Membership
The Ohio Chapter has more than 1700 members and is the sixth largest chapter in the ACC. We represent about 90% of Ohio cardiologists as well as the entire cardiovascular care team. A growing segment of our membership is our Cardiac Care Associates (CCA), consisting of advanced practice nurses, nurse clinicians, nurses, physician assistants, and doctors of pharmacology. We represent all of the cardiology fellows-in-training (FIT) in Ohio and a small group of practice managers. The chapter is managed by an executive director, Gwen Goldfarb, and the Board of Trustees. The board consists of members residing throughout the state, with specific representatives from cardiac surgery, pediatric cardiology, cardiology fellows, clinical care associates, and practice managers.
Education
Education is a top priority for the chapter. Each year we host an annual meeting in Columbus. In addition to the meeting's scientific session, there are special sessions for cardiology fellows and practice managers. This year's meeting will include the First Annual Richard P. Lewis Memorial Lecture in honor of the first Ohio-ACC president. We also host the annual Carl J. Wiggers Memorial Lecture and dinner in Cleveland. This year is the 49th annual lectureship, attended by physicians and nurses from the Cleveland area. Ohio-ACC sponsors an annual meeting for Cardiac Care Associates, and this year we will add regional meetings throughout the state. Finally, we organize annual coding seminars and seminars for registry data managers .
Honors
The Ohio Chapter is one of the most highly awarded chapters for excellence. In 2011, we received the James T. Dove Award for Quality.
Advocacy
Each year delegations of Ohio cardiologists, nurses, fellows, and patients travel to Columbus, OH, and Washington, DC, to meet with legislators and healthcare officials to discuss healthcare issues affecting Ohioans. We partner with the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA), the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland Northern Ohio (AMCNO), and the American Heart Association (AHA) on many of these advocacy issues.
Partnerships
This year we welcomed the Mended Hearts Association as a partner and have provided educational speakers for their regional meetings. In turn, Mended Hearts representatives have joined us at our legislative day at the Statehouse. We partner with the American Heart Association on Mission Lifeline to improve STEMI care in Ohio. We partnered with the Cleveland Clinic and The Ohio State University on education courses.
Initiatives
The Ohio Chapter supports the initiatives of the American College of Cardiology including Door-to-Balloon (D2B), Hospital to Home (H2H), NCDR, FOCUS, PATCH, and Million Hearts. It seems certain that the need for data and the appropriate use of testing and treatments will play a major role in medical care in the future. Cardiologists are far ahead of other specialties in this area.
Leadership Transition
On March 26, 2012, Christopher Cooper, M.D., Chief of Cardiology at the University of Toledo, assumed the duties of Governor for the Ohio-ACC. I know that Chris will be a dynamic and resourceful leader who will steer the chapter to even greater achievements. The job of governor is most rewarding, and I highly encourage others to become involved with chapter activities.