Why ACC 26 Matters for Pharmacists: Insights From the Front Lines of Cardiovascular Care

As cardiovascular therapeutics continue to expand in complexity, pharmacists are increasingly involved in interpreting new evidence, coordinating care, and guiding medication use across diverse clinical settings. In advance of this year’s American College of Cardiology meeting, Pharmacy Times spoke with Craig Beavers, PharmD—cardiovascular clinical pharmacist and vice president of operations at Baptist Health System and faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy—and Kristen Campbell, PharmD, who practices in electrophysiology at Duke University Hospital and serves on the meeting’s planning committee. Their discussion provides context for the themes and content areas pharmacists may find most relevant this year.

Both note that the meeting arrives at a time when pharmacists are deeply involved in managing conditions that straddle multiple specialties, such as cardio-kidney-metabolic disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias requiring intensive monitoring. New therapies, shifting guideline expectations, and increased emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration all shape the questions pharmacists are likely to encounter in practice. For this reason, sessions focused on late-breaking clinical trials, clinical pharmacology, and implementation challenges may hold particular value.

Beyond formal education, Beavers and Campbell highlight that the meeting environment often facilitates practical exchanges—whether through poster sessions, informal discussions, or opportunities to hear directly from trial and guideline authors. For pharmacists attending in person or following coverage remotely, these insights can help clarify where cardiovascular practice is heading, what evidence is emerging, and how peers across institutions are adapting. Their reflections underscore that pharmacists continue to play a meaningful role in interpreting data, supporting clinical decision-making, and helping patients navigate increasingly complex cardiovascular therapies.