Reviewing the history of our Society and its evolution ignites our understanding of why we exist and what our mission and vision are. Since its origin, the SAC has been able to adapt to the times, merging research, teaching, and clinical care to serve the cardiovascular health of the country. This journey reminds us that our strength lies not only in who we are today, but in the path we have built to face the challenges of tomorrow.
As an inspiration and model, we remember the Royal Society, established in 1660, the oldest scientific society in the world. Its motto, “Nullius in verba” - on no one’s word- sums up a philosophy that guided researchers to seek the truth through experimentation and evidence, not authority or tradition. That attitude of well-understood skepticism and constant verification is what we want to embody at the SAC: a commitment to truth, transparency, and continuous improvement that serves the cardiovascular health of our population.
Since its inception, the SAC has evolved from a journal to a scientific society linked to universities and public hospitals in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Rosario. Throughout Argentine history, we have been able to adapt to contexts of great social upheaval, maintaining cooperation between public and private health care, and often advancing practices and ideas in the region. This legacy requires us to review our actions for the coming years in light of the current paradigm shifts in science and society.
At the 2025 ESC Congress in Madrid, the SAC was recognized as the first scientific society affiliated with the European Society of Cardiology in 2005, a decision made by Dr. Daniel Piñeiro. This recognition is not simply a badge of honor: it is tangible proof that our increasingly ambitious and coordinated strategic decisions have had an impact over time. It invites us to look ahead with the same conviction: to turn evidence, experience, and innovation into actions that improve the cardiovascular health of all Argentineans.
With this in mind and with this vocation, in recent months, after multiple meetings with SAC strategic leaders at the national level, we have identified global and local scenarios that require robust planning: population aging, acceleration of diagnostic and therapeutic innovations, and the emergence of artificial intelligence in clinical practice, teaching, and research. In Argentina, the arrival of new technologies coexists with structural challenges: insufficient infrastructure, inequities in access, and a heterogeneous, fragmented, and underfunded healthcare system. These realities require a strategic vision to guide decisions, prioritize investments, and strengthen the impact of our work.
Our mission and vision-to be a non-profit public welfare association committed to improving cardiovascular health in the country; and to be a leader in cardiovascular health training and information, promoting good practices, constant updating, and the integration of technological advances with emphasis on equity and sustainability in the health system - compel us to go beyond clinical cardiology. We want to participate in improving the organization, financing, and rational use of health system resources, focusing on health priorities.
The strategic plan (SP) we are developing, which we will present at the 51st SAC Congress in October, has a horizon of three government terms. It is a guiding framework for decisions, actions, and investments. It is not a detailed document that limits each member; it is a consensus framework to improve decision-making, organizational efficiency, and the SAC’s contribution to the country’s cardiovascular health.
We are adopting a participatory approach: developed by the Presidency, with the collaboration of the Board of Directors and leaders from different functions and regions, through workshops and working meetings. We seek coherence and consistency, aligning actions across three administrations, and we place ethics and equity at the center of all lines of action.
Our commitment is articulated in three areas that guide each step: Education, Research, and SAC Membership. In Education, we want to create and strengthen the Institute of Continuing Medical Education, a precursor to the SAC University Institute; generate and transmit knowledge in medical sciences and cardiology, prioritize professional development and education focused on patient benefit, and continue to position the SAC as a benchmark in training, knowledge generation, and technological development at national and international levels.
In Research, we aim at developing scientific knowledge that improves clinical practice and human resources training; to generate national data and statistics on cardiovascular health; to consolidate a methodology that represents the reality of our country; and to continue promoting multicenter registries and the participation of research centers throughout the territory on an ongoing basis.
In the SAC Members Area, we propose a training program for leading cardiologists to professionalize leadership and management, preparing them for the advancement of new technologies, globalization, and new challenges.
The strategic plan is not a luxury: it is an indispensable tool for guiding efforts, optimizing resources, and raising the quality of cardiovascular health in Argentina. With a clear framework, committed leadership, and a culture of continuous improvement, we can face the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities offered by scientific and technological progress.
