. Since its inception in 1986, AACIO has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence in cardiovascular medicine through educational, scientific activities and promoting young investigator research programs.

Twice a year, AACIO collaborates with local Indian medical societies to host meetings during the ACC and AHA scientific sessions. These meetings feature cutting-edge lectures by renowned professionals in the field, as well as recognition of three young investigators for their original research.

AACIO constantly strives to work with ACC, AHA, and other medical societies for recognition of physicians of Indian origin. A significant milestone last year was the establishment of the Navin C. Nanda International Service Award by the ACC, announced at the ACC 2025 Convocation Ceremony – a testament to AACIO’s tireless efforts on your behalf. This honor underscores our collective commitment to advancing cardiovascular medicine and celebrating excellence within our community.

With over 6,000 cardiologists of Indian origin practicing in the USA, AACIO has a significant voice and presence. Our strength and vitality depend on our membership base, which is why our first key initiative is to increase life membership. Please visit our home page and become a member today!

Our meeting at AHA 2025 was a great success, and we look forward to welcoming you at our meeting at ACC 2026. Our upcoming AACIO program will be held during the ACC Scientific Sessions on March 28th, 2026, at The Westin, 100 Iberville Street, New Orleans. The event will feature an educational program, original research presentations by young investigators, and an award ceremony recognizing their achievements. We will also honor distinguished cardiologists from around the world for their unique contributions to cardiology.

We are excited to welcome many new life members from the AHA meeting and encourage all of you to take advantage of the deeply discounted life membership fee of $50, available only for a limited time. We look forward to working with each of you and keeping you updated on our key initiatives. I am grateful to my committee and all board members for their insightful guidance.

Thank you.

Rakesh K. Sharma, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FSCCT
President, AACIO