Exclusive Interview with the Leading Journal Editor: Editor-in-Chief of JACC Prof. Harlan Krumholz——Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Data, Equity, and Global Innovation

From May 29 to June 1, the 19th Oriental Congress of Cardiology (OCC) was held in Shanghai, China, convening leading experts from around the world to explore the latest advancements in cardiology. The conference covered coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, structural heart disease, hypertension, heart failure, lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, thrombotic disorders, pulmonary circulation diseases, cardiovascular emergencies, imaging, and advances in basic research, prevention, integrated Chinese and Western medicine, treatment, rehabilitation, and nursing of cardiovascular diseases.

At the Opening Ceremony, Prof. Harlan Krumholz, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) and an internationally renowned authority in cardiovascular outcomes research and digital health transformation, delivered a keynote speech titled “A Shared Future: Innovation, Collaboration, and the Promise of Cardiovascular Medicine.” Following his inspiring lecture, the Editorial Office of Vessel Plus had the privilege of conducting an exclusive interview with Prof. Krumholz to gain deeper insights into his vision for the future of global cardiovascular care.

Image: Prof. Harlan Krumholz at the 19th Oriental Congress of Cardiology, Shanghai, China

With a forward-looking approach that bridges clinical practice, research, and health policy, Prof. Krumholz discussed the development of learning health systems, the promotion of global equity in cardiovascular care, and the evolving role of scientific journals in advancing impactful, innovative medicine. He emphasized the integration of real-time patient data with AI tools to revolutionize clinical decision making, predicting that AI will become central to routine care within the next five years. Addressing the challenges of diagnostic delays and disparities, he advocated for scalable, context-sensitive reforms, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

As Editor-in-Chief of JACC, Prof. Krumholz champions research with genuine clinical and societal impact. He promotes inclusivity, innovation, open science, and data ethics, and calls for transparent, accountable systems that empower patients and foster equitable progress in cardiovascular medicine.

Interview questions:

1. Your recent work has emphasized the development of learning health systems and digital transformation in healthcare. How do you envision the integration of real-time patient data with AI-driven decision tools transforming clinical practice in the next five years?

2. In your 2024 investigations into diagnostic delays and health disparities in cardiovascular care, what structural interventions do you consider most scalable to improve equity, particularly in Asia-Pacific healthcare systems?

3. International collaboration is vital for advancing cardiology research. What structural innovations or research areas do you believe hold the most promise for strengthening global cooperation in this field?

4. As the new Editor-in-Chief of JACC, you've emphasized 'chasing impact, not impact factor' and envision the journal as a transformative platform for advancing cardiovascular health. Could you elaborate on how you plan to balance the pursuit of high-impact, clinically actionable science with the need for rapid dissemination and inclusivity, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like AI and the imperative to address global health disparities?

5. You’ve emphasized that journals should not only disseminate knowledge but also catalyze change in clinical practice and policy. How can cardiovascular journals today strike a balance between publishing rigorous science and fostering innovation that challenges established paradigms?

6. You’ve been an advocate for open science and patient data ownership. With growing concerns around data privacy and AI bias, how can researchers balance transparency with ethical stewardship of health data?

Brief Introduction

Prof. Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM, is one of the most influential voices in cardiovascular outcomes research and digital medicine. He serves as the Harold H. Hines, Jr. Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at Yale University and a practicing cardiologist at Yale New Haven Hospital. Prof. Krumholz earned his degrees from Yale and Harvard, and has built a distinguished career at the intersection of patient care, population health, and systems innovation. As the founding director of the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), he has led pioneering studies in health outcomes, data transparency, and quality improvement.

In 2023, Prof. Krumholz was appointed Editor-in-Chief of JACC, one of the most influential journals in cardiovascular medicine. Under his leadership, JACC is entering a new era of global engagement, open science, and clinical transformation. He has redefined the role of scientific publishing - positioning journals not merely as vehicles for knowledge dissemination but also as catalysts for progress in research, clinical practice, and health policy.

Selected Honors and Awards

• Member, National Academy of Medicine
• Distinguished Investigator Award, Association of American Physicians
• Co-Founder, Yale Open Data Access (YODA) Project
• Editor-in-Chief, Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2023–present)
• Top 1% Most Cited Researchers in Clinical Medicine (Clarivate Analytics)

Prof. Krumholz’s visionary contributions continue to shape the future of cardiovascular medicine — making it smarter, more inclusive, and more responsive to the needs of patients worldwide.

Stay tuned with Vessel Plus for more exclusive interviews with global pioneers in cardiovascular research.

Editor: Jane Meng
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully submitted by the Editorial Office of Vessel Plus