NASPE 25th ANNIVERSARY SERIES

NASPE-Heart Rhythm Society: State of the SocietyMICHAEL E. CAINFrom the Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

It is November 2003. As the current Presidentof the North American Society of Pacing andElectrophysiology (NASPE) - Heart Rhythm Soci-ety, I have been asked to write about the futureof our organization. This communication will bepublished as the last in a series of invited com-memoratives celebrating the 25th anniversary ofthe Society. When it is published, I will have com-pleted my tenure as president, and I will onceagain be member #697. Member #697 is a heartrhythm specialist and has a vested interest in thefuture of our Society. The future of our organiza-tion is dependent on a member-driven vision; theresolve of effective leadership and staff to developand implement well-thought out strategic plansthat use an efficient yet flexible infrastructure toachieve the goals, fiscal resources, and a loyal andengaged membership. My comments focus on howthe current state of the Society will enable the or-ganization to meet the challenges of the future andkey issues that will test our organization.

Mission of the Heart Rhythm SocietySince 1979, we have witnessed unparalleled

changes in the field of cardiac electrophysiologyand pacing, health care regulation, and patientand public needs and expectations. Our Societyhas embraced these changes by restating its pur-pose and evolving its structure. The Society’s goalis to be the international leader in science, edu-cation, and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia pro-fessionals and patients, and serve as the primaryinformation resource on heart rhythm disorders.The Society’s mission is to improve the care ofpatients by promoting research, education, and op-timal health care policies and standards. Fulfill-ment of these goals enables our Society to becomemore visible and our purpose and pertinence moreclear.

Strategic PlanningFundamental to the continued success of our

Society is a commitment of effort and expertise

Address for reprints Michael E. Cain, M.D., Lewin Profes-sor of Medicine, Director, Cardiovascular Division, CampusBox 8086, Washington University School of Medicine, 660South Euclid Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110, Fax: 314 454-5550;e-mail: mcain@im.wustl.edu

Received December 4, 2003; accepted December 24, 2003.

to create member-driven strategic plans. These2 to 3 year plans set direction and identify theprograms and resources necessary for the Societyto achieve landmarks that meet, and ideally ex-ceed, the expectations of its members and part-ners. Most of the accomplishments during thepast 2 years are attributable to the outcomes ofthe Futures Conference held in October 2001.Critical areas identified were image and iden-tity, programs and services, infrastructure, strate-gic alliances, and revenue generation. Specificaims in each area were established and priori-tized, blueprints for implementation developed,and dedicated volunteers and staff expended theeffort necessary to produce the deliverables speci-fied by Society members.

In the image and identity area, for example,members wanted the Society to proactively andaggressively build awareness in electrophysiologyand pacing, especially to those outside our field.Members wanted heart rhythm specialists and ourSociety to be better known than we are today,admired for what we do, viewed as being morerelevant in people’s lives, and perceived as beingsignificantly different from other medical special-ists. Members confirmed that the Society is a multidisciplined and integrated group of heart rhythmspecialists including physicians, scientists, alliedprofessionals, and engineers. Members told the So-ciety that our image and identity should be to,(1) promote heart rhythm research, (2) educatepatients and the public about heart rhythm abnor-malities, (3) educate physicians and health careproviders, (4) advocate and lobby for heart rhythmprofessionals, (5) advance and advocate the high-est standards of patient care, and (6) represent in-ternational interests. This statement of purposeand delineation of our stakeholders enabled theSociety to, (1) create a new brand image and iden-tity, (2) revitalize membership categories, (3) con-struct a more efficient infrastructure, (4) establisha Heart Rhythm Foundation, (5) acquire a Society-owned journal, (6) commit to relocating its head-quarters to the Washington, DC area, (7) establisha dedicated Marketing Committee, and, (8) renewand create stronger alliances with the Centers forMedicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Na-tional Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI),the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), andother professional societies.

Reprinted from PACE August 2004, Vol. 27, and JCE August 2004, Vol. 15. PACE and JCE are published by Blackwell Publishing. Heart Rhythm (2004) 127C–132C©2004 Heart Rhythm Society

NASPE-HRS

InfrastructureThe broad scope of activities embraced by

the Society and the necessity for timely, yetthoughtful, decision processes motivated sweep-ing changes in the organization’s infrastructure(Fig.1). An efficient Board of Trustees represent-ing stakeholders in our Society together witheight standing committees and two companionorganizations collectively oversee the programs ofthe organization. Specific responsibilities of eachcomponent are summarized in Table I. The HeartRhythm Foundation is described in more detailin a section that follows. Issues requiring timelyresponses are addressed through Task Forces

Figure 1. Heart Rhythm Society Organizational Infrastructure.

charged to answer focused questions in an expe-dited manner. Examples such as the HeadquartersRelocation Task Force and the ICD/BiventricularPacing Competency Task Force brought togetherexpertise in key areas leading to timely recom-mendations implemented rapidly by the Boardof Trustees. This streamlined process assuresproper attention to fundamental Society needs andprograms, yet provides flexibility in governancewhen necessary.

Leadership DevelopmentTo meet the challenge of leadership selec-

tion and mentoring, the Society has implemented

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Heart Rhythm, Vol 1, No 5, November Supplement 129C

Heart Rhythm, Vol 1, No 5, November Supplement130C

Heart Rhythm, Vol 1, No 5, November Supplement 131C

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