He said the society plans to have a "Legislative Day" in July in Washington DC to meet Congressmen for creating a National Centre for Ageing Heart Health. The centre would serve as a think tank and national resource as well as provide training programmes and educational opportunities. It would also create a data bank for methods of treatment and care techniques imperative for an ageing population.

The new president's agenda includes initiating research into the effects of ageing on cardiovascular structure and the impact of ageing on cardiovascular disease. The society will run a campaign using all the major media to disseminate information to the public.

The society will also develop public policies to foster and maintain cardiovascular fitness and health at an older age, and ensure appropriate care for older persons in terminal states of cardiovascular disease, collaborating with similar bodies in Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Nanda pointed out that India also has a large ageing population. "Considering the huge overall population in India, the number of those above 65 is also very large," he said.

Nanda is the founding president of the American Association of Cardiologists of Indian Origin and past president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).