Dr Dipti Itchhaporia, 70th President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), always met her fears with actions. One of her motivations to become a cardiologist was to be able to act in the face of acute situations. When Dr Itchhaporia, the fifth woman and the first of South Asian descent to fill in this position, was asked to summarise her presidential year, she answered: flourishing in opposition of languishing.

Dr Ankur Kalra’s guest in this episode of Parallax is Dr Dipti Itchhaporia, ACC Immediate-Past President, an interventional cardiologist and the Eric and Sheila Samson Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Health, director of disease management for Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, and associate professor at the University of California, School of Medicine.

In this personal interview, Dr Itchhaporia recalls her early years and the influences and decisions that led her to medicine and cardiology. She talks about her connection to ACC and the importance of choosing a professional home where one can find their purpose under the mentorship of their community. Ankur asks Dr Itchhaporia about the most memorable moments of her presidency. They talk about South Asian identity and curbing CVD in this population.

How does Dr Itchhaporia think about representation and the meaning of her historical position at ACC? What is Dr Itchhaporia’s message to women in cardiology?

Questions and comments can be sent to “podcast@radcliffe-group.com” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guest, @ditchhaporia hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.