American College of Cardiology (ACC) names Melvin R. Echols as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, effective July 18. Echols will lead the College's diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy and programs while maintaining a portion of his current clinical and research responsibilities at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
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 specialising in heart failure. Echols 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 staff and members across the College.
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. Echols 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.
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