Stroke Council and American Stroke Association update.

The Stroke Council, 1 of 16 scientific councils within the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), is uniquely dedicated to advancing the science of stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery through research and education. The Stroke Council warmly welcomes the new Editorial Board of the journal Stroke and the new editor-in-chief, Marc Fisher. A new activity for the journal, to be initiated with this article, is a biannual update on stroke activities being undertaken by the AHA/ASA. Stroke continues to be strongly integrated throughout the organization and strategic plan. Central to the new AHA 2020 goal to reduce deaths from stroke by 20%, there is an invigorated focus on primordial stroke and cardiac disease prevention by improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20%. The scope of stroke-related activities within the AHA/ASA is vast, running the gamut from funding of research, writing of guidelines and scientific statements, holding scientific conferences, developing legislation and public policy, facilitating hospital quality improvement activities, and educating consumers. A brief survey may help the readers of Stroke to stay abreast of this torrent of activity and find opportunities to advance their professional goals and further the AHA/ASA’s mission “to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.”