Leslie Davis becomes first nurse to lead development of ACC clinical guidance

A middle-aged woman with short, light brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a light blue top and a pearl necklace. The background is softly blurred with hints of green and brown.

Leslie Davis, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, FACC, FAHA, FPCNA, of the UNC School of Nursing has become the first nurse to serve as chair and lead author of an American College of Cardiology (ACC) Expert Consensus Decision Pathway, marking a milestone for nursing leadership in cardiovascular care.

Published Oct. 5 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), Optimizing Blood Pressure Care in Patients With Resistant Hypertension: 2026 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway provides practical guidance for clinicians caring for patients whose blood pressure remains difficult to control despite treatment.

A nurse scientist and nurse practitioner with expertise in acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions, Davis led the writing committee alongside Vice Chair Eugene Yang, MD, MS, FACC. Her leadership brings nursing expertise to the development of national guidance for cardiovascular care.

The pathway uses a five-question framework to help clinicians measure blood pressure accurately, identify resistant hypertension, select treatments, coordinate care and assess the role of new technologies. It emphasizes a stepwise approach, helping care teams identify barriers to blood pressure control and determine when treatment should be adjusted.

The document also highlights team-based care, shared decision-making and strategies to address social barriers that can make managing blood pressure more difficult. It builds on the 2025 multisociety high blood pressure guideline by helping clinicians put recommendations into practice for patients with resistant hypertension. Read the ACC’s overview of the new guidance.

Davis’ role follows her contribution to the 2025 national acute coronary syndrome guideline, for which she served as the sole nurse on the writing committee. This latest achievement extends her work shaping cardiovascular care and highlights the contributions nurse scientists and nurse practitioners make to national clinical recommendations.

Read the full Expert Consensus Decision Pathway in JACC.