President's Message

June 2021

Dear PaACC – 

Happy Summer! I hope you have taken the opportunity to enjoy the warm weather (and your vaccinated status) to get outside to stretch your legs and mind. Given the heavy year we’ve all had, a little time outdoors with friends we haven’t seen for a while is good for the soul.  

Congratulations to all of our graduating Fellows In Training! We are so proud of all the hard work you’ve done and the cardiologists you’ve become. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. If you are a graduating, FIT please take a few minutes to:

• Update your email by logging into MyACC here.
• Apply for FACC for free with the code MyFACC. Additional information is here. (This is a huge savings! Take advantage of it now.)
• Keep in touch!! Even if you’re leaving the state of Pennsylvania for the next steps of your career, I would love to hear from you – and help you if you need mentoring or guidance in the future. Reach out anytime: berlacherk@upmc.edu or (412) 952-0133.

Don’t forget that we have a great, free education session coming this summer:

EMERGING FIELDS OF CARDIOLOGY SERIES: CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS

Date: Saturday, July 17

Time: 7:30-9:00am

Register by clicking here. We have applied for CME/CNE. Invite your friends and colleagues from other states – all are welcome!

Your PaACC has been strongly supporting Senate Bill 225 in Harrisburg. This bill, known by its shorthand name, the Prior Auth and Step Therapy Bill, updates definitions and addresses the onerous multi-step processes we currently have to go through with insurance companies to petition for the tests and treatment we know are medically best for patients. The coalition supporting this bill is very large and it was unanimously voted out of committee last week. In the coming months it will go to the Senate floor; and at that point we will need support from you, the PaACC! Your part is simple yet critical. When we ask you to contact your state Senator in support of this important legislation, please do so. I know summer is a hard time to be checking email but a few minutes spent on this could save you hours talking to insurance company gatekeepers.

Thanks for all you do.

Katie Berlacher, MD, FACC

President, Pennsylvania Chapter ACC

Governor, Western Pennsylvania

July 2021 - Glenn Cooper, MD, FACC

I Think About the Son

Mr. R was amazing. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer. A huge tumor. Over 10 cm, I believe. As a man well into his 80s, he was at significant risk for surgery to remove the kidney. On top of that was the aortic valve disease. He had severe aortic stenosis. Of all the issues a patient can have that put them at high risk for surgery, severe aortic stenosis is top of the list. We had talked about that valve. Mr. R made it crystal clear that he wanted no part of aortic valve surgery. He was a bit of a cantankerous guy. Old school. World War II generation. The "Greatest Generation". Little things (like kidney cancer) don’t bother me, and, if they do, I certainly won't complain about them! To read the rest, click here.

Humans of Cardiology is an opportunity for PaACC members to share motivating stories about their personal and professional lives and was inspired by the wildly popular Humans of New York series. Submit your story and view past posts here.