UPMC’s Dr. Katie Berlacher Appointed Vice Chair of American College of Cardiology Annual Meeting

Katie Berlacher, MD, MS, FACC 
Medical Director, Magee-Womens Heart Program 
Associate Chief of Education, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute 
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Program Director, Cardiology Fellowship Program

Katie Berlacher, MD, MS, FACC, has been chosen to be the next vice chair of the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session. She will serve in this role for ACC.23 and ACC.24 and subsequently serve as chair for the ACC.25 and ACC.26 sessions. 

The Annual Scientific Session is the flagship meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). As vice chair, Dr. Berlacher will play a leading role with the upcoming chair, Doug Drachman, MD, in developing the educational program for the meeting’s 13,000 professional attendees. The ACC – a professional society made up of 54,000 members – is a global leader in cardiovascular education. 

“I am both thrilled and humbled by the appointment and am looking forward to working with the team as we build annual sessions that are grounded in science, inspired by innovation and focused on equity,” Dr. Berlacher said. 

Every year, UPMC cardiovascular experts like Dr. Berlacher take part in the meeting’s presentations, poster sessions, and workshops alongside cardiovascular team members from around the world, during which they share expertise in cardiovascular conditions, procedures, and innovative research. 

Dr. Berlacher has been deeply engaged with the ACC throughout her career. She currently chairs the ACC’s Lifelong Learning and Oversight Committee, which oversees the College’s educational portfolio, in addition to serving as the current president of the Pennsylvania ACC Chapter and a member of the Annual Scientific Session Planning Committee. 

In addition to medical education, women’s heart disease has been Dr. Berlacher’s clinical focus since joining the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. As director of the Magee-Womens Heart Program, which focuses on providing specialized care for women with or at risk for heart disease at all stages of life, Dr. Berlacher has both educated and cared for a population that has been previously underserved in the cardiac field. Under Dr. Berlacher’s leadership, the program has grown and is offered at a number of UPMC locations. It provides a wide range of diagnostic cardiac services and treatments to women and works to combat heart disease throughout the region.

To learn more about the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute or to refer a patient to Dr. Berlacher, call 412-770-4949.