Oct 21, 2015 | Prasad Gunasekaran, MD
Chapter Engagement

As an extension to its commitment to promoting cardiovascular health, the ACC Kansas Chapter held the 2nd Annual Cardiovascular Symposium on Oct. 3. Thanks to the dynamic leadership of our current Governor, Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MBBS, FACC, we have a state that is reenergized and is producing some high-quality work both on the clinical and academic fronts. Lakkireddy identified the need for an annual cardiovascular symposium and successfully launched this well-received program in 2014.

ACC President Kim Allan Williams Sr., MD, FACC, and Chair of the Board of Governors, Robert Shor, MD, FACC, presented on the advocacy measures of the national ACC during the evening dinner. Cardiovascular professionals from different hierarchical levels including medical students, nursing staff, fellows, practicing cardiologists and professors were enlightened about the exemplary advocacy endeavors of the ACC. Pertinent challenges regarding re-certification of cardiovascular professionals, potential healthcare policy reforms and conception of quality-based healthcare models were also directly addressed.

Under the dynamic leadership of Lakkireddy and Charles Porter, MD, FACC, the Kansas Chapter has strived to excel in cardiovascular education and research. Stalwarts from a wide array of cardiovascular subspecialties including electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, structural heart disease and congenital heart disease took center stage to present the state-of-the-art evidence in contemporary cardiology. Discussions were well tailored to fulfill the needs of fellows, mid-level providers and practicing cardiologists.

A fitting posthumous tribute was paid to Marvin Dunn, MD, FACC, a gifted clinician, dedicated teacher and mentor to many established cardiologists in the state. Specific anecdotes from his life were elucidated by Buddhadeb Dawn, MD, FACC, Maureen and Marvin Dunn Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases. William Reed, MD; Lynn Kindred, MD, FACC; Gary Beauchamp, MD, FACC; Nalini Premsingh, MD, FACC; Robert Roeder, MD, FACC; and Donald Vine, MD, FACC, were recognized with the Kansas ACC Trail Blazer Awards for their frontier work in the spread of cardiovascular services in the state. Donita Atkins received the Allied Professional of the Year Award. She has been a vital part of the research and cardiovascular education in the state of Kansas. The research contributions of Rizwan Afzal, MD, were also acknowledged.

Keeping up with the tradition of the Kansas Chapter, Williams and Shor were presented with Kansas City Royals and Chiefs caps. With robust commitment towards excellence, the Kansas Chapter has made strong efforts to enhance cardiovascular health. The future appears to be more promising than ever.

Interested in engaging with the Kansas Chapter? Look out for the quarterly mini-educational series. The Follow Your Heart Program also creates a very unique opportunity to the young minds of Kansas to be able to shadow cardiologists and be inspired to think of medical careers. Last but not least, the "One Million Pounds and Ten Million Mile Initiative" is a grassroots population health initiative that has much bigger impact on the state.

We look forward to keeping you updated. These are exciting times for us in Kansas!!!

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This article was authored by Prasad Gunasekaran, MD, a fellow in training (FIT) at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a member of the ACC Kansas Chapter.