The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) is a not-for profit organization of physicians, allied health professionals, and individuals with PhD degrees in the United States and abroad. Its mission is to promote the prevention and treatment of diseases of the chest through leadership, education, research, and communication. To this end, the ACCP provides continuing medical education in the specialties of pulmonology, cardiology, cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgery, hypertension, critical care medicine, and related disciplines.
Over 15,000 physicians are members of this unique international multidisciplinary society dedicated to the advancement of research, teaching, and the clinical practice of cardiopulmonary medicine, surgery and critical care. The designation "FCCP" appearing after a physician's name distinguishes him/her as a recognized specialist in his/her field.
Founded in 1935, the ACCP has been in the forefront of cardiopulmonary medicine ever since. The College was one of the first medical organizations to issue warnings about the dangers of cigarette smoking and to urge physicians and patients to stop smoking.
Admission into the ACCP is granted only after stringent qualifications have been met, including double board certification, where appropriate, once in internal medicine, surgery, or pediatrics and again in the individual's subspecialty, such as pulmonology, cardiology, or critical care.
