The Society's Presidents during the 1990s: Douglas P. Zipes, MD, FHRS 1989-1990 Victor Parsonnet, MD, FHRS, CCDS 1990-1991 James D. Maloney, MD, FHRS, CCDS 1991-1992 Gerald C. Timmis, MD, FHRS, CCDS 1992-1993 David G. Benditt, MD, FHRS, CCDS 1993-1994 Nora Goldschlager, MD, FHRS 1994-1995 Ralph Lazzara, MD, FHRS 1995-1996 John D. Fisher, MD, FHRS, CCDS 1996-1997 Sanjeev Saksena, MBBS, MD, FHRS 1997-1998 David L. Hayes, MD, FHRS, CCDS 1998-1999

The second decade of Society presidents could be known at “The Birth of EP” — during this time a national pacemaker registry was conducted and the Society’s collaboration with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) to develop CPT® codes began. The Society also underwent strategic planning and many program updates were made to the Annual Scientific Sessions, including its expansion to four days. The following individuals who served as President during the decade all played definitive roles in this growth.

In the interviews that follow, note that NASPE, for the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology, is referenced, as it was the original name of the Heart Rhythm Society.

Douglas P. Zipes, MD, FHRS — 1989-1990

“It was an exciting year during which we got more basic scientists involved in NASPE," recalls Douglas P. Zipes, MD, FHRS, the Society’s 11th president. "Their contributions have helped strengthen the organization and have contributed to achieving its mission.”

During his term, Zipes organized efforts to recruit basic scientists into the organization. As he recalls, “I badgered my good friends to join and become active. But then, as now, I think basic science underlies so much of what we do, and encouraging specialists in those areas to join and be active in the Societyis vital for the strength and caliber of the organization. We end up with a wonderful blend of the clinical and basic experts and their knowledge, which is what I tried to accomplish for Heart Rhythm.”

As part of Zipes’s continued commitment to the fields of cardiac pacing and electrophysiology, the Douglas P. Zipes, MD Lectureship, awarded anually at the Society's Annual Scientific Sessions, was permanently endowed.

Victor Parsonnet, MD, FHRS, CCDS — 1990–1991

“I am amazed and delighted how our simple idea for a pacemaker society has expanded to become such a vital part of the discipline of cardiology,” remarked Victor Parsonnet, MD FHRS, CCDS. Parsonnet held the founding meeting for NASPE in 1978 at his office in Beth Israel Medical Center with Society founders Seymour Furman, MD, FHRS, CCDS, J. Warren Harthorne, MD, FHRS, CCDS and Dryden Morse, MD.

The Society's 12th president, Parsonnet is a cardiac surgeon who spent most of his career at the Newark-Beth Israel Medical Center. In 1961, following the announcement of Paul M. Zoll, MD, William Chardack, MD and Wilson Greatbatch's successes, he performed some of the earliest pacemaker implants in the United States. He also performed the first coronary bypass surgery and renal and heart transplantations in New Jersey.

Parsonnet joined with Furman, Michael Bilitch, MD, FHRS and Susie Song, BSN, FHRS, to conduct a well-known national registry of cardiac pacemakers. This was later called the Bilitch Report and published regularly for 20 years. Parsonnet, Furman and Nicholas Smyth, MD then devised the 3-position code (and later 5-position code) defining pacemaker functions. Those codes later became known at the DDD code.

During his tenure as president, Parsonnet brought the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Rostropovich to play at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC during the Society's Scientific Sessions. On September 26, 2008, prior to the start of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) performance, Parsonnet, NJSO chairman emeritus was presented with the inaugural Victor Parsonnet M.D. Leadership Award to recognize his more than two decades of involvement and leadership.

James D. Maloney, MD, FHRS, CCDS — 1991-1992

“During my stewardship, NASPE established itself as the academic home of the electrophysiologist as well as the pacing specialist, and initiated a partnership with the ACC, AMA and other organizations regarding governmental issues,” said James D. Maloney, MD, FHRS, CCDS, the 13th president of the Society.

Maloney’s presidency was an adventuresome year, marked by new challenges and maturation of the organization. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), then known as the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), had requested the ACC develop CPT codes and values for physician services relating to rhythm disorders. A late Saturday evening phone call to Bob Frye, the new ACC president and one of Maloney’s Mayo Clinic mentors, initiated collaboration between NASPE and the ACC that led to the establishment of NASPE as the primary representative of rhythm-management medicine.

“It was a time of rapid membership growth, evolution of the allied health professional organization, courting of basic scientists to participate in the organization, establishment of EP fellowships and the EP-Pacing Fellowship Directors’ Committee,” Maloney states. “It was a wonderful year and an honor and privilege to serve.”

Gerald C. Timmis, MD, FHRS, CCDS — 1992-1993

“Only when considered in the context of collaboration with a host of extraordinary colleagues do those contributions assigned to me as a member of NASPE, and for a time its President, become meaningful," said Gerald Timmis, MD, FHRS, CCDS the 14th president of the Society. "What a privilege it has been to serve with these wonderful people.”

During his tenure, Timmis concentrated his leadership efforts on the Society’s finances and financial reform. He also served as the chairman of the budget and finance committee for many years. In addition, the Annual Fellowship Training Program Directors meeting, held at the Society's Annual Scientific Sessions, was initiated during his presidency.

David G. Benditt, MD, FHRS, CCDS — 1993-1994

“NASPE has become 'the voice' of all who care for patients with heart rhythm problems. I feel privileged to have participated in its development, and grateful for the wonderful friendships gained along the way,” said David G. Benditt, MD, FHRS, CCDS when commenting on his term as the Society's 15th president.

During Benditt's presidency, the Society was active in many areas. The second edition of certification of associated professionals (CAP) educational guidelines was published. During the Annual Scientific Sessions, which were expanded to three full days, an annual program for fellows was offered, the introduction of interactive audience response sessions occurred and the first "hands-on" educational session was held. The Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology (JCE) became one of the Society’s official journals.

Benditt also spent time promoting greater collaboration among NASPE and European and Asian arrhythmia societies.

Nora Goldschlager, MD, FHRS — 1994-1995

“I have always considered NASPE to be an organization which superbly and uniquely blends technology and the art and science of doing medicine,” said Nora Goldschlager, MD, FHRS, who, as the 16th president, distinguished herself as an accomplished administrator and leader on every committee for the Society, making huge strides in each role she served.

As the Annual Scientific Sessions Program Chair, Goldschlager instituted mini-courses as well as the clinical trials session. During her tenure, she established the Washington, DC government relations office.

NASPE began joint programming with the European Society of Cardiology Working Groups on Arrhythmias and Pacing during Goldschlager's presidency. She also established the Committee for the Promotion of Basic Science.

Ralph Lazzara, MD, FHRS — 1995-1996

When describing his term as the 17th president, Ralph Lazzara, MD, FHRS said, “In the year of my presidency, NASPE grew, prospered, and achieved prominence, as it has every other year of its existence.”

Under Lazzara’s stewardship an organization website was first developed and released. The Annual Scientific Sessions were expanded to the current length of four days, and in addition, Lazzara instituted an opening evening poster reception. The first CD-ROM Highlights of the Annual Scientific Sessions was created to following Heart Rhythm.

During Lazzara's presidency, NASPE sponsored a Board Review EP Course with ACC co-sponsorship.

John D. Fisher, MD, FHRS, CCDS — 1996-1997

John D. Fisher, MD, FHRS, CCDS describes the Society as the following: “NASPE: strong personalities, divergent views, but ultimately a common purpose creating a bond with warmth and a sense of community and achievement. I am proud to be a part of it.”

As the 18th president, Fisher's term occurred amidst a time of growing awareness and maturity in NASPE that ultimately culminated in today’s Heart Rhythm Society. Previous President Ralph Lazzara, MD, FHRS had opened the way for greater participation by basic scientists. The next President, Sanjeev Saksena, MBBS, MD, FHRS was making NASPE well known in Washington through the Government Relations Committee. As an executive group, NASPE was beginning to realize that it had outgrown its formative years, and it was time to become something more professional.

The Society established a series of goals and objectives, including retirement plans for the staff. The Annual Scientific Sessions were re-worked for better user-friendliness content and value. Finances were more tightly organized and audited. The role of the Society in creating practice guidelines was hotly debated, as was the relationship to other cardiology organizations such as the ACC.

Fisher was given the Society's Pioneer In Cardiac Pacing And Electrophysiology award in 2003.

Sanjeev Saksena, MBBS, MD, FHRS — 1997-1998

“NASPE redefined its long-term strategic vision, expanded its international and health policy roles, and initiated formal organizational restructuring to meet these goals,” said Sanjeev Saksena, MBBS, MD, FHRS about leading during the Society's restructuring.

As the 19th president, Saksena initiated the process of restructuring by hiring McKinsey and Company, a strategic planning consulting firm, to review the Society. That process resulted in reorganization recommendations and new branding ideas for the wide bases of Society support from public and private sources.

During his term, Saksena established the first Corporate Forum for the Society to meet with industry to better understand their needs. He also promoted the need for a national registry under the patronage of the North American Multicenter Arrhythmia Device/Lead Database (NAMADD) initiative with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and corporate leadership. During his tenure, primary care programming was offered at the Annual Scientific Sessions.

Saksena also promoted international relations as a major strategic goal of the Society and established the first International Trustee position within the Society.

David L. Hayes, MD, FHRS, CCDS — 1998-1999

“Being President of NASPE was an honor. It was a great experience getting to know more NASPE members and the excellent NASPE staff and working through the exciting times of purchasing our own headquarters,” said David L. Hayes, MD, FHRS, CCDS of his time spent as the Society's 20th president.

Hayes encouraged the participation of the allied professional members in the Society. His presidency set the stage for greater involvement and new leadership roles for allied professional members for the future. During his term a public awareness campaign was launched and benevolent fund was established.

Hayes continues to serve the organization on the Continuing Medical Education Subcommittee, which was created to ensure that the Society’s non-Scientific Sessions educational activities meet the current and future needs of its CME audience and to maintain exemplary accreditation.