The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) is an organization founded to bring special attention to the adverse impact of cardiovascular disease on African Americans.
[1] The ABC was founded in 1974 by Richard Allen Williams,[2] in association with Boisey O. Barnes, Paul Terry Batties, Walter M. Booker, Kermit L. Brown, Charles L. Curry, Major Geer, Richard F. Gillum, L. Julian Haywood, Hannibal E. Howell, Paul M. Jackson, Edith Irby Jones, Alphonso Jordan, Huerta C. Neals, Levi V. Perry, Felipe Robinson, Daniel D. Savage, and Elijah Saunders, at the American Heart Association conference.
[6] In 2019, a paper was published describing the creation of the ABC Cardiovascular Implementation Study (CVIS) which sought to facilitate robust participation of African Americans, other minorities and underserved populations in clinical trials.
[7] At around the same time, a study was conducted on the potential use of ABC membership to recruit investigators who could lead clinical research to increase the enrollment of black patients.
[9] The ABC response to the Black Lives Matter campaign was highlighted by the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health and Safety as an example of the need for systemic change to address healthcare inequalities.