Exclusive Interview with Prof. Christopher M. Kramer: President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC)

During the 19th Oriental Congress of Cardiology (OCC 2025), held from May 29 to June 1, 2025, in Shanghai, China, the Vessel Plus Editorial Office had the distinct honor of conducting an exclusive interview with Prof. Christopher M. Kramer—current President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and a leading voice in cardiovascular innovation.

In the interview, Prof. Kramer shared timely perspectives on artificial intelligence (AI), international collaboration, and strategies for addressing global challenges in cardiovascular care.

Questions & Answer Highlights

1. Your keynote at OCC 2025 focused on “Innovation in Cardiovascular Care.” From your perspective, what emerging technologies or strategies are currently transforming the clinical landscape the most?

Prof. Kramer emphasized that artificial intelligence is poised to dramatically improve cardiovascular care—not by replacing physicians, but by enhancing efficiency, diagnostic accuracy, and therapeutic decision making. “AI will make things faster and easier for clinicians, leading to more rapid diagnoses and better patient outcomes,” he noted. In particular, he highlighted AI’s expanding applications in cardiovascular imaging, including ECG interpretation, ejection fraction assessment via echocardiography, coronary calcium scoring via CT, and rapid image analysis in cardiac MRI.

2. How do you see the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning evolving in cardiovascular diagnostics and personalized therapy in the next five years?

Prof. Kramer predicted that AI will continue to revolutionize cardiovascular diagnostics and personalized therapy. “From predicting heart failure to enabling contrast-free cardiac imaging, AI is becoming central to how we interpret data and plan treatment,” he said, underscoring its potential to transform both routine assessments and complex decision making in clinical cardiology.

3. As President of the ACC, what do you consider the biggest global challenge in implementing innovative cardiovascular care, particularly in diverse healthcare systems like those in the U.S. and China?

Prof. Kramer pointed to healthcare costs as one of the most pressing global challenges—particularly in high-resource nations like the U.S. and increasingly in China. “Outcomes have not necessarily kept pace with increased spending,” he explained. “We must be smarter about how and where we invest to truly improve population health.”

4. Collaboration between Eastern and Western cardiovascular researchers is growing. What opportunities do you see for global partnerships in advancing innovation in cardiovascular medicine?

Prof. Kramer praised the growing cooperation between Eastern and Western cardiovascular communities. Recalling hospital visits in Beijing, he commended the efficiency of patient care in China and emphasized mutual learning. “We in the U.S. can learn a lot from how care is delivered in China,” he said. He also encouraged stronger international research partnerships, affirming that “there is always room for more collaboration.”

5. For young physicians and researchers attending OCC 2025, what advice would you give to help them stay at the forefront of innovation in cardiovascular care?

To young physicians and researchers, Prof. Kramer offered straightforward yet powerful guidance: “Being present at conferences like OCC is the first step to staying informed. On the research front, finding a dedicated mentor who can guide you is absolutely critical.” His message underlined the importance of active engagement and building a strong academic foundation.

Brief Introduction

Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC
George A. Beller/Lantheus Medical Imaging Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
President, American College of Cardiology (ACC)

Prof. Kramer is the current President of the ACC, a global organization of nearly 60,000 members dedicated to transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. A leading authority in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, he serves as Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Chief of the Cardiovascular Division at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Prof. Kramer’s research has centered on the application of CMR in ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathies, earning him the prestigious Gold Medal from the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in 2015. Over his 35-year ACC membership, Prof. Kramer has held several key leadership roles, including Vice President, Treasurer, Chair of the Imaging Council, and editorial positions within the JACC journal family.

As ACC President, Prof. Kramer is focused on addressing major challenges such as workforce sustainability, health equity, diversity and inclusion, and the integration of AI into cardiovascular care—all with the goal of supporting and inspiring ACC’s global membership.

Editor: Ada Chen
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Vessel Plus