100 Years of Heart, Hustle, and Human Connection: Celebrating a Century of Scientific Sessions
From 1925 to Today, the American Heart Association Has Been Shaping the Future of Cardiovascular Care
On May 25, 1925, a group of physicians and scientists gathered for what would become one of the most enduring and influential traditions in modern medicine: the very first Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association (AHA).
They didn’t have PowerPoint.
They didn’t livestream.
They didn’t tweet.
But they did have one thing: a shared mission to unravel the mysteries of the human heart—and save the lives it powers.
Now, 100 years later, we’re celebrating a full century of heartbeats, breakthroughs, and the brilliant minds who keep pushing cardiac science forward.
Then & Now: From Hotel Ballrooms to Global Screens
That first meeting in 1925 was intimate—just a handful of forward-thinking physicians, probably in stiff collars and wool suits, comparing notes and cardiac murmurs over strong coffee. But oh, how it's grown. The event was designed to foster the exchange of knowledge among cardiovascular researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals and share the latest scientific findings in cardiovascular medicine. The sessions have since grown into one of the largest gatherings of its kind, showcasing advancements in heart disease research, treatments, and prevention strategies.
Today, AHA Scientific Sessions attract more than 15,000 attendees from around the world, blending clinical expertise, cutting-edge research, digital health innovation, and global health equity. The American Heart Association (AHA) knows how to make a splash with the exciting research shared at its Scientific Sessions! They bring the buzz to top-tier journals like Circulation and Stroke, where the latest heart-saving discoveries are showcased for the science crowd. But that’s just the start—if you missed the action, don’t worry! The AHA makes sure no one is left out with webcasts, recordings, and virtual goodies that bring the breakthroughs straight to your screen. For those who like to keep up on the go, the AHA lights up social media with real-time updates, while their website and newsletters dish out all the juicy details. And of course, press releases and digital platforms ensure these game-changing findings make their way to everyone, from researchers to the general public. Presentations stream across borders, and new findings trend on medical Twitter before the presenter even reaches their final slide.
AHA’s Impact on Everyday Heroes
Here at ACLS Academy, we tip our caps (and stethoscopes) to the AHA not just for a century of scientific excellence—but for making that knowledge accessible, actionable, and real for clinicians, educators, and laypeople alike.
The research shared at Scientific Sessions informs the guidelines we teach, from CPR and First Aid to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. Every time we update our course materials, every time we train a nurse, teacher, or parent to act confidently in an emergency—we’re building on the foundation AHA has been refining for a hundred years.
That ripple effect starts at the podium in a convention center and ends in a classroom in Quincy or a lifeguard station on Block Island. It saves lives every single day.
Flashback Fun: Heart History’s Greatest Hits
In honor of this epic milestone, let’s take a walk down cardiac memory lane and revisit a few game-changers that were once front-page news at Scientific Sessions:
1960s – The modern technique for CPR is unveiled. Two decades later, it becomes a public health cornerstone.
1980s – Beta blockers and thrombolytics for heart attacks go mainstream. Lives saved = incalculable.
1990s – The power of lifestyle intervention is solidified: diet, movement, and smoking cessation aren't just side notes—they're frontline tools.
2000s – The push for public AED access begins to gain steam—and cardiac arrest survival rates start to climb.
2015 – Groundbreaking data on women’s cardiovascular risk finally gets the spotlight it deserves.
2020s – The role of social determinants of health becomes a major focus. Heart health isn’t just about biology—it’s about zip code, access, and justice.
Every decade has had its breakthroughs. And guess what? The next one’s already underway.
100 Years Later, the Beat Goes On
As we celebrate this milestone, it’s easy to be wowed by the high-tech side of modern medicine: wearable EKG monitors, AI-powered diagnostics, virtual cardiac rehab. But the real magic of Scientific Sessions has always been the human connection: a nurse sharing a case study, a student asking a brilliant question, a researcher revealing something that will change the course of care.
That spirit is what drives ACLS Academy, too. Our nurse instructors, many of whom practice in top hospitals across New England, are the modern-day translators of this century of science. They take the breakthroughs from journals and sessions and turn them into life-saving actions taught in classrooms, clinics, and communities.
To the Next 100
So here’s to the researchers, the clinicians, the skeptics, the believers. To the quiet observers who took notes in 1925 and the keynote speakers who light up arenas in 2025. And most of all, to the heart—both literal and metaphorical—that keeps this movement going. Want to experience the magic for yourself? The next newly expanded 4-day AHA Scientific Session is happening November 7–10, 2025, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Want to join the legacy? Start with a CPR, BLS, or ACLS class at ACLS Academy. Because the science is powerful, but the hands that carry it out are what truly save lives.
ACLS Academy is an authorized American Heart Association (AHA) Aligned Training Center. We have three convenient locations in Massachusetts—Quincy, Bridgewater, and Newton Center—and most of our classes include an online training component. We provide high-quality courses taught by instructors practicing in the medical profession for ACLS, BLS, TNCC, ENPC, NRP, PALS, PALS Plus, PEARS, ACLS-EP, ASLS, Bloodborne Pathogen, HeartSaver CPR/AED, First Aid, and Instructor Courses. Please browse our catalog of courses.